scam artist
21 movies and shows
I Care a Lot
Fri, 19 Feb 2021
A court-appointed legal guardian defrauds her older clients and traps them under her care. But her latest mark comes with some unexpected baggage.
The Family
Fri, 13 Sep 2013
After ratting out his Mafia cohorts, Giovanni Manzoni and his family enter the Witness Protection Program and relocate to a sleepy town in France. Despite the best efforts of their handler to keep them in line, Giovanni (now called Fred Blake), his wife and children can't help but resort to doing things the "family" way. However, their dependence on such old habits places everyone in danger from vengeful mobsters.
Punch-Drunk Love
Fri, 11 Oct 2002
A socially awkward and volatile small business owner meets the love of his life after being threatened by a gang of scammers.
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Fri, 06 Mar 1936
An American boy turns out to be the heir of a wealthy British earl. He is sent to live with the irritable and unsentimental aristocrat, his grandfather.
Robots
Wed, 26 Apr 2023
A womanizer and a gold digger trick people into relationships with illegal robot doubles. When they unwittingly use this scam on each other, their robot doubles fall in love and elope, forcing the duo to team up to hunt them down before the authorities discover their secret.
Traveller
Fri, 18 Apr 1997
A young man, Pat, visits the clan of gypsy-like grifters (Irish Travellers) in rural North Carolina from whom he is descended. He is at first rejected, but cousin Bokky takes him on as an apprentice. Pat learns the game while Bokky falls in love and desires a different life. Written by Jeff Hole
Uncle Charles
Wed, 21 Mar 2012
Diagnosed with an incurable illness, Charles, a rugby tycoon who has made a fortune in New Zealand prints an ad in his hometown looking for his sister that he's not seen in fifty years. A notary clerk, believing that Charles has a terminal illness responds to Charles' search for heirs claiming to be his sister. Charles finds that he was misdiagnosed and returns to France to meet his long lost sister.
The Magician
Fri, 26 Dec 1958
Dr. Vogler's, a nineteenth-century traveling mesmerist and peddler of potions, magic is put to the test in Stockholm by the cruel, eminently rational royal medical adviser Dr. Vergérus.
The Mystic
Sat, 26 Sep 1925
Zara, a phony psychic in a Hungarian carnival who, under the guidance of a Svengali-like con man crashes — and proceeds to swindle — American high society.
Black Sheep
Thu, 01 Aug 1935
On an ocean liner crossing a professional gambler comes to the aid of a naive young man victimized by a jewel thief. The young man turns out to be his son he's not seen since infancy.
The Masked Scammer
Thu, 01 Dec 2022
Featuring interviews with his accomplices and victims alike, this deep dive explores how a master con man scammed French elites out of millions of euros.
Buzzard
Fri, 06 Mar 2015
Paranoia forces small-time scam artist Marty to flee his hometown and hide out in a dangerous Detroit. With nothing but a pocket full of bogus checks, his Power Glove, and a bad temper, the horror metal slacker lashes out.
Sucker Money
Tue, 28 Feb 1933
A phony spiritualist hypnotizes the daughter of a wealthy banker in a scheme to swindle the banker out of his money. A reporter investigating the swami discovers the plot, determines to expose it.
The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story
Wed, 13 Mar 2019
The life and crimes of boy band impresario Lou Pearlman. The film tracks his life from discovering NSYNC and Backstreet Boys, to his perpetration of one of the largest ponzi schemes in US history.
Fast Talking
Thu, 16 Aug 1984
A bright young teenager from a broken home uses his quick wits and glib tongue to get out of trouble - but they also get him into it.
Romantic Undertaking
Mon, 01 Jan 1996
A woman takes in a lodger to help with the debts of her funeral business.
Alias French Gertie
Sun, 20 Apr 1930
A safecracker poses as a French maid in order to gain access to wealthy homes. In the midst of a nocturnal search for a cache of valuables, she is interrupted by another safecracker. Narrowly escaping arrest, they decide to pool their talents, but she gets the urge to reform and encourages him to do the same.
Look Closer: The Rise and Fall of Robert Benfer
Mon, 10 Dec 2018
In 2013, online clay animator Robert Benfer scammed hundreds of fans out of thousands of dollars and has continued to become less of the independent film icon he used to be, though his unique influence on video creators remains to this day. This film not only sheds light on how Benfer's films impacted young filmmakers, but also how a talented independent artist can fall from grace no matter how obscure they are.
Give Till It Hurts
Sat, 18 Sep 1937
This entry in the Crime Does Not Pay series focuses on charity fraud. Two scam artists set themselves up as 'philanthropists' to help raise money for a local clinic, but the funds they raise never get to help the people who need it.
Untitled Lupita Nyong'o/Rihanna Project
Invalid Date
Plot speculated. Story pitched on Twitter centers on a scheming character (Rihanna) and her computer-smart best friend (Lupita Nyong'o).