The Sale of the Eiffel Tower

Introduction

No tall yarn Victor Lustig ever told was taller than his scheme to buy the Eiffel Tower for scrap metal.
- He was an expert at making up stories.
Lustig, who was born in the Czech Republic's Hostinné in 1890, migrated to France after becoming proficient in a number of European languages.
On transatlantic ocean liners, he began his criminal career as a con artist who targeted rich passengers.
He claimed to have invented a money-printing device that created flawless $100 notes as part of one of his profitable con games.
He gave two $100 notes to the targets while persuading the duplicitous victims that the machine required many hours of "chemical processing" in order to produce them.
He had inserted actual $100 notes into the machine without their awareness, so they were just that.
His gadgets were purchased by victims for up to $30,000, who were impressed with the outcomes.
Victims would not become aware that they had been duped for many hours, and by the time they did, Lustig had already vanished.

Conning Capone

Despite being a skillful and smart con man, Lustig sometimes took significant risks, such as going back to the location of his historic crime to attempt to sell the Eiffel Tower once again.
The courage necessary to con Al Capone with in late 1920s dwarfs the boldness needed for this remarkable scam.
Having promised to quadruple Capone's investment, he was able to convince the Chicago crime lord to contribute $50,000 to a stock transaction.
Unbeknownst to Capone, Lustig hid the money in a safe deposit box and took it out two months later, apologizing for the failed transaction he had been banking on.
Capone offered Lustig $5,000 as a sign of respect and gratitude for his honesty.
Despite having cunningly planned for this outcome from the beginning, Lustig took a major risk when he clashed with Capone.
This theft solidified Lustig's reputation as one of the most daring con artists in history.

Official Business

Lustig, a resident of Paris in 1925, had read in the media that the deteriorating Eiffel Tower required maintenance.
- With the purpose of being dismantled and moved in 1909, it was built for the 1889 Paris Exposition.
Taking advantage of the situation, Lustig addressed letters on fake official stationary with phony signatures from the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs to five businessmen.
He asked in the letters for a meeting to discuss a business venture at the exclusive Hotel de Crillon.
- The five men approached a well-dressed and cordial Lustig, each of whom they believed to be sincere in their chance.
He said that the government will be seeking bids for the right to purchase the Eiffel Tower as scrap metal and subsequently destroy it.
- He soothed their egos by telling them how highly recommended the five of them were because of their respectable reputations.
The guys were given a tour of the tower by Lustig, who had rented a limousine especially for the event.
- Lustig selected Andre Poisson as his target because he was the most socially and financially vulnerable person.
Andre Poisson had a strong ambition to become a member of the Parisian business elite and thought this was his chance to do so.

The Plan Pays Off

Poisson's wife began to question the secretive and hasty character of their dealings, which led her husband to have misgivings.
Lustig "came clean" in a meeting with Poisson, confessing that his hidden activities had been driven by his intention to obtain a bribe in return for the contract.
Poisson paid for the 7,000 tons of iron and also paid a large reward to the scam artist because he felt comfortable.
Poisson would be too ashamed to report the scam, as Lustig rightly foresaw.
Six months later, Lustig tried to pull off the fraud again but was unsuccessful, barely escaping capture.
Later, Lustig relocated to the US to carry on his illegal activities.

Lustig’s Ten Commandments for Con Men

Be a patient listener.
Never look bored.
Wait for the other person to reveal their political opinions, then agree with them.
Wait for the other person to reveal their religious views, then agree with them.
Hint at intimate details but don’t follow up unless the other person shows interest.
Never discuss illness unless a special concern is shown.
Never pry (they will tell you all eventually).
Never boast, just let your importance be quietly obvious.
Never be untidy.
Never get drunk.

Related Crimes

In 1901, William McCloundy, a New Jersey scam artist gets imprisoned for grand larceny after selling the Brooklyn Bridge to a foreign visitor.
In 1947, George C. Parker, a scam artist from the United States, repeatedly "sells" opulent international visitors on New York City monuments like the Brooklyn Bridge.
In 2010, Anthony Lee, a homeless truck driver from Yorkshire, tries to sell the Ritz Hotel in London for $250 million and is successful in getting a $1 million deposit before being apprehended by the polices

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The Sale of the Eiffel Tower

Introduction

No tall yarn Victor Lustig ever told was taller than his scheme to buy the Eiffel Tower for scrap metal.
- He was an expert at making up stories.
Lustig, who was born in the Czech Republic's Hostinné in 1890, migrated to France after becoming proficient in a number of European languages.
On transatlantic ocean liners, he began his criminal career as a con artist who targeted rich passengers.
He claimed to have invented a money-printing device that created flawless $100 notes as part of one of his profitable con games.
He gave two $100 notes to the targets while persuading the duplicitous victims that the machine required many hours of "chemical processing" in order to produce them.
He had inserted actual $100 notes into the machine without their awareness, so they were just that.
His gadgets were purchased by victims for up to $30,000, who were impressed with the outcomes.
Victims would not become aware that they had been duped for many hours, and by the time they did, Lustig had already vanished.

Conning Capone

Despite being a skillful and smart con man, Lustig sometimes took significant risks, such as going back to the location of his historic crime to attempt to sell the Eiffel Tower once again.
The courage necessary to con Al Capone with in late 1920s dwarfs the boldness needed for this remarkable scam.
Having promised to quadruple Capone's investment, he was able to convince the Chicago crime lord to contribute $50,000 to a stock transaction.
Unbeknownst to Capone, Lustig hid the money in a safe deposit box and took it out two months later, apologizing for the failed transaction he had been banking on.
Capone offered Lustig $5,000 as a sign of respect and gratitude for his honesty.
Despite having cunningly planned for this outcome from the beginning, Lustig took a major risk when he clashed with Capone.
This theft solidified Lustig's reputation as one of the most daring con artists in history.

Official Business

Lustig, a resident of Paris in 1925, had read in the media that the deteriorating Eiffel Tower required maintenance.
- With the purpose of being dismantled and moved in 1909, it was built for the 1889 Paris Exposition.
Taking advantage of the situation, Lustig addressed letters on fake official stationary with phony signatures from the Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs to five businessmen.
He asked in the letters for a meeting to discuss a business venture at the exclusive Hotel de Crillon.
- The five men approached a well-dressed and cordial Lustig, each of whom they believed to be sincere in their chance.
He said that the government will be seeking bids for the right to purchase the Eiffel Tower as scrap metal and subsequently destroy it.
- He soothed their egos by telling them how highly recommended the five of them were because of their respectable reputations.
The guys were given a tour of the tower by Lustig, who had rented a limousine especially for the event.
- Lustig selected Andre Poisson as his target because he was the most socially and financially vulnerable person.
Andre Poisson had a strong ambition to become a member of the Parisian business elite and thought this was his chance to do so.

The Plan Pays Off

Poisson's wife began to question the secretive and hasty character of their dealings, which led her husband to have misgivings.
Lustig "came clean" in a meeting with Poisson, confessing that his hidden activities had been driven by his intention to obtain a bribe in return for the contract.
Poisson paid for the 7,000 tons of iron and also paid a large reward to the scam artist because he felt comfortable.
Poisson would be too ashamed to report the scam, as Lustig rightly foresaw.
Six months later, Lustig tried to pull off the fraud again but was unsuccessful, barely escaping capture.
Later, Lustig relocated to the US to carry on his illegal activities.

Lustig’s Ten Commandments for Con Men

Be a patient listener.
Never look bored.
Wait for the other person to reveal their political opinions, then agree with them.
Wait for the other person to reveal their religious views, then agree with them.
Hint at intimate details but don’t follow up unless the other person shows interest.
Never discuss illness unless a special concern is shown.
Never pry (they will tell you all eventually).
Never boast, just let your importance be quietly obvious.
Never be untidy.
Never get drunk.

Related Crimes

In 1901, William McCloundy, a New Jersey scam artist gets imprisoned for grand larceny after selling the Brooklyn Bridge to a foreign visitor.
In 1947, George C. Parker, a scam artist from the United States, repeatedly "sells" opulent international visitors on New York City monuments like the Brooklyn Bridge.
In 2010, Anthony Lee, a homeless truck driver from Yorkshire, tries to sell the Ritz Hotel in London for $250 million and is successful in getting a $1 million deposit before being apprehended by the polices