The Crawford Inheritance

Girard

Girard

In 1898, on the brink of bankruptcy, _________, a French banker, tried contacting the woman with whom he had invested his fortune, pleading for some of the money he was owed.

Thérèse Humbert

a wealthy socialite, declined, and in desperation Girard put a gun to his head and fired.

Thérèse Daurignac

She pretended to be of noble blood and persuaded her first cousin, Frédéric Humbert, son of a prominent French mayor, to marry her.

Robert Crawford

In 1879, Thérèse told a story about an unusual inheritance, claiming she rescued the life of American millionaire, __________ on a train ride.

Rent Viagere

In 1893, Thérèse started a fictitious insurance company called _______ after becoming dissatisfied with the sizeable sums she had stolen.

inheritance

By the late 1890s, many of the individuals she had borrowed from banded together and determined that even her sizable "________" would not be enough to pay back all of her extensive loans.

1901

Her schemes came to an end in _________, when one of her creditors filed a lawsuit against her.

Madrid

Thérèse and her husband had left the country by that point. The couple was caught in ______ in December 1902 and deported back to Paris.

five-year

Thérèse and Frédéric were each given a ________ sentence of hard labor. Thérèse immigrated to the US and passed away in Chicago, Illinois, in 1918, having no money.

behavior

After selecting a target, a fraudster will research that person's ______ and speak with them to ascertain their weak points.

sympathy

Usually, the lies contain just enough truth to divert the target and enhance the plausibility of the conversation. If the victim objects, the con artist may exploit their feelings to win their _________.

Dark Triad

The "______," which includes psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism, is exhibited by many successful con artists.

Dark Triad

Because of these traits, con artists can defraud people of their money without the perpetrators feeling guilty or remorseful.

General Gregor MacGregor

In 1821–1837, _______, a con artist from Scotland, steals money from British and French businessmen who want to establish themselves in a fictitious Central American province.

Big Bertha

In 1880s, Bertha Heyman, an American con artist also known as "________," convinces a number of wealthy men to lend her money on the basis that she will repay them with the proceeds of a fictitious inheritance.

Bertha Heyman

An American con artist convinces a number of wealthy men to lend her money on the basis that she will repay them with the proceeds of a fictitious inheritance.

Cassie L. Chadwick,

In 1897–1904, a Canadian forger and con artist, defrauds banks of millions of dollars while claiming to be the illegitimate child and heiress of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie.

Andrew Carnegie

Cassie L. Chadwick, a Canadian forger and con artist, defrauds banks of millions of dollars while claiming to be the illegitimate child and heiress of steel magnate _________.

psychopathy

narcissism

Machiavellianism

Dark Triad

50 million francs

The Humberts went on spending binges, purchasing country estates, a steam yacht, and high-end clothing. They borrowed a total of _______ on the promise of their mysterious fortune.