The CON Artist

The world is full of con artists or scammers.  Daily, we read in both national and international newspapers how people have been victims of such cheats.  Social media is full of them.  Plenty of them are circling around in our little island too.  The desperation for fame or to be recognised is such that scammers either talk of their educational and other creds but cannot name anybody who could authenticate such claims or lead bogus lifestyles way beyond their means, for instance.  All with the intention of playing someone out.  Hearing stories of the scammed or watching scammers in action makes you cringe in horror.  Some con artists even associate themselves with our war with terrorism and the stories they relate make the Holocaust sound like Grade I Readers.  

Then there are the expatriates living here who feel they are a cut above all and think that we are so third world and have to still get off the trees or are still living under a coconut tree.  

At a recent dinner I met such a woman who could easily be awarded the Crown for Con Artists, if such an award exists. She was one of the best I have met in recent times. 

Whilst dinner was being served Ms. Con decided that it was the ideal moment to take over the conversation to let us know of her great achievements and the glitzy life she has been leading. Scheherazade’s “One Thousand and One Nights” tales were put to shame with all the yarns she spun out that night.  Amazed, those at the table could only stare at her open-mouthed.  Naturally, Ms. Con thought she had a captive audience at the table and continued to regale everybody with stories of going shopping on Rodeo Drive with Julia Roberts, dining and winning with Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford sharing make-up tips with her, Tina Turner and she being neighbours in the Bahamas etc.

Thankfully, there are a few realistic people amongst us who try our best to keep away from such trash and lead fun and peaceful lives with those who have their feet firmly planted on the ground

Trixie was seated next to me at the dinner.  Totally gobsmacked with all of these stories, she asked me how was it that the Sri Lankan government had missed out shipping back to the UK this piece of garbage when they returned to the UK the many containers of waste that had been shipped to Sri Lanka.  Trixie was ready to be tied by the end of the evening.

As one can imagine, on our ride back home Trixie and I were in hysterics and prayed never to have to meet Ms. Con again.  The sad part is that some of our locals are highly taken up with such con artists and love to hobnob with them thinking that they too would go up a rung or two of the social ladder.   

The world is not only cruel but also a sad place.  Thankfully, there are a few realistic people amongst us who try our best to keep away from such trash and lead fun and peaceful lives with those who have their feet firmly planted on the ground instead of hanging around with these upward climbing con artists who think they are a cut above the rest.