The switch (con)

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For the Seinfeld episode, see The Switch.

The Switch is a type of confidence trick, designed to switch a sum of money from a victim, in exchange for a ringer. This trick requires 2 con artists.

[edit] The Steps

The Switch has 6 steps:

  • The con artists spot a target and one of the con artists approach and engage the target in a brief conversation. The second con artist approaches the both of them and feigns to be injured, attracting the attention of both the target and the other con artist.
  • The second con artist claims that he needs to transport a large amount money to a location across town immediately but cannot get there because of his injury. The second con artist begs one of the two men to go. The first con artist says that he isn't going in that direction, thus shifting responsibility over to the target.
  • The second con artist offers the target some of the money if he'll agree to take it to the location. Following his agreement to the deal, the first con artist will question his method of transportation - "what if you get mugged?"
  • The first con artist takes the money and offers to show him how to transport the money without losing it. The first con artist wraps the money in a large cloth and asks the target to give him any other money that he has that he also wouldn't want stolen. He takes all the money and wraps it in the cloth and puts the cloth behind him, tucked into belt, under his shirt, to demonstrate how to carry it.
  • When he pulls out the money in the cloth to return it to the target, the first con artist takes another cloth parcel that looks identical to the one with the real money, weighing an equal weight, and gives it to the target.
  • The target absconds with the cloth parcel and leaves and the two con artists escape with the original money, and the target's money, in the real cloth parcel.

[edit] Trivia

  • This con was used in the opening sequence of The Sting.