The Oldest Scam in the Book

When we think about scams and cons, one of the most referenced ones is Three Card Monte. Not only the mechanics of the sleight-of-hand illusion but also the mise en scène that is the critical element of the entire illusion. Still being performed today, this is mentioned many times as “the oldest scam in the book” for a good reason. The following reference to Three Card Monte was published on the April 22nd, 1878 edition of the Pittsburgh Daily Post.