Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves
These are the 14 red flags to identify the scammer in your life before they con you—from a victim-turned-vigilante and host of the hit podcast Queen of the Con.

“Johnathan Walton has written a master class on how to spot scammers, con artists, grifters, and thieves. And his storytelling reads like a crime novel. . . . A must-read.”—Joe Navarro, FBI special agent (ret.) and author of the international bestseller Dangerous Personalities

“Some people play golf on the weekends,” Johnathan Walton says. “I hunt con artists.”

Con artists are everywhere—your new boyfriend or girlfriend, your new neighbor or coworker, your new friend—and they don’t outsmart you; they out-feel you to get their hands on your money. In Anatomy of a Con Artist, Walton lays out “the tells” based on hundreds of real-life cases he’s investigated, including:

Red Flag #1—A Stranger Offering Help: Someone new and overly helpful insinuates themselves into your life.

Red Flag #3—Drama, Drama, Drama: Constant dramatic “emergencies” to pull you in.

Red Flag #8—Beak Wetting: Faux generosity—gifts, money, or favors to bring your guard down.

After being scammed out of nearly $100,000 by a devious con artist, Walton was turned away by police. Infuriated and armed with the investigative skills he’d gained from years as a TV reporter, Walton launched his own investigation and built a compelling criminal case authorities could not ignore. Walton got his con artist charged, prosecuted, and convicted, then devoted his life to helping other victims do the same. This book packs in all he has learned.

Some con artists scheme for money, some for attention, some just for the thrill of lying. And if you think it can’t happen to you, then you are exactly the kind of “mark” a professional con artist is looking for. With this insightful guide in your hands, you are far less likely to get conned and far more likely to spot these nefarious manipulators from a mile away—and cross the street when you see them coming.
1146577672
Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves
These are the 14 red flags to identify the scammer in your life before they con you—from a victim-turned-vigilante and host of the hit podcast Queen of the Con.

“Johnathan Walton has written a master class on how to spot scammers, con artists, grifters, and thieves. And his storytelling reads like a crime novel. . . . A must-read.”—Joe Navarro, FBI special agent (ret.) and author of the international bestseller Dangerous Personalities

“Some people play golf on the weekends,” Johnathan Walton says. “I hunt con artists.”

Con artists are everywhere—your new boyfriend or girlfriend, your new neighbor or coworker, your new friend—and they don’t outsmart you; they out-feel you to get their hands on your money. In Anatomy of a Con Artist, Walton lays out “the tells” based on hundreds of real-life cases he’s investigated, including:

Red Flag #1—A Stranger Offering Help: Someone new and overly helpful insinuates themselves into your life.

Red Flag #3—Drama, Drama, Drama: Constant dramatic “emergencies” to pull you in.

Red Flag #8—Beak Wetting: Faux generosity—gifts, money, or favors to bring your guard down.

After being scammed out of nearly $100,000 by a devious con artist, Walton was turned away by police. Infuriated and armed with the investigative skills he’d gained from years as a TV reporter, Walton launched his own investigation and built a compelling criminal case authorities could not ignore. Walton got his con artist charged, prosecuted, and convicted, then devoted his life to helping other victims do the same. This book packs in all he has learned.

Some con artists scheme for money, some for attention, some just for the thrill of lying. And if you think it can’t happen to you, then you are exactly the kind of “mark” a professional con artist is looking for. With this insightful guide in your hands, you are far less likely to get conned and far more likely to spot these nefarious manipulators from a mile away—and cross the street when you see them coming.
28.0 Pre Order
Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves

Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves

by Johnathan Walton
Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves

Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves

by Johnathan Walton

Hardcover

$28.00 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Available for Pre-Order. This item will be released on August 19, 2025

Related collections and offers


Overview

These are the 14 red flags to identify the scammer in your life before they con you—from a victim-turned-vigilante and host of the hit podcast Queen of the Con.

“Johnathan Walton has written a master class on how to spot scammers, con artists, grifters, and thieves. And his storytelling reads like a crime novel. . . . A must-read.”—Joe Navarro, FBI special agent (ret.) and author of the international bestseller Dangerous Personalities

“Some people play golf on the weekends,” Johnathan Walton says. “I hunt con artists.”

Con artists are everywhere—your new boyfriend or girlfriend, your new neighbor or coworker, your new friend—and they don’t outsmart you; they out-feel you to get their hands on your money. In Anatomy of a Con Artist, Walton lays out “the tells” based on hundreds of real-life cases he’s investigated, including:

Red Flag #1—A Stranger Offering Help: Someone new and overly helpful insinuates themselves into your life.

Red Flag #3—Drama, Drama, Drama: Constant dramatic “emergencies” to pull you in.

Red Flag #8—Beak Wetting: Faux generosity—gifts, money, or favors to bring your guard down.

After being scammed out of nearly $100,000 by a devious con artist, Walton was turned away by police. Infuriated and armed with the investigative skills he’d gained from years as a TV reporter, Walton launched his own investigation and built a compelling criminal case authorities could not ignore. Walton got his con artist charged, prosecuted, and convicted, then devoted his life to helping other victims do the same. This book packs in all he has learned.

Some con artists scheme for money, some for attention, some just for the thrill of lying. And if you think it can’t happen to you, then you are exactly the kind of “mark” a professional con artist is looking for. With this insightful guide in your hands, you are far less likely to get conned and far more likely to spot these nefarious manipulators from a mile away—and cross the street when you see them coming.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780593797167
Publisher: Harmony/Rodale/Convergent
Publication date: 08/19/2025
Pages: 256
Product dimensions: 6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.72(d)

About the Author

Johnathan Walton is an Emmy-winning former TV reporter and current reality TV producer who has written and produced shows for NBC, ABC, HBO, Disney+, Discovery Channel, and many others. He is also the host, writer, and executive producer of the hit podcast Queen of the Con. And in his free time, he helps fellow victims of scammers get justice.
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews