I can;t believe there is anyone in the world who hasn;t heard of 3 card monte. They have been playing this game on the gullible forever all over the world.

The team consists of 5 people - the dealer, the shill (a person who appears to win but is actually part of the team), the dip (a pickpocket who takes things from the naive watching the game go on) and two lookouts - one in either direction - so they can pick up the whole thing and run if polce come into view.

My father explained this to me when I went to work with him on bring your child to work day - I was SIX.

Can't imagine that there is anyne who doesn't know about this - hasn;t seen this before. And if by chance someone had missed it - how anyone could think you could possibly win. These are obviously criminals and the game obviously illegal. What ever would make you think the game is fair?

Let me know when you come to NYC - I have a bridge to sell you.

NYtraveler, what kind of a bridge - along a river, or across a river? :))

Obviously not everyone knew about it or the shell game wouldn't still be paid.

I'm sorry you lost your money, Montrealvic. It's an expensive lesson.

I can see losing 20 euro or maybe 50 euro...did this guy actually think he could win?????

Bring Your Child to Work was begun in 1993 by Ms Magazine as Bring Your Daughter to Work Day.

I pictured you as a bit older, NYtraveler. :)

I heard about this when I was a kid..a loooong time ago btw. But obviously not everyone has or these shysters wouldn't still be pulling this stunt.

montrealvic, I guess you can just consider this loss of 500€ as an educational expense. But I am sorry that you fell for this scheme.

Are you kidding me?

If you go to New York City, I understand that there is a nice man there who will sell you the Brooklyn Bridge...and probably for less than 500€ if you haggle.

It's also called 'Find the lady' or 'hunt the lady'. It's been around for centuries.

A fool and his money and all that...

If you want to earn a bob or two, you can see how to do the trick at
http://tinyurl.com/ghk62

Scroll down to "Walnut shells and pea".

In Victorian times, the trick was called "thimble rigging"

Come on guys, give Vic a break. The game was new to him, he was far from home, and yes he got suckered into an a well executed scam.

He is the victim, not the perpetrator. It must have been difficult for him to admit that he was taken. Instead of keeping it to himself, he shared his expensive story, hoping to spare others the same fate.

Not everyone, Vic included, knows about this ancient scam. If they did, it would not continue to thrive.

Thank you Vic, you are to be commended for sharing your painful and expensive experience, and not chastised for being taken.

Nina

the fact that they still perpetrate this scam means that there are plenty of others who fall for it so we should give him a break.

like nyt, i also heard of this scam at a very young age....i'm surprised that they still do it.

You went to take these guys' money without earning it. Serves you right.

<b>You can't cheat an honest man.</b>

Hi Vic,

Thanks for the heads up.

Along with the shell game and 3 Card Monte, there are also people who will match quarters with you, shoot craps with loaded dice, play &quot;rock, scissors, paper&quot;, and a variety of card games.

Also beware of people in casinos who will tell you that they have lost all of their money and are willing to sell you a ring worth thousands for the cab fare home.

In fact, stay away from anyone who tries to sell you anything on the street.

Also stay away from people who ask you for a half buck so that they can get off the subway. If you think about it, you pay to get ON, not off.

Otherwise, how was your trip?

((I))

I first saw this trick outside Naples station when I was commuting there.

I watched for a few minutes, and when some gullible tourists were about to play I warned them off sottovoce.

Needless to say, I got told where to go in the most colourful Neapolitan imaginable!

Steve

I agree...he got what he deserved....why the hell was he playing and betting that kind of money...did he actually think he could win?

Robespierre---what kind of ridiculous sweeping generalization is that? I guess you've never been the victim of fraud.

Having seen this thread, I was amused by this little feature in today's Guardian
http://tinyurl.com/lhtus

It tickled me that the victim thought that three hours grooming was too much for $60

We call them in Spain &quot;trileros&quot; and, yes, it's an ancient scam :) The fact is everybody knows it..but still some people think themselves &quot;smart enough&quot; to win such a simple thing :)) I think the scam is more of a psicological one, it plays on people's ambition :) You really don't have to lose big money if you don't want to. The most habitual thing here is that there are some pickpocketing running between the people that just stops to see, not playing ! :)

500 euros!!!
Is your wife still living with you!