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Beggars, Cheats and Forgers: A History of Frauds Throughout the Ages
Beggars, Cheats and Forgers is made up of new research into a neglected area of British the stories of historical scams, cheats and forgeries. Former Director of Technology at the National Archives, David Thomas has delved into the archives to uncover unusual tales, from Tudor identity theft to the Spanish Prisoner letter scam of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This book provides an fresh take on criminal history and the roots of identity theft, email scams and pyramid schemes still employed by criminals today.
160 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2014
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About the author
David Thomas
7 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: David Thomas
David Thomas was employed at the UK National Archives for most of his career, acting as Director of Technology from 2005 until his retirement in 2013. Subsequently he was a visiting professor at Northumbria University.
Please see: David Thomas
David Thomas was employed at the UK National Archives for most of his career, acting as Director of Technology from 2005 until his retirement in 2013. Subsequently he was a visiting professor at Northumbria University.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 10, 2020
Fascinating!
Nearly two weeks after opening my first email account, I received my first Nigerian Prince, otherwise known as the 419, email. That was the first of many. That happened a long time ago. In those days I was ignorant about Internet scams, and definitely had no idea that the 419 scam was 200 years old.
Two hundred years ago, it was called The Spanish Prisoner con. The con worked like this: a pre-selected Britain (the scammers did their research) would be contacted. He, or she, would get a sob story from a Spanish prisoner who is in prison for stealing a fortune. Usually in gold or jewelry, or both. The person would tell the selected victim that his daughter was imprisoned in a nunnery and he needed money to get her out, then he could send her to England where she could be with family. For his help, the victim would get the location of the treasury, which would be conveniently located near the victim. This convoluted con was very profitable and lasted about 70 years.
The Spanish authorities made half-hearted attempts to help the victims because they really had no sympathy for them. Neither did the British government. It is hard to feel sorry for someone so greedy that they would buy-into a stolen treasure.
The book also talks about forged documents, which began nearly 300 years ago, as well as talk about collecting fake antiquities, which began around 500 years ago.
Then there are the beggars, who’ve been around hundreds of years. Some of whom were very successful. Some, not so much. Begging fell in and out of favor, depending on the times. Sturdy beggars, those who are able bodied and can work, but choose not to, were never popular.
All, in all, this book gives a great historical background on the history of cheaters and fraud and scamming. The book is well worth your time if you like this topic. It’s like watching multiple episodes of American Greed.
5 stars.✨
Nearly two weeks after opening my first email account, I received my first Nigerian Prince, otherwise known as the 419, email. That was the first of many. That happened a long time ago. In those days I was ignorant about Internet scams, and definitely had no idea that the 419 scam was 200 years old.
Two hundred years ago, it was called The Spanish Prisoner con. The con worked like this: a pre-selected Britain (the scammers did their research) would be contacted. He, or she, would get a sob story from a Spanish prisoner who is in prison for stealing a fortune. Usually in gold or jewelry, or both. The person would tell the selected victim that his daughter was imprisoned in a nunnery and he needed money to get her out, then he could send her to England where she could be with family. For his help, the victim would get the location of the treasury, which would be conveniently located near the victim. This convoluted con was very profitable and lasted about 70 years.
The Spanish authorities made half-hearted attempts to help the victims because they really had no sympathy for them. Neither did the British government. It is hard to feel sorry for someone so greedy that they would buy-into a stolen treasure.
The book also talks about forged documents, which began nearly 300 years ago, as well as talk about collecting fake antiquities, which began around 500 years ago.
Then there are the beggars, who’ve been around hundreds of years. Some of whom were very successful. Some, not so much. Begging fell in and out of favor, depending on the times. Sturdy beggars, those who are able bodied and can work, but choose not to, were never popular.
All, in all, this book gives a great historical background on the history of cheaters and fraud and scamming. The book is well worth your time if you like this topic. It’s like watching multiple episodes of American Greed.
5 stars.✨
March 2, 2016
A bit repetitive. Apparently human nature doesn't change, there will always be con men. It didn't start with the internet!
March 13, 2021
When I was a kid, I thought things were either good or bad. Then Van Halen recorded 'How will I Know When It's Love'. The verses rocked but the chorus made Lawrence Welk look like a metalhead. That's when I realized things can have good and bad parts.
That's this book.
The research and the stories are awesome.
The organization and presentation leaves a lot to be desired.
The book has a lot of good info but is hard to get through. It took me longer than it should have to finish.
That's this book.
The research and the stories are awesome.
The organization and presentation leaves a lot to be desired.
The book has a lot of good info but is hard to get through. It took me longer than it should have to finish.
June 28, 2022
I picked this up out of a Free Little Library because the title caught my attention. Unfortunately, that's all this book has going for it.
The choppy writing that discusses each person drove me nuts as it bounced back and forth. Either individual chapters should have been given to each individual, or there should be sections within each chapter.
This is a D.N.F. and I do not recommend.
The choppy writing that discusses each person drove me nuts as it bounced back and forth. Either individual chapters should have been given to each individual, or there should be sections within each chapter.
This is a D.N.F. and I do not recommend.
July 11, 2022
A bit confusing since because he spends one chapter on each type of criminal and skips around as he talks about them. Not a lot of detail given on any one criminal, but a good overview of many. I found the beggar letter, Spanish prisoner, and sturdy beggar chapters very interesting and learned a lot.
May 20, 2017
Very entertaining history of roguery from Elizabethan times to the present.
January 24, 2022
Some interesting information but it gets a bit dull at times. Sometimes difficult to remember all the names the author throws around.
March 19, 2024
(My 2022 review slightly corrected but unchanged in my dislike of this pointless book)
This book has been praised by many reviewers - I don't really understand why - it is not bad, and factually it seems pretty good - but there just isn't anything really interesting or new - the only new thing I found was the story of the Spanish Letter - and there is a lack of context, particularly in his account of beggars. Although the author does not demonize or condemn them he doesn't look at the way those running England, the rich, the powerful, those with property, sought to condemn and control those without all of those and how so much of the legislation around beggars was about controlling the poor. Stories about beggars who went home to comfy houses are always told, in urban legend fashion usually it's always a 'friend' who provides the information - there is even a Holmes story about one - and it is invariably a way to dismiss the real needs of the poor.
As for financial fraudsters - the stories of individuals like Bernie Madoff are good but many of us consider the big banks and financial institutions who were bailed out and suffered no consequences for their wildly dishonest financial practices that nearly brought down the financial system in 2008 the greatest fraudsters - after all they got away with it.
So not a bad book, just not a terribly good one.
This book has been praised by many reviewers - I don't really understand why - it is not bad, and factually it seems pretty good - but there just isn't anything really interesting or new - the only new thing I found was the story of the Spanish Letter - and there is a lack of context, particularly in his account of beggars. Although the author does not demonize or condemn them he doesn't look at the way those running England, the rich, the powerful, those with property, sought to condemn and control those without all of those and how so much of the legislation around beggars was about controlling the poor. Stories about beggars who went home to comfy houses are always told, in urban legend fashion usually it's always a 'friend' who provides the information - there is even a Holmes story about one - and it is invariably a way to dismiss the real needs of the poor.
As for financial fraudsters - the stories of individuals like Bernie Madoff are good but many of us consider the big banks and financial institutions who were bailed out and suffered no consequences for their wildly dishonest financial practices that nearly brought down the financial system in 2008 the greatest fraudsters - after all they got away with it.
So not a bad book, just not a terribly good one.
May 27, 2016
The book has a light casual tone that should appeal to most readers. Thoms is almost chatty in the way he writes. There were a few spots were I thought he repeated himself unnecessarily but for the most part the narration progresses smoothly. My only criticism was that I would have liked a bit more detail and examples, particularly in the section about forgeries, but over all it's a well done introduction to various historical frauds.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews