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Tip-over Box: The Perfect Impromptu Rigged Game

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 – running time 10:41
This week's scam is perfect in so many ways: you can do it anytime, anywhere, with borrowed items you'd find at the bar, and best of all: it's a totally rigged game that lets you decide who wins and who loses.

Segments

The props couldn't be simpler: just find an empty matchbox that has the same design on both sides. Set it on the table with the inside tray facing up (we'll call that "right side up") and start making a simple game of balancing the box with one side on the edge of the table and the other on your fingertip.

The challenge is to bring up your hand slowly enough that when the box reaches the vertical position, it stands erect without tipping over. It's okay if you flub the first couple of tries (it genuinely is a minor challenge), but eventually get it right and declare yourself "Awesome."

Once you've done it a few times, your mark should be interested in giving it a go himself. Explain the rules, and set it up the same way for him. First try, he'll probably get it (and not see what's so hard about it). Perfect. Once he has won a few times in a row, tell him he's only got beginners luck, and bet him a beer that he can't do it three times in a row.

Once he agrees, set up the box "right side up" for the first two tries, but for the third one, flip it with the internal tray upside-down. The box won't look any different, but this time, when he raises his fingers up, the distribution of weight inside the matchbox will make it impossible for him to win. Every time, the box will overcompensate and fall forward, guaranteeing you a free tasty beverage.

Brian setting up the tip over box trick and fooling his audience

00:44

Play

Brian explaining the Tip Over Box trick

05:21

Play

Highlights
bart scott ( 1:02 ) heart attack ( 5:51 ) global warming ( 10:04 ) host brian ( 0:30 )

Automatically Generated Transcript(may not be 100% accurate) ( more )

" This week is totally fair game."

" Except for the fact that you decide who wins. It's diabolical upset of Scam School brought to you by the evil geniuses at Squarespace."

" Will -- like finding forty dollars in the pocket of your best friends winter coats. Scam School the only show dedicated to social engineering. Up the bar and on the streets and a host Brian Brushwood and there's nothing better than a gag where you decide who wins."

" And better yet who loses any time anywhere without -- mind we're gonna check out the tip over box."

" I cannot -- this this is usually exciting for me to jail instead of fans who came out just mailed -- still going on -- Bryant earlier and money Matt. That fit that he -- Drew excellent way to make a brigade. Ever Bart Scott back I think I'd say that the way California. I don't know for sure that everybody does that bad -- for much -- business so they don't look. Definitely -- But is actually pretty hard which you did you get a box that matches. Got emptied -- that we have -- Boston."

" right here. The -- like him underneath -- down right."

" Especially up after it had to be doing. But he did have yet arrived. -- A new favorite word in red divide clearly you're not right here what -- belt object again. Back that they go back that is that it can be done."

" Yeah yeah."

" Kids are having anything right where you drive gulf war. There in California. -- okay but on the other hand write about it I think I."

" It was -- you've got it you've got a problem is it like halfway off. I mean this stuff that we got at a stop light."

" You thought -- injuries."

" I've got to go out on top party -- roll over. And then you're done. Right right right right. There go my way out and profitable over the top. Possible. -- want -- it up."

" right at -- did resembled this isn't exactly. Lineup did was thinking twice about halfway up my heart of -- Slowly slow things well."

" That little. Here you sort out -- Philadelphia clearly goods must --"

" These may -- looked easy it doesn't it doesn't. That night. I I can do not drive or William Bennett moved under although it probably gives golf fans is they know -- not enough."

" They're like dude. You're Brian graduate I'm not behind a second of any of this -- do one more chance more brilliant this time I'd just a tight like you didn't. I -- you a -- you don't get this on you buy you beer and and I talk some more after the break. I'll today meeting here that. Here's an alignment."

" And now it's -- you know."

" Yeah okay."

" That black hair. You win -- back after -- record I've thought about five that they scanned the possible. All right guys we'll talk about Squarespace by now -- know that everyone who's ever mattered in the history of the Internet is switching over to square things I've done it. Jeff canal has done at the guys from bill might have done it and you know why we're switching over you know that they have to -- place that looked like they were constantly fight award winning design. You already know how easy it is to make changes and update you could you print dead monkey and make this site. And you know that you could create an account in thirty seconds with no credit card right now the only question is wings' lineup for square space and you will. Who's promo code or you've got to use put the promo code Scam School all one word and and not only when you get 10% off. The lifetime of your order not only will you be using the best website publishing system. On the Internet which shall also be getting mad props to the people who can you swimming and free booze here at Scam School. By the way you -- wanna get on that account fast because I'm working on a brand new -- I hope to bring you in the next couple weeks that row lies on the Squarespace system. Details to come stick around."

" This little beautiful I can do is you can't -- it's obvious that traditionally the way they do all it does it's of the scam artist. It has to be like look all -- is -- not over and over and over again. What is that thing is that -- there's fewer of you like to decide what it would always be able to make it and then it would be totally right if the light and simple all. Five of matchbox. As racist and on bolt struck. How hard -- had -- heart attack -- actually go out and that's go to our I had found a couple about what's happened at double sided. -- can't help argument against bringing it. This case I didn't happen to have won the important that we -- all I didn't take too."

" Regular. Match bullets struck them apart and slice them into one big -- What you don't even have apologized but decided why we don't if you have a hard time you would write down the matches up. When you do it -- make sure that the great. He's normal. That you come off. And just very slowly very carefully raise your hand. Until it that's the other thing you real quick I want you noted that if we have too far down. There's no way to get a light up it always fall right over health where grants to show credit card I report and edit the other way you'll know the --"

" I set it up. -- down. For both beautiful it's time for that as you -- about. Over seeing things that you set it up and write down comes -- Now. Hopefully what you -- right it it is hard look. And they still think it's still. That's what I put it you know -- I don't do it again what I do it by play here it's about and then stopped the move forward. And -- hikes and a bright -- look at that great forgive me -- you girl. But if -- what you girl. And her boyfriend or whatever I would -- is the Obama Girl and my ladies and which will."

" It's a straight right out. And then up you go -- And then I'd say it's -- Franken trotted alone you're jealous boyfriend that's right."

" I am can't you."

" And -- are down. I tell you wanna make this I did this sort of like a 101 loser type thing Altman and it was actually make money -- kind of -- what you dude loosen it up for herself. You clean the hard on the first go."

" The first time you set it up upon them."

" That they seem that a --"

" Second time he thinks Wright again and you give them advice but first I let them fail -- second time. Give them some advice tell them to come halfway up."

" And it's not -- and is that right cut capacity you've let them lose one look at what what one -- We -- that -- I tell you what you may know how it's done -- think you're not gonna be available green around a -- to appear on that."

" Now challenging -- yet no one one setup. He set it up again -- the wind threat that -- yet."

" That's -- one driving him. --"

" But they're like you're not to be able to do it third time gulf war. The line. So that severe for a day."

" Good luck he's so -- so brilliantly -- these results are recognizable why the big benefits Greg thank you guys don't like you got out --"

" That what you're doing the tip over box avoid the temptation to win every time that's amateur hour troops -- Knows how to do stuff. If you're working one on one -- should they win two out of three times and it's all the last time when they were also close. That they actually fail -- to people that one up with the winner and the other one of the loser you'll get much more mileage out of respect. Speaking -- don't want to his bedroom -- stories and let him failures. Talk about the board revision3.com. Slash Scam School don't forget that's also where you can see every single episode all the way back to episode one. If you wanna suggest your favorite -- him -- indirectly app Brian revision3.com. You're doing this Twitter thing you could follow me personally yet twitter.com slash would. The bottles and you'll have pleaded not alt plus -- school next week we'll be starting -- telethon where we come back global warming. One cold -- this time. It would have been --"

" This week is totally fair game."

" Except for the fact that you decide who wins. It's diabolical upset of Scam School brought to you by the evil geniuses at Squarespace."

" Will -- like finding forty dollars in the pocket of your best friends winter coats. Scam School the only show dedicated to social engineering. Up the bar and on the streets and a host Brian Brushwood and there's nothing better than a gag where you decide who wins."

" And better yet who loses any time anywhere without -- mind we're gonna check out the tip over box."

" I cannot -- this this is usually exciting for me to jail instead of fans who came out just mailed -- still going on -- Bryant earlier and money Matt. That fit that he -- Drew excellent way to make a brigade. Ever Bart Scott back I think I'd say that the way California. I don't know for sure that everybody does that bad -- for much -- business so they don't look. Definitely -- But is actually pretty hard which you did you get a box that matches. Got emptied -- that we have -- Boston."

" right here. The -- like him underneath -- down right."

" Especially up after it had to be doing. But he did have yet arrived. -- A new favorite word in red divide clearly you're not right here what -- belt object again. Back that they go back that is that it can be done."

" Yeah yeah."

" Kids are having anything right where you drive gulf war. There in California. -- okay but on the other hand write about it I think I."

" It was -- you've got it you've got a problem is it like halfway off. I mean this stuff that we got at a stop light."

" You thought -- injuries."

" I've got to go out on top party -- roll over. And then you're done. Right right right right. There go my way out and profitable over the top. Possible. -- want -- it up."

" right at -- did resembled this isn't exactly. Lineup did was thinking twice about halfway up my heart of -- Slowly slow things well."

" That little. Here you sort out -- Philadelphia clearly goods must --"

" These may -- looked easy it doesn't it doesn't. That night. I I can do not drive or William Bennett moved under although it probably gives golf fans is they know -- not enough."

" They're like dude. You're Brian graduate I'm not behind a second of any of this -- do one more chance more brilliant this time I'd just a tight like you didn't. I -- you a -- you don't get this on you buy you beer and and I talk some more after the break. I'll today meeting here that. Here's an alignment."

" And now it's -- you know."

" Yeah okay."

" That black hair. You win -- back after -- record I've thought about five that they scanned the possible. All right guys we'll talk about Squarespace by now -- know that everyone who's ever mattered in the history of the Internet is switching over to square things I've done it. Jeff canal has done at the guys from bill might have done it and you know why we're switching over you know that they have to -- place that looked like they were constantly fight award winning design. You already know how easy it is to make changes and update you could you print dead monkey and make this site. And you know that you could create an account in thirty seconds with no credit card right now the only question is wings' lineup for square space and you will. Who's promo code or you've got to use put the promo code Scam School all one word and and not only when you get 10% off. The lifetime of your order not only will you be using the best website publishing system. On the Internet which shall also be getting mad props to the people who can you swimming and free booze here at Scam School. By the way you -- wanna get on that account fast because I'm working on a brand new -- I hope to bring you in the next couple weeks that row lies on the Squarespace system. Details to come stick around."

" This little beautiful I can do is you can't -- it's obvious that traditionally the way they do all it does it's of the scam artist. It has to be like look all -- is -- not over and over and over again. What is that thing is that -- there's fewer of you like to decide what it would always be able to make it and then it would be totally right if the light and simple all. Five of matchbox. As racist and on bolt struck. How hard -- had -- heart attack -- actually go out and that's go to our I had found a couple about what's happened at double sided. -- can't help argument against bringing it. This case I didn't happen to have won the important that we -- all I didn't take too."

" Regular. Match bullets struck them apart and slice them into one big -- What you don't even have apologized but decided why we don't if you have a hard time you would write down the matches up. When you do it -- make sure that the great. He's normal. That you come off. And just very slowly very carefully raise your hand. Until it that's the other thing you real quick I want you noted that if we have too far down. There's no way to get a light up it always fall right over health where grants to show credit card I report and edit the other way you'll know the --"

" I set it up. -- down. For both beautiful it's time for that as you -- about. Over seeing things that you set it up and write down comes -- Now. Hopefully what you -- right it it is hard look. And they still think it's still. That's what I put it you know -- I don't do it again what I do it by play here it's about and then stopped the move forward. And -- hikes and a bright -- look at that great forgive me -- you girl. But if -- what you girl. And her boyfriend or whatever I would -- is the Obama Girl and my ladies and which will."

" It's a straight right out. And then up you go -- And then I'd say it's -- Franken trotted alone you're jealous boyfriend that's right."

" I am can't you."

" And -- are down. I tell you wanna make this I did this sort of like a 101 loser type thing Altman and it was actually make money -- kind of -- what you dude loosen it up for herself. You clean the hard on the first go."

" The first time you set it up upon them."

" That they seem that a --"

" Second time he thinks Wright again and you give them advice but first I let them fail -- second time. Give them some advice tell them to come halfway up."

" And it's not -- and is that right cut capacity you've let them lose one look at what what one -- We -- that -- I tell you what you may know how it's done -- think you're not gonna be available green around a -- to appear on that."

" Now challenging -- yet no one one setup. He set it up again -- the wind threat that -- yet."

" That's -- one driving him. --"

" But they're like you're not to be able to do it third time gulf war. The line. So that severe for a day."

" Good luck he's so -- so brilliantly -- these results are recognizable why the big benefits Greg thank you guys don't like you got out --"

" That what you're doing the tip over box avoid the temptation to win every time that's amateur hour troops -- Knows how to do stuff. If you're working one on one -- should they win two out of three times and it's all the last time when they were also close. That they actually fail -- to people that one up with the winner and the other one of the loser you'll get much more mileage out of respect. Speaking -- don't want to his bedroom -- stories and let him failures. Talk about the board revision3.com. Slash Scam School don't forget that's also where you can see every single episode all the way back to episode one. If you wanna suggest your favorite -- him -- indirectly app Brian revision3.com. You're doing this Twitter thing you could follow me personally yet twitter.com slash would. The bottles and you'll have pleaded not alt plus -- school next week we'll be starting -- telethon where we come back global warming. One cold -- this time. It would have been --"

travislopes

Started discussion: September 10, 2009 @ 4:54am GMT

Episode 78: Tip-over box: the perfect impromptu rigged game [Discussion]

This week's scam is perfect in so many ways: you can do it anytime, anywhere, with borrowed items you'd find at the bar, and best of all: it's a totally rigged game that lets you decide who wins and who loses.

Watch and download here.

masterevilace
2 months ago
Had this figured out instantly, although still a good trick to play... I can't imagine everyone would let you keep touching the box repeatedly..
shwooddotcom
2 months ago
In reply to masterevilace:
Had this figured out instantly, although still a good trick to play... I can't imagine everyone would let you keep touching the box repeatedly..


Why wouldn't they? Remember, you're not doing a magic trick, you're just playing a game... that they seem to have trouble winning.

Presentation is key, remember.
danhauk
2 months ago
Nice one! This will definitely be an easy one to get people with. I had no idea what it was, I thought maybe one side bulged out making it rounded on the bottom.

I also really liked the way you had one player able to do it and one suck at it. Screwing with people's psyche is always a good plus in a scam ;)
masterevilace
2 months ago
In reply to shwooddotcom:
Why wouldn't they? Remember, you're not doing a magic trick, you're just playing a game... that they seem to have trouble winning.

Presentation is key, remember.


This is true, however I most certainly would probably reset the box myself after failing the first time. Given that I failed, the box would have been flipped over, I would have just slid it to the edge of the table and tried again (and would have succeeded)

You would need to stay in control of the box. I suppose in this case you could just give up and go, "hey you got it"... but can you really do that when clearly beer is on the line???
chrissmith_156
2 months ago
In reply to shwooddotcom:
Why wouldn't they? Remember, you're not doing a magic trick, you're just playing a game... that they seem to have trouble winning.

Presentation is key, remember.


I spotted you setting it up differently each time right away as well. However, maybe we scam school viewers are just inherently distrusting for some reason...

There is no real objection you can give if they grab the box without giving yourself away. Think if I was the mark I would handle the box more myself, especially if we were playing for a beer!
nickklein
2 months ago
Maybe use it as your first scam (or else they'll know you're scamming them for drinks. They'll become skeptics), and don't forget about presentation. Let them win at first, or else they become skeptics before the scam has even started.
thorex
2 months ago
i was guessing the box inside had something to do with it but wasn't sure, but i was only thinking that because it Brian trying to sell it.

lol come to think of it Brian are any of your friends willing to play bar games with you anymore?
Capotasto
2 months ago
This is a miniture (And more reliable) version of a scam I saw on 'the real hustle' a while ago. The idea where was to use a beer bottle, they must've had a specially rigged one 'cause it was the same as the matchbox. One side would be easy, the other would fail.

I prefer the mini version though, now I just have to find a new place to buy matches. ;)
rabidbadger
2 months ago
This is a fun easy one. As long as you are in control of the box at all times. I was flumoxed at first, even though I noticed Brian handling the box all the time, I though he was pushing the "drawer" out to make it topple when he wanted it to. Similar concept. That might work, too.
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