Bamboozle

I originally published this on October 17, 2021. It’s a very short story about an almost friend I had during the 1960s who was a con artist. But when I re-read this morning, it seemed even more relevant now with Crypto and all the new schemes. If John’s around now, he’s in his glory. Republished for Fandango’s Flashback Friday:

Bamboozle was not one of John’s favorite words. He found it repugnant and lacking in any vestige of craft. And craft, strange as it may seem, was what John’s clever schemes and cons were all about.
If you asked him who among the fathers of modern con he most respected, he’d answer with no hesitation, Charles Ponzi. Ponzi let new breath and an entirely new approach into the old games. Ponzi was one of the visionary lights of Wall Street; any young man interested in arbitrage, International reply coupons, or such could spend their time wisely looking at the trail he had blazed.

John moved to New York to be near the action. We understand that he was instrumental in creating the new fiscal devices derivatives that were so instrumental in the last large financial crash. Unfortunately, I guess he hasn’t worked all the bugs out yet.