Identifying Con Artists: 14 Red Flags and Real-Life Scams

A Note from James:

"Anatomy of a Con Artist. The 14 red flags to spot scammers, grifters, and thieves". This is a book—an amazing book—by Johnathan Walton.

Check out his podcast Queen of the Con, and his new one Cocaine Air. We talk about both in this episode. But his book, Anatomy of a Con Artist, is just dead on.

Johnathan shares how he got conned out of nearly $100,000 by someone posing as an Irish heiress. He breaks down not only that story but others—showing how all these professional con artists use the same tricks. The red flags are universal.

And honestly, I’ve felt conned before. Reading this book really opened my eyes. The stories are incredible, and Johnathan’s a fantastic storyteller. You’ll hear it for yourself.

Episode Description:

James talks with Johnathan Walton—TV producer turned con artist hunter—about the psychology, tactics, and red flags of professional scammers. After being conned out of nearly $100,000 by someone posing as an Irish heiress, Walton went public, brought his scammer to justice, and began investigating other cases.

Together, they unpack how emotion—not intellect—is the con artist’s favorite tool, and how even smart, skeptical people can be taken in. Walton explains the 14 red flags every scammer throws up, why victims rarely report what happened, and how shame and silence help cons thrive.

Plus: the untold story of Walton’s family losing millions to a Jamaican Ponzi scheme, how Satanists helped him track a fugitive scammer, and why AI will never replace the twisted brilliance of the human con.

What You’ll Learn:

• How professional con artists emotionally manipulate even intelligent people
• The 14 red flags common to nearly every scam
• Why victims often stay silent—and how scammers exploit shame
• How “beak-wetting” creates false trust in investment scams
• Why AI can't replicate the improvisational storytelling of real-world con artists

Timestamped Chapters:

• [00:00] A con artist doesn't outsmart you—they outfeel you
• [01:00] James introduces Johnathan Walton and his work
• [02:00] Behind the HBO show “Wahl Street” and producing during COVID
• [04:00] AI in storytelling: potential and limitations
• [07:00] Johnathan’s $100K con: the fake Irish heiress and inheritance scam
• [10:00] Red Flag: TMI—“too much information” and the psychology behind it
• [14:00] The trap of emotional vulnerability
• [17:00] How scammers build false intimacy
• [20:00] Johnathan’s early career and his resilience to shame
• [24:00] How she drained him slowly: death by a thousand cuts
• [25:00] The first lie that blew everything open
• [28:00] Uncovering her global scams and getting her arrested
• [30:00] Scamming Satanists and extradition to Northern Ireland
• [32:00] Psychopathy vs. regular criminals: how con artists differ
• [34:00] Why she targeted him: the do-gooder trap
• [36:00] Breaking down the red flags from his book
• [41:00] Ponzi schemes and beak-wetting in his own family
• [47:00] Wealthy victims who never go public
• [49:00] The story of NFL QB Eric Kramer and the con-woman wife
• [52:00] Talking victims out of suicide
• [53:00] Johnathan’s own mother was conned—by a family friend
• [55:00] The isolation technique and divide-and-conquer
• [57:00] How to protect yourself: background checks and gut checks
• [59:00] Spotting con artists in real life
• [01:01:00] Cocktail party con: the OnlyFans couple from Arizona
• [01:02:00] Final thoughts and how to follow Johnathan’s work

Additional Resources with Working Links:

• Book: Anatomy of a Con Artist by Johnathan Walton
• Available on Apple Books: Anatomy of a Con Artist
• Also listed on Penguin Random House: Anatomy of a Con Artist

• Podcast: Queen of the Con by Johnathan Walton
• On Apple Podcasts: Queen of the Con (Apple Podcasts)

• Podcast: Cocaine Air by Johnathan Walton
• On Apple Podcasts: Cocaine Air (Apple Podcasts)

• Movie: Sharper (Neo-noir thriller) streaming on Apple TV+
• Watch directly on Apple TV+: Sharper (Apple TV+)
• About the film and release details: Sharper (Wikipedia page)

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