--- title: 4 Powerful Things Con Men Can Teach You About Persuasion description: Frank Abagnale impersonated Pan Am pilots and doctors, traveled the world and scammed people for millions. And he was 17 years old at the time.... canonical: https://time.com/2941302/4-powerful-things-con-men-can-teach-you-about-persuasion/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-07-01T04:01:03.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T08:54:19.602Z article:section: Ideas og:title: 4 Powerful Things Con Men Can Teach You About Persuasion og:description: Frank Abagnale impersonated Pan Am pilots and doctors, traveled the world and scammed people for millions. And he was 17 years old at the time.... og:url: https://time.com/2941302/4-powerful-things-con-men-can-teach-you-about-persuasion/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8cfc6103194cf379/698699ee1eebf7c952371abc/169275235.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5100 og:image:height: 2869 og:image:alt: 169275235 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 4 Powerful Things Con Men Can Teach You About Persuasion twitter:description: Frank Abagnale impersonated Pan Am pilots and doctors, traveled the world and scammed people for millions. And he was 17 years old at the time.... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8cfc6103194cf379/698699ee1eebf7c952371abc/169275235.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 4 Powerful Things Con Men Can Teach You About Persuasion > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. 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There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=8cd15e13-5015-49e9-a9b6-33c2df218519&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Jul 1, 2014 4:01 AM UTC  Business people using laptop in meeting Business people using laptop in meeting Blend Images/John Fedele—Getty Images/Brand X by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Jul 1, 2014 4:01 AM UTC Frank Abagnale impersonated Pan Am pilots and doctors, traveled the world and scammed people for millions. And he was 17 years old at the time. Via [Catch Me If You Can](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FBFMHU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FBFMHU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **How can some people be so incredibly persuasive?** Looking at what’s been written by and about con men, **it’s not because their marks are dumb.** Via [The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004774D1E/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004774D1E&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- In fact, sometimes **smarter people are more gullible** and dumber people are harder to cheat. Via [The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004774D1E/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004774D1E&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- I’ve posted [many times](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/the-last-damn-thing-youll-ever-need-to-read-a-8759/) about [the psychology and techniques of persuasion](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/12/6-dramatically-persuasive/) (even interviewing the influence master himself: [Robert Cialdini](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/robert-cialdini-influence/).) So what can we learn about convincing people from those who do it most brazenly: con men? **I’m not teaching anyone to be evil. But we need to understand what works at the highest level: those who survive due to influence.** This is what [Bob Cialdini](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/robert-cialdini-influence/) did in his [groundbreaking book about influence](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/006124189X/tag=spacforrent-20): he studied used car salesmen, multi-level marketers and other less savory characters who needed the most effective methods. **So what four ethical tips can we take away from a study of the scams and cons of grifters?** ## 1) Forget Silver Tongued – Have Silver Ears **You think of con men as smooth talkers but just** [**as the psychological research recommends**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-make-people-like-you/)**, they bond with others by listening.** Via [Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470639539/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0470639539&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- [Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470639539/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0470639539&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20) is a book about the methods computer hackers use. But these tricks don’t involve tech. This is how hackers fool people into giving up their passwords. **What’s the book say? Pay attention, provide proof you’re listening, don’t interrupt, repeat what they said in your own words…** **This is the same set of methods that FBI** [**hostage negotiators**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/hostage-negotiation/) **use to**[**build rapport**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/rapport-building-skills/)**.** Former head of international hostage negotiation for the FBI, [Chris Voss](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/01/interview-negotiation-secrets-learn-top-fbi-hostage-negotiator/), recommends just that: --- > “” --- **What about with the old school con men? Same techniques.** Via [The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Man](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004774D1E/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004774D1E&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- More on effective listening [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/09/what-can-we-learn-from-fbi-hostage-negotiator/). ## 2) Confidence **They’re called “confidence men” for a reason. They exude confidence, gain your confidence and then exploit that trust.** Now some of this is plain thrill-seeking fearlessness on their part. Afraid of asking your boss for a raise? Frank Abagnale took the helm of a 747 — and he didn’t know how to fly a plane. Via [Catch Me If You Can](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FBFMHU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FBFMHU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- I’m not suggesting you give that a shot. **But we’re often too cautious and not realistic about the downside of failure — usually all we face is embarrassment.** Research shows [confidence](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-be-more-confident/) — real or not — is extremely powerful. Don’t project confidence to lie and steal but think about what you do on job interviews and first dates. **We all need to overcome our irrational doubts and fears to be our best. “**[**Fake it until you make it**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/fake-it-until-you-make-it/)**” is powerful.** Via [Catch Me If You Can](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FBFMHU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FBFMHU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- (More about the psychological techniques used by Navy SEALS to develop fearlessness [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/08/fearlessness/). And [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/how-to-be-more-confident/) is how to be more confident.) ## 3) Social Proof **The author of** [**Social Engineering**](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470639539/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0470639539&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20) **was busted with a full set of lockpicks, bump keys and hacking tools. What got him out of it?** **A simple business card.** It identified him as a security professional. And nobody knew he had printed it himself. Via [Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470639539/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0470639539&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **How did Frank Abagnale fly around the world on Pan Am planes while only in his late teens? Simple. He got a uniform.** Via [Catch Me If You Can](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FBFMHU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FBFMHU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- Don’t fake who you are. But there’s a lesson here for all of us. Often we think about proving we’re right by the facts but we really don’t consider the actual shorthand most people use to determine “truth.” They don’t get formal verification; they trust business cards and uniforms. **Don’t neglect to do the simple things that project trustworthiness even if they are, in reality, less accurate.** Dress nicely, reference mutual friends and similarity, and convey social proof markers like affiliations with impressive institutions. Social proof is one of [Cialdini’s six fundamental principles of influence](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/robert-cialdini-influence/). Don’t ignore it. ## 4) Do Your Research My friend [John Richardson](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/negotiation-tactics/), MIT lecturer on negotiation, notes: --- > “” --- And even impulsive criminals like con men agree. Via [Catch Me If You Can](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FBFMHU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FBFMHU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- **How did Frank Abagnale research his Pan Am pilot impersonation?** **He called Pan Am pretending to be a student.** Via [Catch Me If You Can](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FBFMHU/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000FBFMHU&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- Across so many professions — legal or otherwise — we see [the best work very very hard at what they do](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/05/genius-work-habits/). (More on effective work habits and becoming an expert at anything [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-author-cal-newport-on-how-you-can-become-an-expert-and-why-you-should-not-follow-your-passion/).) ## So What’s Next? For more tips on persuasion from scientific research and experts in the field, check out: 1. [6 hostage negotiation techniques that will get you what you want](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/hostage-negotiation/) 2. [Top 10 FBI Behavioral Unit Techniques For Building Rapport With Anyone](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/11/rapport-building-skills/) 3. [Robert Cialdini explains the six ways to influence people](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/robert-cialdini-influence/) **For more helpful tips, join 45K+ other readers and get my free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)**.** _This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/)_._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/2941302/4-powerful-things-con-men-can-teach-you-about-persuasion/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/2941302/4-powerful-things-con-men-can-teach-you-about-persuasion/"},"headline":"4 Powerful Things Con Men Can Teach You About Persuasion","datePublished":"2014-07-01T04:01:03.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T08:54:19.602Z","description":"Frank Abagnale impersonated Pan Am pilots and doctors, traveled the world and scammed people for millions. 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