One of the most talented con artists of the XX century was count Victor Lustig (1890-1947). The man spoke five languages, he received an excellent education. He was bold and fearless. Known 45 its aliases, in the USA he was arrested 50 times
“As long as there are fools in the world,
Tricked us to live, therefore, with your hands.”Smart cheaters who exploited the not-too-smart fellow – a great many. But to have your name entered in the criminal chronicle, but in the legends need to truly possess extraordinary abilities. One such Scam is Victor Lustig. Among his exploits were listed as minor transgressions, and a Grand affair. A young man from a wealthy Czech family seemed impoverished Austrian count. And so skillfully adhered to this role – that no one had any doubts about his title. Fluency in five languages, knowledge of all teaksta social and business etiquette, the ability to freely stand in society – these are the qualities by which he was to his, and in the gangster environment. However, in addition to the native “count” surname crook used for his deyatelnosti a few dozen aliases. Underneath Victor went to different cruises and arranged on Board vessels of various lotteries and lottery of those that we today usually call “Scam”
Fair game, or Scam al Capone
One of the legends associated with the name of Lustig, began the story of his “cooperation” with al Capone. One day, in 1926, a tall, well-dressed young man was visited by the famous gangster of that time. The man introduced himself as count Victor Lustig. He asked me to give him 50 thousand dollars to double that amount. The gangster was not sorry to invest in a dubious enterprise such a small amount, and he gave them to the count. Time to perform the planned — 2 months. Lustig took the money, put them in a safe Deposit box in Chicago, and then went to new York. Lustig did not attempt to double left in Chicago amount. Two months later, he came back, he took the money from the Bank and went to the gangster. There, he apologized and said that the plan did not work and gave the money back. This gangster replied: “I had expected 100 thousand dollars or nothing. But… to return my money back… Yes, you are an honest man! If you have trouble with, at least take this.” And gave to the count of 5 thousand dollars. But these 5 thousand and was the target of the Scam Lustig!
Scrap or sold the Eiffel Tower
But what is “the prize” five thousand? And the amount that Victor rescued as a result of lotteries, frauds with banks and not too honest poker game, seemed to him miserable. Soul demanded scale. That the scheme was grandiose. Well, the proceeds, of course, also should not lag behind. Lustig craved action presents and any occasion not long to wait.In may 1925, Victor Lustig with his friend and companion Dan Collins arrived in Paris. On the first day upon arrival, their attention was drawn to an article in the local newspaper. The story tells that the famous Eiffel tower is in terrible condition and the city authorities are considering the option to dismantle it.
The idea of the genius of the Scam was born instantly. For its implementation was removed chic room in an expensive hotel and made the documents, claiming that Victor Lustig – Deputy head of the Ministry of post and Telegraph. Then the invitations were sent out five of the largest dealers of metal. The letter contained an invitation to important and absolutely hush-hush meeting with Deputy General Director of the hotel Crillon” at the time — the most prestigious hotel in Paris.
Met guests in a luxury apartment, Lustig started a lengthy speech about what nigerianigeria tower costs the state a pretty penny. She was built as a temporary structure for the world exhibition in Paris, and now, 30 years later, is so dilapidated that just represents a threat to Paris and the city authorities are considering the possibility of demolition of the tower. Therefore, among those present was declared a kind of tender for the purchase of the tower.
Such a proposal could not navisat interest are invited, but especially they are interested in Andre Poisson. It inspired not only the obvious financial benefit from the transaction, but also the opportunity to make history. Maybe this vain interest was noted by Lustig and he was the reason that after some time it Monsieur Poisson was appointed as a confidential meeting.
During this meeting Victor Lustig held a few restless. He told Poisson that he has all the chances to win the tender and to win just need a little “push” a candidate with little reward personally, Victor. Before this meeting, Monsieur Poisson suspect: why all the meetings related to the tender, place in a covert environment, but still not in the offices of the Ministry, and the hotel room. But such extortion by officials, oddly enough, dispelled the last doubts Poisson relative to suspicious transactions. He counted out several large bills, and Lustig persuaded to take them, then wrote a check for a quarter of a million francs, received the documents of the Eiffel tower and left satisfied. When Monsieur Poisson began to suspect something was wrong, Victor Lustig had already fled to Vienna with a suitcase of cash received by the prescribed check.Despite the fact that Victor Lustig was caught by the police more than fifty times – he always managed to emerge unscathed. The police had to let go of a talented con man, because they simply did not have enough evidence to prove his guilt. Victor Lustig was not only a talented musician but also a good psychologist. Most of these people are not victims contacted the police, not wanting to look like fools in the eyes of the public. Even Monsieur Poisson “purchased” the Eiffel tower for a large sum was soon ready to part with their money than to become posmeshishem all of Paris and to lose its reputation as a shrewd businessman.
History the Eiffel tower was the Swan song of Lustig. Some time after the transaction with the Poisson, he returned to Paris and decided to sell the tower again one of the bidders. But the deceived businessman quickly saw through the fraud and reported it to the police. Lustig managed to escape from the French police in the United States. But there he was caught and intended to court. American justice also accumulated a lot of claims for a talented swindler. In December 1935 the count was arrested. He received 15 years in prison for counterfeiting dollars, and 5 years for perfect just a month ago escape from another prison. He was transferred to the famous island prison Alcatraz near San Francisco, where he died of pneumonia in March 1947.
Victor Lustig the Eiffel Tower sold
