Cues and Clues of the Con (part 2)

My personal ordeal began as a financial con. I'm not alone. Many women and men have been taken by a con artist. To provide an open forum for discussion, co-host Minoshia Gail Humphrey and I will debut a podcast feature including our own experiences inviting guests to CALL IN WITH YOUR comments @ 9:30 AM PST on 11/5. This blog post serves as a preview and opening discussion point. We welcome your call to 347 237-4584 during our half hour podcast, in awareness and service. With no sympathy for the bereaved, YOUR weakness = the con artist's opportunity.

What sets the con-artist apart? Here are five leading indicators: 1)A free spirit, whose personal welfare outweighs ANY consideration. 2)A natural ability to manipulate others, often discovered at an early age. 3)Manipulation that derives satisfaction, absent ANY guilt or remorse. 4)Above average intelligence, with charm and sincerity empty of concern, the con-artist is anti-social/lacking social conscience. And 5)Gifted with exceptional memory, con-artists juggle and compartmentalize characters/victims.

The con-artist is a formidable foe. Among their street-wise marks are skilled psychiatrists and saavy correctional officers. The con-artist chooses his mark carefully, bringing his arsenal of psychological manipulation to move us from a position of control to one where he holds all the power.

The mark of a con-artist is made to feel admired, or in grave danger...completely dependent on the fraudster. Building dependency, the con-artist uses scare tactics or outright threats to yank the leash wrapped around the mark's survival instincts.

Accessing your personality, the con-artist will zero in on specific traits he/she can easily exploit, instilling a sence of security in dealing with him or her...conveying the appearance only he can fulfill your need. The con-artist accomplishes this with great skill.

Protect yourself by investigating the offer objectively...without emotion. Ask yourself two questions:

Does the person giving information or making the offer have anything to gain by misrepresenting himself/herself? And, if he/she is lying, how much will it affect YOU?

Frequently those who have fallen prey to a con-artist are severely traumatized. How do we begin to trust ourselves or our instincts afterwards...and how can we move from survive to thrive after demoralization? Embarrassment or humiliation do not serve us well. You may find participating in open forum discussions helpful in shifting from victimization, stepping back into your power.

Techniques developed to assist those who suffer from post traumatic stress, adapted for we who have fallen prey to a con-artist, bring a rapid shift. Readers who want to learn more can go to www.greatlifetechnologies.com and stay tuned for opportunities to participate in a group setting where the 8 techniques of Pure Awareness, developed by Tom Stone, will set you free. Tom and his colleagues will train me, in a group of fellow practitioners, to facilitate these techniques. Now, the choice is YOURS. Be Aware, and be safe.