Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny
Unlikely Reasons for Murder No. 5
Suicide is self-murder, and offing oneself because your murderous insurance scam has come unraveled seems a bit more unlikely than accepting the punishment. Extra points given for swallowing poison in front of the cops. How did he have it so handy?
Source: The Daily Journal (Commerce, Texas) 09 Nov 1956, Fri Page 1
Posted By: Paul - Thu Aug 19, 2021 -
Comments (5)
Category: Death, Suicide, Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, Stupid Criminals, 1950s
Nuclear Car Battery
Note: no actual nuclear power involved.
Source.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 03, 2020 -
Comments (3)
Category: Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, Atomic Power and Other Nuclear Matters, 1950s, Cars
Silicone Face Lifter
Get yours here!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Jul 30, 2019 -
Comments (4)
Category: Beauty, Ugliness and Other Aesthetic Issues, Body Modifications, Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny
Jemima Wilkinson Is Lord
The source.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 28, 2017 -
Comments (2)
Category: Delusions, Fantasies and Other Tricks of the Imagination, Eccentrics, Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators, Religion, Rituals and Superstitions, Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, Eighteenth Century
Coco-Bay and Chiego-Foot
Original ad here.
Holloway's Pills and Ointment were apparently miraculous as seen by the number of ailments they could cure. But I was curious about two of the more obscure ills, and managed to track them down.
Definition here.
Yes, the treatment could cure leprosy! The second disorder is much less severe.
Definition here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Apr 27, 2016 -
Comments (8)
Category: Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, Nineteenth Century, Diseases
Dracula Memento
What are the odds for this "soil" being authentic?
Original ad here. (Back cover.)
Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 15, 2016 -
Comments (11)
Category: Horror, Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, 1970s
Cobra Skins for Sale
Original ad here.
How much are you willing to bet that these snake skins were a) not cobras and b) were not imported from "British India"...?
And by the way:
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jan 20, 2016 -
Comments (8)
Category: Animals, Taxidermy, Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, 1950s
John Duval Gluck: Santa Claus Con Man
The story of this Xmas scammer--as summarized in this article--strikes me as eminently weird, and is detailed at length in the book linked to below. I trust an author whose other publication is the "Weird-o-Pedia."
Posted By: Paul - Sun Oct 04, 2015 -
Comments (1)
Category: Holidays, Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, Books, 1910s
Bile Beans
One of the less-alluringly named nostrums. Full story here.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Feb 28, 2015 -
Comments (4)
Category: Drugs, Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, Advertising, Excrement, Nineteenth Century, Diseases
Dr. Sanden’s Electric Stimulator
[Click to enlarge]
[Click to enlarge]
"Seminal weakness" indeed!
Posted By: Paul - Tue Apr 15, 2014 -
Comments (12)
Category: Scams, Cons, Rip-offs, and General Larceny, Sexuality, Advertising, Twentieth Century, Genitals
| Who We Are |
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |