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A Few Pennies for a Beer!

Thursday, December 4th, 2008 – running time 09:49
No matter what the setup, the very best scams are the ones that let the mark think they're on top, only to get punked in the end. That's what makes the penny prediction so great!

THE SETUP: reach into your pocket and pull out a bunch of change. Announce that you're going to make a prediction using a few pennies. After a bit of shuffling, close your fist around your prediction, and ask your mark to think of any two-digit number from 1 to 100. Once they're ready, have them perform the following simple calculations WITHOUT showing you any of their work:

  • start with their two-digit number
  • add up the two digits of their number, and subtract that amount from their number
  • add up the digits that make up this new number
  • divide that sum by two

To clarify, imagine they had picked the number 62. Here's what they'd do:

  • start with their two-digit number: (62)
  • add up the two digits of their number (6+2=8), and subtract that amount from their number (62-8=54)
  • add up the digits that make up this new number (5+4=9)
  • divide that sum by two (9/2=4.5)

Now imagine your mark's surprise when you bet him a beer that whatever final number they came up with will match the prediction pennies in your hand. They'll be convinced that your trick didn't work, and that they've got themselves a free beer coming. I mean, seriously: there's no way you can have 4.5 pennies in your fist, right?

Then imagine their shock when you open your fist and show that you're holding four and a HALF pennies. Zing!

THE WORK: The math takes care of itself. As long as you follow the above directions, the end result number will always be 4.5. To make the half penny, use some tin snips, garden shears, or a good pair of scissors. My suggestion is to make a few half pennies and keep 'em in your pocket for just the right moment. After all, what's it take to keep a half penny on you, and how great is it to stick it to a good mark?

Scam School homework!

1. Rent from Netflix

2. Use the Scam School code: www.netflix.com/scamschool

3. Watch "The Spanish Prisoner" starring Steve Martin, Campbell Scott, and Rickey Jay. Learn about the long con and how the Spanish Prisoner con works.

And...don't forget Scam School's Domain Smack!

Play along and have Brian introduce your domain smack in a future episode! Find out more here.

Example of a Domain Smack created by Brian: www.lil-leo-laporte.com

Highlights
Netflix ( 0:05, 6:29, 6:52, 6:59, 0:05, 6:29, 6:52, 6:59 ) Marx ( 8:49, 8:49 ) scams ( 7:00, 7:00 ) magician ( 6:39, 6:39 ) Netflix ( 0:05, 6:29, 6:52, 6:59, 0:05, 6:29, 6:52, 6:59 ) Marx ( 8:49, 8:49 ) scams ( 7:00, 7:00 ) magician ( 6:39, 6:39 )

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

" This of -- in school brought to you by Netflix. They graduate school in the gutter -- school the only show dedicated to social engineering at the bar and on the street."

" And part of pulling off a great time is getting a moment where the market is convinced that they're the ones who have a leg up on you and I don't all the single -- that doesn't as well as the penny prediction."

" prediction. I'm going to make a prediction."

" Prediction. --"

" I'm -- thinking of 36."

" And it doesn't. Looking back over at any time."

" Dream dream right. Illinois the guys did the math here about away thinking like you -- detail -- heralded I carried home. It's the other -- north. -- They always comes out."

" Now remember the key to making the petty prediction work is like freezing -- moment where the markets convinced that they've got a leg up on you. The moment you say if I have exactly that many pennies in my hands and you see a sly smile appear on their face you know you are home free and you watch yourself a free beer. Before we go too far -- do want to thank the person who taught me this -- mr. Jim Tyler. We you can actually check out online got a lot of great stuff including a fantastic book of bars candidate he relished. Now let's talk about your homework assignments. I want you to open your candles to the -- of Netflix -- in the chapter of the Spanish -- I love this movie is written by David -- got Steve -- minute it's -- Ricky -- and if you're not familiar with Virginia exotic stuff he's a very talented magician can really interesting -- you're -- inside the deep thinking that goes into a long car with this movie and you're gonna get some insight as to how the -- Spanish prisoner -- works. You don't have -- here's what you gonna do. The Netflix plans start from four dollars 99 cents as a new member you get a no risk to be free trial membership. Check it out at www. Netflix dot com slash scams cool it is important for the WWW isn't there because appeal for the WW as they'll give us credit that'll give -- money. And we don't get to give you -- schools anymore. I was still little bit of you today this time we have a special video question."

" Hey Brian. I was wondering if as a kid you were into magic and scamming like York today. What was the little brush with life I can just imagine you. Small still -- here."

" Well I'm sorry to report that little bribe us but did not have Mikey here that he did have a passing interest in magic one that I promptly gave up when I discovered girls. I have sort of how -- usually -- the magic. I didn't get in the magic again right before I left for college for. -- my show me a card trick and he made the mistake of refusing to show me how it works. He made me so mad that out of spite I decided I was gonna become a better condition and he lives that's what's starting on this whole mess descends into magic and that that -- is actually the food carts when I say the key card to get tricked me I mean it's what -- got -- all the way the magic. -- a question you like to close you can actually make your video format and posted at the board at revision three dot com slash game school or feel free to write me directly at Bryant revision three dot com. And that's we've got a very special episode we're gonna select one lucky viewer to come and clean my house. And until then I think there's a -- somewhere that's got my name on -- through that time."

" Welcome to show that side."

" That's not the intro. I make. Out of pulling off -- great con means manufacturing the moment in the Marx mine activity m.'s manufacturing the moment in the marks mind. Was that's bad writing is what that is that's my fault. I'm your host Brian rush -- in tonight's gag was a great one because I'm in I don't know. But what I say the first time that was so."

" I girls -- through -- and part of pulling off a great con is making a moment in the mind of the mark I can't. There's too many Evans is just in -- Now remember the key to making the print. Now remember the key to pulling off the penny prediction there does is the it's not those items as the peace."

" Catch me your hometown now you can get live updates about scam school meet -- follow my tour schedule and joined live -- and practice sessions by following me Brian brush would on -- it over to twitter dot com slash word and click on the follow button that's -- HW OOD can't wait to hear from you guys."

" This of -- in school brought to you by Netflix. They graduate school in the gutter -- school the only show dedicated to social engineering at the bar and on the street."

" And part of pulling off a great time is getting a moment where the market is convinced that they're the ones who have a leg up on you and I don't all the single -- that doesn't as well as the penny prediction."

" prediction. I'm going to make a prediction."

" Prediction. --"

" I'm -- thinking of 36."

" And it doesn't. Looking back over at any time."

" Dream dream right. Illinois the guys did the math here about away thinking like you -- detail -- heralded I carried home. It's the other -- north. -- They always comes out."

" Now remember the key to making the petty prediction work is like freezing -- moment where the markets convinced that they've got a leg up on you. The moment you say if I have exactly that many pennies in my hands and you see a sly smile appear on their face you know you are home free and you watch yourself a free beer. Before we go too far -- do want to thank the person who taught me this -- mr. Jim Tyler. We you can actually check out online got a lot of great stuff including a fantastic book of bars candidate he relished. Now let's talk about your homework assignments. I want you to open your candles to the -- of Netflix -- in the chapter of the Spanish -- I love this movie is written by David -- got Steve -- minute it's -- Ricky -- and if you're not familiar with Virginia exotic stuff he's a very talented magician can really interesting -- you're -- inside the deep thinking that goes into a long car with this movie and you're gonna get some insight as to how the -- Spanish prisoner -- works. You don't have -- here's what you gonna do. The Netflix plans start from four dollars 99 cents as a new member you get a no risk to be free trial membership. Check it out at www. Netflix dot com slash scams cool it is important for the WWW isn't there because appeal for the WW as they'll give us credit that'll give -- money. And we don't get to give you -- schools anymore. I was still little bit of you today this time we have a special video question."

" Hey Brian. I was wondering if as a kid you were into magic and scamming like York today. What was the little brush with life I can just imagine you. Small still -- here."

" Well I'm sorry to report that little bribe us but did not have Mikey here that he did have a passing interest in magic one that I promptly gave up when I discovered girls. I have sort of how -- usually -- the magic. I didn't get in the magic again right before I left for college for. -- my show me a card trick and he made the mistake of refusing to show me how it works. He made me so mad that out of spite I decided I was gonna become a better condition and he lives that's what's starting on this whole mess descends into magic and that that -- is actually the food carts when I say the key card to get tricked me I mean it's what -- got -- all the way the magic. -- a question you like to close you can actually make your video format and posted at the board at revision three dot com slash game school or feel free to write me directly at Bryant revision three dot com. And that's we've got a very special episode we're gonna select one lucky viewer to come and clean my house. And until then I think there's a -- somewhere that's got my name on -- through that time."

" Welcome to show that side."

" That's not the intro. I make. Out of pulling off -- great con means manufacturing the moment in the Marx mine activity m.'s manufacturing the moment in the marks mind. Was that's bad writing is what that is that's my fault. I'm your host Brian rush -- in tonight's gag was a great one because I'm in I don't know. But what I say the first time that was so."

" I girls -- through -- and part of pulling off a great con is making a moment in the mind of the mark I can't. There's too many Evans is just in -- Now remember the key to making the print. Now remember the key to pulling off the penny prediction there does is the it's not those items as the peace."

" Catch me your hometown now you can get live updates about scam school meet -- follow my tour schedule and joined live -- and practice sessions by following me Brian brush would on -- it over to twitter dot com slash word and click on the follow button that's -- HW OOD can't wait to hear from you guys."

travislopes

Started discussion: December 4, 2008 @ 9:03am GMT

Episode 38 - A Few Pennies For A Beer! [Discussion]

No matter what the setup, the very best scams are the ones that let the mark think they're on top, only to get punked in the end. That's what makes the penny prediction so great

Watch and get scammed here.

Hayz
12 months ago
In reply to travislopes:
No matter what the setup, the very best scams are the ones that let the mark think they're on top, only to get punked in the end. That's what makes the penny prediction so great

Watch and get scammed here.


hmmm, very nice trick, now i have to make half a penny...
comeoneileen
12 months ago

When you pick 11

A little behind the scenes here....

Brian likes to try some of the puzzle tricks on me while prepping for the shoot, mostly because I ALWAYS fall for them - ALWAYS. Maybe in a future episode, i'll finally get scammed for the cameras? Maybe.

For the penny prediction I chose 11. So the trick went:

1 + 1 = 2

11 - 2 = 9

For the next step, I got a little confused when Brian said, "now add the two digits of that number and add them together". Whaa???? I don't have two digits. Thinking I did something wrong, I did the math again.

Pretty quickly Brian figured out what I had and said it didn't matter, and skipped to the step that makes you divide that number by 2. Of course I didn't question anything. I honestly thought I had done something wrong with my math and never in a thousand years think he would have half a penny in his hand.

In thinking about it, the same result would happen if your mark picks anything btw 10-19.
paperleight
12 months ago

What if someone chose a # between 1-9?

The statement "Pick a two-digit number between 1-100" technically doesn't make much sense.

What if the target chose number 1 thru 9 as their starting point? Simply adding a zero in front makes it a two digit number. Then following the instructions as stated in the scam:

* start with their two-digit number: (05)
* add up the two digits of their number (0+5=5), and subtract that amount from their number (5-5=0, or 00)
* add up the digits that make up this new number (0+0=0)
* divide that sum by two (0/2=0)

Therefore, starting off with numbers 1 thru 9 will NOT work in this scam.

Also what if the target chose 100 as their starting point? Obviously 100 isn't a two digit number, so why even include it in the original statement? But for the sake of argument, following the instructions as stated in the scam:

* start with their two-digit number: (100)
* add up the two digits of their number (1+0+0=1), and subtract that amount from their number (100-1=99)
* add up the digits that make up this new number (9+9=18)
* divide that sum by two (18/2=9)

Therefore, starting off with the number 100 will NOT work for this scam, either.

Let's Review:

If the target chooses the numbers 1-9, or 100, the scam will NOT work. So the statement of "pick a two digit number between 1-100" if pointless. Using the examples above, you can correct it by simply saying "Pick a number between 10-99." Saying it that way doesn't have a nice ring to it, unfortunately.

I hate to play the roll of party pooper, but what I stated above is very important to make this scam work. Even correcting it won't make it sound much better either. Nevertheless I like the idea, and will be trying this scam as well, hoping the above doesn't happen!

Thanks for all you do, Brian!!

Sincerely,
Brian from Jenks, USA
shwooddotcom
12 months ago
In reply to paperleight:
What if the target chose number 1 thru 9 as their starting point? Simply adding a zero in front makes it a two digit number.


If you want my judge's ruling: I'm gonna say...No. The numbers 1 through 9 are not two-digit numbers. In fact, I'm pretty sure they're the very definition of single digit numbers.

But you're right, it is redundant to say "a two-digit number between 1 and 100," since all two-digit numbers are already between 1 and 100 (except the negative integers). But it sounds nice, and it's not as distracting as saying "I would like you to pick any two-digit positive integer between and including eleven and ninety-nine," which would be more accurate.

some other equally redundant phrases:

AC current -- Alternating Current current
ATM machine -- Automated Teller Machine machine
DAT tape -- Digital Audio Tape tape
DC current -- Direct Current current
HIV virus -- Human Immunodeficiency Virus virus
IRA account -- Individual Retirement Account account
LAN network -- Local Area Network network
LCD display -- Liquid Crystal Display display
PIN number -- Personal Identification Number number
RF frequency -- Radio Frequency frequency
SALT talks -- Strategic Arms Limitation Talks talks
UPC code -- Universal Product Code code

PS - Watching the episode, I totally noticed the odd phrasing I used myself, but decided that it would be a bigger deal to change it than just go with it as is.
astx813
12 months ago
In reply to shwooddotcom:
some other equally redundant phrases:

ATM machine -- Automated Teller Machine machine
PIN number -- Personal Identification Number number

Gah, in my family these two are on all our list of pet peeves. I fight the power by calling them AT Machines around the people who say ATM Machine...
shwooddotcom
12 months ago
In reply to paperleight:
I hate to play the roll of party pooper, but what I stated above is very important to make this scam work. Even correcting it won't make it sound much better either. Nevertheless I like the idea, and will be trying this scam as well, hoping the above doesn't happen!


Hey Brian-- Don't forget, too that you're the one in control, and if someone screws up the trick by picking a single digit number, then you'll get a few minutes of comedy out of it... "let me get this straight: I asked you for a TWO DIGIT NUMBER..." etc. etc.

Plus: the best part is that you'll know something's gone wrong before you show your prediction, allowing you to chide them and re-do everything.
MetallicNitro
12 months ago
there is also a variation to this:

Pick any number
Double it
add 10
Divide it in half
now subtract the original number you started with from the number you have now and you should get 5.

Let's try it out:

10 > 20 > 30 > 15 > (15-10) = 5
0 > 0 > 10 > 5 > (5-0) = 5
100 > 200 > 210 > 105 (105-100) = 5
17 > 34 > 44 > 22 > (22-17) = 5
dmann
12 months ago
My favorite:

RBI's -- Runs batted in('s???)


In reply to shwooddotcom:
If you want my judge's ruling: I'm gonna say...No. The numbers 1 through 9 are not two-digit numbers. In fact, I'm pretty sure they're the very definition of single digit numbers.

But you're right, it is redundant to say "a two-digit number between 1 and 100," since all two-digit numbers are already between 1 and 100 (except the negative integers). But it sounds nice, and it's not as distracting as saying "I would like you to pick any two-digit positive integer between and including eleven and ninety-nine," which would be more accurate.

some other equally redundant phrases:

AC current -- Alternating Current current
ATM machine -- Automated Teller Machine machine
DAT tape -- Digital Audio Tape tape
DC current -- Direct Current current
HIV virus -- Human Immunodeficiency Virus virus
IRA account -- Individual Retirement Account account
LAN network -- Local Area Network network
LCD display -- Liquid Crystal Display display
PIN number -- Personal Identification Number number
RF frequency -- Radio Frequency frequency
SALT talks -- Strategic Arms Limitation Talks talks
UPC code -- Universal Product Code code

PS - Watching the episode, I totally noticed the odd phrasing I used myself, but decided that it would be a bigger deal to change it than just go with it as is.
uuilliam
12 months ago
metallic the cwhole point of it being 4.5 is so the "mark" things oh you cant get half a penny so no way hes getting this" with 5 it doesnt have the same effect
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