The Con Artist - you have to read this

Just Who or What is a "Con Artist"?
"Persons of any level of intelligence are vulnerable to deception by experienced con artists. Confidence tricks exploit human weaknesses like greed, dishonesty, vanity, but also virtues like honesty, compassion, or a naïve expectation of good faith on the part of the con artist."
What you really need to remember is that with Con Artist, to pull off their con, "You will be made to feel special..." and " THE CON ARTIST NOW OWNS YOU HEART AND SOUL. Or so he /she would like you to think." And always rermember, "Even the basic assumption that the con is a "he" is incorrect: there are plenty of con women too. "
Then you have to look at what does a Con Artist do. This link has a lot of good info (and I'm including some of it here): http://money.howstuffworks.com/con-artist.htm
Con artists make money through deception. They lie, cheat and fool people into thinking they've happened onto a great deal or some easy money, when they're the ones who'll be making money. If that doesn't work, they'll take advantage of our weaknesses -- loneliness, insecurity, poor health or simple ignorance. The only thing more important to a con artist than perfecting a con is perfecting a total lack of conscience. What does the average con artist look like? Despite what you may think, he isn't always a shady-looking character. A con artist is an expert at looking however he/she needs to look. If the con involves banking or investments, the con artist will wear a snappy suit. If it involves home improvement scams, he/she will show up wearing well-worn work clothes. Even the basic assumption that the con is a "he" is incorrect: there are plenty of con women too. You might think you can spot a con artist because he / she is someone you instinctively "don't trust." But the term con artist is short for confidence artist -- they gain your confidence just long enough to get their hands on your money. They can be very charming and persuasive. A good con artist can even make you believe he is really an old friend you haven't seen in years. Con artists do share certain characteristics, however. Even the best con can only go on for so long before people start getting suspicious. For that reason, con artists tend to move frequently. They may have a job that allows this, or they might claim to have such a job. Railroad worker, carnival worker and traveling salesman are all parts con artists play to cover up their constant relocations. It would be impossible to catalogue every con, because con artists are inventive. While many cons are simply variations on ones that are hundreds of years old, new technologies and laws give con artists the opportunity to create original scams.
Even more detail about Con Artist is available at http://www.fraudaid.com/What-a-Con-artist-Will-Tell-You.htm and here's a sampling of that information:
Since con artists look for ways to manipulate strengths and weaknesses, they will either paint a picture of wealth and ease, or increase your darkest fears, or a combination of both.
In order to do this, a con artist will play on your sympathies, instill in you a sense of security in dealing with him or her, and distract you from what is really going on using lies laced with enough truth to make the patter believable. Their goal is to make you completely dependent on them.
Part of instilling complete dependency is to make you feel that your world may not be safe without their guidance. Once you realize that none of the promises are forthcoming as you expected, the con artist uses that dependency as a threat. He or she will yank the leash they have wrapped around your survival instincts, using either subtle scare tactics or outright threats.
The first step is for the con artist to determine your personality profile and identify your needs. He or she might zero in on your pride, your ego, your fears, your dreams, visions of riches, religious conviction, an illness, or your desire to get a special deal, or a combination of several traits. Whatever works best for the given situation.
The next step is to make himself or herself appear to be the only person on whom you can rely for the fulfillment of your wishes, desires, and/or personal safety. Keep in mind that in order for the scam to work, the scam artist will gain your complete and unquestioning trust, and they are very, very skillful at doing this.
The final step is the move on your money or property. The move may be so fast and skillful that your reaction time is delayed. If the scam is long and involved, you will be instilled with a fear of contacting the authorities. To accomplish this, the scam artist will use whatever fear is uppermost in your emotional catalog. In your mind, you will feel that to take any action will either make you look foolish, and/or you will fear retribution from the con artist, and/or you will fear even the authorities themselves. If the scam has gone on long enough, you have been brainwashed, quite literally, into believing the scam artist more than the authorities and those close to you.

Examples of threats:
1. If the scam is one in which banks are involved, you will be told that you cannot talk with bankers because: "they do not want you to know that deals like this are available and will simply deny the existence of such deals"; "if you talk with the banks, you will lose your money because the banks don't want the deals interfered with"; "the 'trader' will squash anyone's deal if the banks are contacted", etc. etc.
2. Religious scams provide the aura of mystical powers and spiritual magic which are: "too dangerous for you to know and can backfire if not handled properly." Personal danger is often emphasized.
3. Medical scams offer cures that: "doctors don't want you to know about, so asking them won't do you any good - the medical authorities will only deny that such cures are possible" or "the doctors don't want you to know because this cure would mean a loss of income to them." You are trapped between desperation for a cure and no means of verifying the information you are being given.
4. Home improvement scams by unlicensed and uninsured "contractors" leave you with enormous expenses, no improvements (and sometimes lots of un-improvements), and a contractor who has disappeared over the hill.
5. Modeling scams will promise you terrific jobs, travel, a world of dreams, and all you have to do is "pay for some photos...."
6. One phrase that is used to death is "If you don't act soon, not only will the deal no longer be available, but it could cost you more money".
7. You will be made to feel special, admired, or in grave danger and only the fraudster can save you.
The list is endless - it only depends on what you need or think you need at the time. The con artist will work you over so good that you will be confused to the point of total inaction except for what the con artist wants you to do.

YOU ARE IN A BOX. YOU HAVE GIVEN AWAY YOUR FREEDOM. THE CON ARTIST NOW OWNS YOU HEART AND SOUL. Or so he / she would like you to think.

PROFILE OF A CON ARTIST
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to pin one of those standard profiles on con artists like say "a 35-year old white male who was mistreated by his mother". It just doesn't work that way. What sets the con artist apart
Con artists come from diverse backgrounds. They may come from a broken home or the most stable and well-adjusted of families. They may have been afforded an excellent education, or very little. Such backgrounds do not set them apart.
Nor are they set apart by their country of origin, sexual preferences, political bent, religious beliefs, or ingrained social values. Actually, pertaining to those last three, the con artist is a free spirit. His own personal welfare far outweighs any standard social considerations.
What does set con artists apart is the natural ability, often discovered at a very young age, to manipulate the people around them. Added to this is the fact that such manipulation leaves them without any feeling of guilt or remorse. On the contrary, it leaves them with an intense feeling of satisfaction - a particular glow that encourages them to continue manipulating to get whatever they want, regardless of the cost to the giver.