Episode 62: Crack the Government Conspiracy! [Discussion]

[travislopes]

Brian hangs out with the crew from CO-OP and schools them on how to uncover a conspiracy theory!

Watch and download here.

[eminemdrdre00]

I love Scam School!

[therage800]

"Before we all go to hell.... Over a card trick" ROFLMAO

[thejbug]

Another one that I do regularly and keep set up with a couple of friends. A few thoughts:

Since you don't necessarily want to force your buddy to -always- pick up his phone with suit names every time you call, try modifying the script:

Buddy: Hello?
You: Hey, I'd like to speak to... [slight pause for dramatic effect]... The government.
Buddy: [Starts naming VALUES - note that I've switched the order here]
You: [Confused, breaking in at the right card value] Uhh.... I was holding for The Government?
Buddy: Sorry, hold please.
You: Thanks.
Buddy: [Starts naming suits in a loop]
You: [Breaking in after a 'sufficient' hold time, sounding confused] Uhh... Hello?
Buddy: [Reads back the card, just to confirm]
You: [If the card is correct] Oh, hi, is this [dramatic pause] The Government?

And then the conversation goes on from there. Your buddy now knows the card and has double-checked it.

If somehow things go sour and your buddy reads off the WRONG card at the end (Say, the 4 of clubs instead of the 3. We modify the script slightly:
Buddy: [Reads back the card, just to confirm]
You: [If the card is incorrect] Hello? Hellooo?
Buddy: [hangs up, knowing something went wrong]
You: [To crowd] Damn bureaucratic mess. Wanna try again? [They will]

The second time through, instead of being confused before the "Uh... I was holding..." line, add some anger: "Can't you guys get SOMETHING right? I was holding for the government...".

Also note that I swapped the suit and value order. This is so that the hold times seem more like you're actually on hold. We actually had someone call us on it once: Wanted to hear the hold music and we were boned. So we've built in a trap for that, too. If someone asks to hear the hold music - cough. Buddy's new script:
Thanks for calling. All of our agents and mind control specialists are currently busy... assisting... other citizens. Please wait and one of them will be with you soon. [10 second pause, then repeat something similar or the same]

You: [To crowd] There is no music (cheap jerks)... just silence and the occasional 'thanks for holding crap' [Hand one the phone, buddy is already in repeating loop.

Usually, they'll be satisfied after a few seconds and hand the phone back. You cough again, signalling to your buddy that you've got the phone back and the trick can continue. This happens so rarely that you'll probably never have to worry about it, but when it does, they'll be even more amazed.

Just helping to cover bases.

[puff of smoke]

Originally Posted by thejbug

Another one that I do regularly and keep set up with a couple of friends. A few thoughts:

Since you don't necessarily want to force your buddy to -always- pick up his phone with suit names every time you call, try modifying the script:

Buddy: Hello?
You: Hey, I'd like to speak to... [slight pause for dramatic effect]... The government.
Buddy: [Starts naming VALUES - note that I've switched the order here]
You: [Confused, breaking in at the right card value] Uhh.... I was holding for The Government?
Buddy: Sorry, hold please.
You: Thanks.
Buddy: [Starts naming suits in a loop]
You: [Breaking in after a 'sufficient' hold time, sounding confused] Uhh... Hello?
Buddy: [Reads back the card, just to confirm]
You: [If the card is correct] Oh, hi, is this [dramatic pause] The Government?

And then the conversation goes on from there. Your buddy now knows the card and has double-checked it.

If somehow things go sour and your buddy reads off the WRONG card at the end (Say, the 4 of clubs instead of the 3. We modify the script slightly:
Buddy: [Reads back the card, just to confirm]
You: [If the card is incorrect] Hello? Hellooo?
Buddy: [hangs up, knowing something went wrong]
You: [To crowd] Damn bureaucratic mess. Wanna try again? [They will]

The second time through, instead of being confused before the "Uh... I was holding..." line, add some anger: "Can't you guys get SOMETHING right? I was holding for the government...".

Also note that I swapped the suit and value order. This is so that the hold times seem more like you're actually on hold. We actually had someone call us on it once: Wanted to hear the hold music and we were boned. So we've built in a trap for that, too. If someone asks to hear the hold music - cough. Buddy's new script:
Thanks for calling. All of our agents and mind control specialists are currently busy... assisting... other citizens. Please wait and one of them will be with you soon. [10 second pause, then repeat something similar or the same]

You: [To crowd] There is no music (cheap jerks)... just silence and the occasional 'thanks for holding crap' [Hand one the phone, buddy is already in repeating loop.

Usually, they'll be satisfied after a few seconds and hand the phone back. You cough again, signalling to your buddy that you've got the phone back and the trick can continue. This happens so rarely that you'll probably never have to worry about it, but when it does, they'll be even more amazed.

Just helping to cover bases.

[puff of smoke]

good idea

[danhauk]

Seems like it would be a great effect. I was expecting someone to be watching or could somehow see the card in a reflection or something. Pretty good trick, and it could definitely be modified to basically anything you want.

I laughed when the "WTF? How is it possible?" came on the screen. Also, I think your phone has a small crack in it, Brian.

[trueblood]

I can't believe that you gave away "Mr. Wizard" !

Oh well... This is the PERFECT use for Google Voice, which lets you forward your GV number to multiple other phones, so you could have a "The Government" pool of friends behind one number, thus minimizing the risk of The Government having their cell phone turned off.

Since Google Voice can send your Google Voice number to the caller ID on the phone, you can even know that it's "The Government" that's calling, with a custom ring tone and everything.

[hayz]

Very fun scam, I had heard of it as Mr. Wizard before, though i cant remember where...Now i just need a person to call as The Government

[shwooddotcom]

Originally Posted by Trueblood

I can't believe that you gave away "Mr. Wizard" !

Oh well... This is the PERFECT use for Google Voice, which lets you forward your GV number to multiple other phones, so you could have a "The Government" pool of friends behind one number, thus minimizing the risk of The Government having their cell phone turned off.

Since Google Voice can send your Google Voice number to the caller ID on the phone, you can even know that it's "The Government" that's calling, with a custom ring tone and everything.

this is a BRILLIANT idea! we should form a small cabal that commits to being the government for each other.

And as for "giving up" this gem, it was only after having it suggested to me through a few web sites that I realized it was already "out there..." and if those guys have it, then we scam schoolers deserve it too!

[rabidbadger]

One of my fave eps for a while. Not just cause of the trick, which was fun, but the delivery. and how the co-op guys did their own things with it. Funny jokes, and a hilarious outtake.