View Full Version : Episode 40 - Money, a Short Con and Crime = Short Change [Discussion]
travislopes
12-18-2008, 05:06 PM
This episode, we're turning to the dark side and learning actual CRIME. Remember, the following is for INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!
Watch and download here. (http://revision3.com/scamschool/shortchange/)
tm204
12-18-2008, 07:11 PM
FYI
The pop up ad came at the end of the graphic explaining the trick. I am a slow reader and had to rewind and pause to read it.
hclogo
12-18-2008, 08:10 PM
Hmm, I wonder if the fact that our money is colour coded here in Canada would make any difference. I would think so as the bills would be easier to keep track of.
INFORMATIONAL USES ONLY
aka, if you get caught doing this, you cant blame us, lol
really though, great information for anyone who works at a register, very interesting on how easy it is to confuse people.
rabidbadger
12-18-2008, 10:10 PM
aint even watched it and I know what it is. haha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqueZ1KNeT8
mrtankard
12-18-2008, 10:14 PM
I'm not saying I have any prior experience with this, but it's devilishly easy on stoners.
rabidbadger
12-18-2008, 10:28 PM
(yep, I was right)
Yep, I was right. Actually, the way Brian presented it is def describing how NOT to fall for it. I was in line at the store a few weeks ago, and one cashier was telling the other how this had just happened to him. Never saw him there again. So it's good to inform the young audience about this, and Brian gives good advice to cashiers how not to fall for it. Public Service, if you ask me.
Hmm, I wonder if the fact that our money is colour coded here in Canada would make any difference. I would think so as the bills would be easier to keep track of.
Also in Canada we have Loonies (1$) and Toonies (2$) coins as apposed to paper money, I wonder if that would make any difference.
So Brian I think it's time you came up here for some winter scamming. :)
rabidbadger
12-18-2008, 11:30 PM
Eh, you Canadians are too smart to fall for this stuff. ;)
hclogo
12-19-2008, 12:42 AM
...
So Brian I think it's time you came up here for some winter scamming. :)
...
Seconded! Come join us in the great white north for a few pints!
murphy1d
12-19-2008, 01:36 AM
aint even watched it and I know what it is. haha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqueZ1KNeT8
OK I know I'm missing it, but I don't see the scam here:
A. $0.15 for the ribbon...gives her a $5, she gives either gives him $4.85 in change or $4 and 4 quarters. Exchange done.
B. He adds a dollar to the $4 and hands them to her in exchange for a $5 bill. But she doesn't give it to him yet. He's out $5 now.
C. He then says "here's another $5 for that $10 Bill. Right now he's out $10.
D, She hands him a $10 bill. They should be even.
Other than possibly not paying the $0.15 where is the scam? What did I miss?
EDIT: I figured out what I missed, she DID give him the $5 bill, it just wasn't showed in the video (it was a close up of Tatum).
murphy1d
12-19-2008, 01:46 AM
BTW I prefer the second version on this video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXjgo2B_bEs&feature=related
rabidbadger
12-19-2008, 01:59 AM
Nice one! The fact that she is distractingly cute helps . :)
(and yeah, the paper moon vid is just fifteen cents, but that was about the depression, so fifteen cents was a big deal. He got the ribbons for free.)
patrickd
12-19-2008, 03:58 AM
Episode 40 of Scam School already?! Wow!
So...any big plans for Episode 50 in 10 weeks? Star-studded scamming spectacular live show?
rabidbadger
12-19-2008, 06:39 AM
Episode 40 of Scam School already?! Wow!
So...any big plans for Episode 50 in 10 weeks? Star-studded scamming spectacular live show?
Fun Idea. Madonna? Oprah? Jeff Canatta? if it ends in "ah" I'm all for it!
murphy1d
12-19-2008, 11:20 AM
Fun Idea. Madonna? Oprah? Jeff Canatta? if it ends in "ah" I'm all for it!
except for....
"just a glass of wine with dinner, Offisah"
pixelator99
12-19-2008, 01:25 PM
(yep, I was right)
Yep, I was right. Actually, the way Brian presented it is def describing how NOT to fall for it. I was in line at the store a few weeks ago, and one cashier was telling the other how this had just happened to him. Never saw him there again. So it's good to inform the young audience about this, and Brian gives good advice to cashiers how not to fall for it. Public Service, if you ask me.
yeah it was "presented" as how "not to fall for it" but it was obviously teaching people how to steal.
I am disappointed in Brian. Teaching magic tricks is one thing and I love that, but teaching people how to steal money is just wrong.
bender386
12-19-2008, 01:54 PM
This happened to me a few years back but it was $100 not $10.
After that all the registers at my work has a little sign on they telling us not to swap change.
shwooddotcom
12-19-2008, 03:43 PM
yeah it was "presented" as how "not to fall for it" but it was obviously teaching people how to steal.
I am disappointed in Brian. Teaching magic tricks is one thing and I love that, but teaching people how to steal money is just wrong.
On the contrary, my intention is very much to keep people from falling for it. When I was 17, I worked at a movie theater and had never heard of the short change. I got taken for $50, and it was super-embarrassing...
If people are going to recognize the shortchange, they're going to have to understand it, and the best way to do that is to take them "on the inside" of the scam. Once they "get" it, they'll be able to recognize one from a mile away (a tool I didn't have back when I was 17).
I am a cashier and I want to know how to do this so this never happens to me (if it already hasn't ) Now I do not get the concept of this you give her a five and then ask her for a 10 in ones and then? Im a bit lost I watched it over again if somebody could please help me thank you.
mrpopular
12-19-2008, 05:34 PM
That riches video was awesome..
And sorry pixelator i'm w/ shwood on this one. It was to really teach you how to steal, but acknowledge the scam system. Now that we've entered the wild world of scamming we must know all aspects. Now if Brain decides to show us how to scam a bank out of $1mil w/ a ski mask and a shotgun that might be a diffrent story.
And Yes we definitly need a super special 1 year episode. Maybe more then one scam or something..
murphy1d
12-19-2008, 05:54 PM
yeah it was "presented" as how "not to fall for it" but it was obviously teaching people how to steal.
I am disappointed in Brian. Teaching magic tricks is one thing and I love that, but teaching people how to steal money is just wrong.
So I take it you believe that one shouldn't know:
A. How people hack into your computer.
B. That the doll in the crane machine at the arcade is never coming out, no matter how close you think you are.
C. That Three-card Monty isn't REALLY a game of skill.
D. That you DIDN'T have a rich dead uncle in Nigeria who left you a mint.
They are called white hats because they are the good guys. Social Engineering is a fact of life. Brian's wearing the white hat to protect us.
therage800
12-19-2008, 06:18 PM
yeah it was "presented" as how "not to fall for it" but it was obviously teaching people how to steal.
I am disappointed in Brian. Teaching magic tricks is one thing and I love that, but teaching people how to steal money is just wrong.
I knew someone was going to say that... But the thing is, yes, someone could learn how to do it from this video and then go use it, but I believe (Or at least I like to) that most people are honest and will learn not to be scammed. I remember at a job interview at a store once they told me that if I would work register if the register was short by a certain amount (Really low; less than $1.00) you would automatically be fired. I remember I had heard of this scam before and was paranoid about it! (Fortunately I did get the job but didn't work register) So I think it's great that Brian is helping people out like this, it may even save someone their job!
I am a cashier and I want to know how to do this so this never happens to me (if it already hasn't ) Now I do not get the concept of this you give her a five and then ask her for a 10 in ones and then? Im a bit lost I watched it over again if somebody could please help me thank you.
Ha ha, that's kind of the point, it's hard to follow! Make sure to read the show notes (On the streaming page).
i work as a cashier at a grocery store and plan on showing people this because i know that just because I never give out change until their money is in the drawer, doesnt mean other people do it that way. If i can save my store some money and save my friends the embarrassment and possible firing that could result, I'll do it.
BTW, that riches video is awesome, pretty amazing.
(edited because i cant spell)
happyhippyharry
12-22-2008, 10:14 AM
Maybe I'm stupid, but I didn't get it because I don't think it was in enough detail. Could we have a more in-depth description
shwooddotcom
12-22-2008, 05:47 PM
Maybe I'm stupid, but I didn't get it because I don't think it was in enough detail. Could we have a more in-depth description
Try watching it again. Once you "get" it, it's crazy obvious.
If you're looking for a more in-depth, slower paced explanation, here's the one from my lecture:
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happyhippyharry
12-23-2008, 04:42 PM
If you're looking for a more in-depth, slower paced explanation, here's the one from my lecture:
I get it now! thanks a lot
speed
12-25-2008, 09:23 PM
Hmm, I wonder if the fact that our money is colour coded here in Canada would make any difference. I would think so as the bills would be easier to keep track of.
Oh no, trust me, people have pulled this off on people I work with. It's not so much the appearance that they're similar as it is the confusion. In theory, you could even pull it off with loonies and toonies.
trickyrick
12-27-2008, 02:03 AM
So, can anyone come up with a trick to turn it around on the scammer trying to pull the scam? A lot of people trying this are smart, but just as many are dumb. How could I act confused, fool around a bit, and end up taking the scammer for $10 instead of the other way around? THAT would be a scam.
rabidbadger
12-27-2008, 03:17 AM
Hmm. that would be a great show. Maybe between brian and masher the mather, they could figure something out.
tudza
05-25-2009, 02:34 AM
No doubt this works. I have one complaint though, which is that it is *not* clear from the video that the bartender handed back the $10 for the one along with the change from the $20. No way I could see this, so I felt cheated.
I was a bank teller for 10 years, so I know exactly how this works and exactly how to keep it from happening. You do one transaction at a time. Trouble is, you're changing money in a bar and not in a bank.
capotasto
05-27-2009, 12:54 AM
So, can anyone come up with a trick to turn it around on the scammer trying to pull the scam? A lot of people trying this are smart, but just as many are dumb. How could I act confused, fool around a bit, and end up taking the scammer for $10 instead of the other way around? THAT would be a scam.
I used to know somebody who pulled this con a few times. First time they did it they came out £5 worse off than they'd gone in. What they'd managed to do was forget that the £5 note they'd given the cashier was actually theirs, and they only took the 4 £1 coins back. It sounds stupid, but it was their first time doing it and even they couldn't keep track :P.
Next time they tried it when I was with them they took a 10 off the cashier no problem, and we still go in that shop fairly often, they just have no idea.
As for Canadian coins and American notes. I'm from the UK and here we have a similar thing, coins up to £5, then different sizes and colors of notes for the above and beyond. While I was aware of my friend doing this one, it never seemed to bother him. Not sure if he still does it.
The only problem I have seen is where the cashier insists on counting the money before handing over the 10. Which is exactly what you want to do if you've trying to keep yourself safe from this! :^^
What I am interested in hearing are alternate versions of the same scam. It's easy to recognize the one we know about, but I'd like to hear some variations. - Oh, and this is my first post, really liking Scam School, can hardly wait for the next episode.
thizzlebot
09-11-2009, 07:59 AM
On the contrary, my intention is very much to keep people from falling for it. When I was 17, I worked at a movie theater and had never heard of the short change. I got taken for $50, and it was super-embarrassing...
If people are going to recognize the shortchange, they're going to have to understand it, and the best way to do that is to take them "on the inside" of the scam. Once they "get" it, they'll be able to recognize one from a mile away (a tool I didn't have back when I was 17).
lol i worked at a theater too and looking back i think ive had this pulled on me
cowboy69
09-12-2009, 07:06 PM
This con is actually called Change Raising, and not Short Change, which is something else entirely. It works in USA, UK, and in Canada as well I'm sure, as the point is not to try to pass off one note as another (a stupid move with different-coloured notes) but to carry out multiple transactions resulting in the cashier's confusion, and ending up with you ahead.
I have pulled this one successfully a couple of times (for educational purposes, of course!) in Spain, where I don't even speak the lingo. Acting like a confused tourist helps.
In my first few attempts I ended up just one euro up on the deal, because the 9 euros (supposed to be ten) were quickly 'dumped' into the register without further counting, wiping out the rest of the con '...you'd better check that' bit. I must have an honest face!Still, as I like to say, 1 euro up is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!
Eventually I managed to get everything to work as shown on the video clip below
Tip: Don't try this in your home town, or anywhere you go regularly, like a bar or convenience store. You will not be welcomed back! They may not be entirely sure how you did it, but they will know it was you when their register is down 10 bux at close of business.
For another pro look at this con, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTuy2MsevC8
To see some ACTUAL short-change cons, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOR6mqY2lU4
The Real Hustle (UK) is a GREAT source of info on scams, hustles, prop bets, and other shinanigans and mischief. Google it... Youtube it... learn it!