America has always had its share of shady characters, deceptive schemers, and get-rich-quick swindlers who leave victims penniless and duped. Here, over 80 entries examine America's most underhand plots - and the dishonest men and women who created and perpetrated them. Coverage includes schemes and frauds such as accident faking, cash machine rackets, the Gold Brick swindle, Lord Gordon-Gordon, Charles Ponzi, and the Spanish prisoner.