Conning

Control of body language during lying, and its detection are considered elsewhere.

Trust generation

  • Conning requires generation of trust within the victim.
  • Even simple lying exploits to a certain extant the willingness of the victim to be lied to, his eagerness to believe in something false.
  • Flattery can generate trust.
    • Words. Eg. “We won’t cheat brAhmaNa-s. We donate to brAhmaNas and only then eat.”
    • Touching feet
  • Beg for charity.
  • One clever way of doing this is by stimulating oxytocin generation in the victim by appearing to place trust and regard in him, thus triggering the reciprocation mechanism. Eg: Pegion drop con.