This American Life - 86: How to Take Money from Strangers

Broadcast on: 12 Dec 1997

Nick Ward didn't just convince strangers to hand him money on the street. He talked them into going to their bank machines if they didn't have money on them. He talked them into going back to their apartments if they didn't have their cash card with them. Some of the people he talked into giving him money two and three times. And when they left him, a lot of these people hugged him. They said, "God bless you." They felt good about themselves. They'd been conned and they never felt better. There's an artist for you, that's a gift. (upbeat music) Well, from WB EZ Chicago and Public Radio International, it is this American life. I'm Ira Glass. Each week on our program, of course, we choose some theme, bring you a variety of stories on that theme. Today's program, How to Take Money from Strangers. We're bringing you three stories today about nerve and entrepreneurial spirit and everything that makes this country great. Plus, of course, lying and deception everything that makes it a more complicated place to live. We have three case studies today. One on the street, one in the salons of the wealthy, one on the phone. (upbeat music) At one of our program, St. Nick, con man who makes money partly by making people feel like they are good people, living in a good country. Back to what makes Grammy run at the end of the economic spectrum, a legitimate businessman who makes us living by selling, I have to say, a very similar picture of the world to his customers, who are the very rich. That story from Sarah Val. Act three, futures market. The true story of how writer Stephen Glass took money from strangers by selling hope and fear when he got a job as a telephone psychic. A rare look inside that very American business. Stay with us. (upbeat music) Act one. St. Nick. Well, when this American life producer Nancy Updick started working on this particular story, she was making phone calls to Philadelphia

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