— The Porch —
The Tall Truth
Tales of tricksters, schemes, and the lessons they left behind.
A word from the porch
— The Archives —
Pull up a tale
Street classic — 1900s to today
THE PIGEON DROP
"A stranger 'finds' a wallet or envelope stuffed with cash and offers to split it — right after you put up a little 'good faith' money of your own."
c. 1580 – present
THE SPANISH PRISONER
"A wealthy stranger writes from a foreign jail, begging a small favor to unlock a great fortune. Four centuries later, the same letter still arrives — now by email."
1980s – present
THE NIGERIAN PRINCE (419 SCAM)
"A foreign official needs help moving millions and promises a generous cut — but every step forward requires another 'fee' from you."
Ancient Greece – street corners today
THE SHELL GAME
"Three cups, one ball, and the promise of easy money. The ball is palmed before your eyes and the crowd cheering you on is in on it."
1900s – immortalized in 'The Sting'
THE WIRE CON
"A fake betting parlor with rigged race results lets the mark 'win' a few times — until one enormous bet on the wrong horse takes everything."
Timeless — every community, every era
AFFINITY FRAUD
"A scammer joins your church, your culture, or your circle — and once trusted, sells the group a fake investment tailored to your shared values."
The Reading Table
