The Book of Swindles

The Book of Swindles (騙經), also known by its longer title, A New Book for Foiling Swindlers, Based on Worldly Experience (江湖歷覽杜騙新書), is said to be the first published and printed Chinese short story collection about fraud. Written and compiled by Zhang Yingyu (張應俞), a man who lived in the early to mid 16th-century, it was published in Fujian province in or around 1617, and most of its stories are set during the latter part of the Ming dynasty.
The book is divided into 24 chapters, each of which deals with a different type of swindle. The stories are told in a lively and entertaining style, and they provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of Chinese crime in the 16th century.
Some of the most common scams described in the book include:
* The "three-card trick": This is a classic swindle in which the scammer distracts the victim while they switch cards.
* The "pigeon drop": This is a scam in which the scammer convinces the victim that they have found a large sum of money, and then asks for their help in moving the money out of the country.
* The "fake lottery ticket": This is a scam in which the scammer sells the victim a fake lottery ticket, which they claim has won a large prize.
* The "bankruptcy scam": This is a scam in which the scammer convinces the victim that they are a wealthy businessman who has recently gone bankrupt, and then asks for their help in recovering their lost fortune.
The Book of Swindles is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn about the history of crime in China. It is also a cautionary tale about the dangers of being too trusting, and it provides valuable advice on how to avoid being scammed.
The book has been translated into English by Christopher Rea and Bruce Rusk, and it is published by Columbia University Press.
== Types of Swindle ==
The 24 categories of swindle in The Book of Swindles are:
# Misdirection and Theft: This category includes scams in which the scammer distracts the victim while they steal something from them.
# The Bag Drop: This is a scam in which the scammer drops a bag of money or valuables in front of the victim, and then pretends to be a bystander who saw the victim drop it. The scammer then asks the victim to help them find the owner of the bag, and then steals the money or valuables from the victim while they are distracted.
# Money Changing: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into exchanging their money for counterfeit money or worthless currency.
# Misrepresentation: This category includes scams in which the scammer lies to the victim about something in order to get them to give them money or valuables.
# False Relations: This category includes scams in which the scammer pretends to be a friend, relative, or business associate of the victim in order to get them to give them money or valuables.
# Brokers: This category includes scams in which the scammer pretends to be a broker or agent in order to get the victim to give them money or valuables.
# Enticement to Gambling: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into gambling, and then cheats them out of their money.
# Showing Off Wealth: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to impress the victim with their wealth in order to get them to give them money or valuables.
# Scheming for Wealth: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into giving them money or valuables by promising them a share of a large sum of money or valuables.
# Robbery: This category includes scams in which the scammer uses force or violence to steal money or valuables from the victim.
# Violence: This category includes scams in which the scammer threatens the victim with violence in order to get them to give them money or valuables.
# On Boats: This category includes scams that are specifically targeted at people who are traveling on boats.
# Poetry: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into giving them money or valuables by writing them a poem.
# Fake Silver: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to sell the victim fake silver.
# Government Underlings: This category includes scams in which the scammer pretends to be a government official in order to get the victim to give them money or valuables.
# Marriage: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into marrying them in order to get them to give them money or valuables.
# Illicit Passion: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into having an affair with them in order to get them to give them money or valuables.
# Women: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into giving them money or valuables by using a woman as bait.
# Kidnapping: This category includes scams in which the scammer kidnaps the victim and then demands a ransom from the victim's family or friends.
# Corruption in Education: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into giving them money or valuables in exchange for a place in a school or university.
# Monks and Priests: This category includes scams in which the scammer pretends to be a monk or priest in order to get the victim to give them money or valuables.
# Alchemy: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into giving them money or valuables in exchange for a promise to turn lead into gold.
# Sorcery: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into giving them money or valuables in exchange for a promise to cast a spell for them.
# Pandering: This category includes scams in which the scammer tries to trick the victim into giving them money or valuables in exchange for the services of a prostitute.
These are just some of the many types of swindles that exist. It is important to be aware of these scams so that you can protect yourself from being a victim.
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