Scam School

Hosted by Brian Brushwood. New episodes Wednesdays.

If Harvard offered a PhD in deceit, this would be it. Award-winning magician Brian Brushwood takes viewers on an inside tour of bar tricks, street cons and scams. If you watch carefully, you'll never have to pay for a drink again! Read More

Another Short Con with a Magic Bill

Thursday, January 8th, 2009 – running time 08:38

We've covered a few magic tricks, and we've covered a few street crimes. This episode we're going to combine the two and get a magic trick that acts as a smokescreen for an actual crime.

We introduce the Magic Bill!

Effect: Being friendly at the bar, you show a trick to your waitress: A Large bill is taken from the register, signed, and then burned to ashes. Miraculously, the signed bill materializes inside the register. You're a hero!

Method: a simple switch of bills is made before the burn, and the original bill is handed off to an accomplice. While you're putting on the show (and taking your time burning the bill), at the other side of the bar the accomplice spends the bill to purchase a drink. This has the effect of not only getting the original bill back into the register, but also getting a large amount of change out of the register (not to mention a free drink, to boot).

Read that again: not only does this magic trick amaze the bartender, it swipes money right out of the register!

This con can be performed with any denomination of bill (even a hundred), though smaller bills (like twenty) will be less conspicuous.

Oh yeah: Plus, it's illegal!

Scam School Homework!

1. Rent from Netflix

2. Use the Scam School code: www.netflix.com/scamschool

3. Watch "Matchstick Men" starring Nicolas Cage. You'll learn some short-term lottery cons as well as watch the characters develop a long con.

Don't forget to submit your Scam School Domain Smack!

Play along and have Brian introduce your Domain Smack in a future episode! Find out more atdomainsmack.com.

Example of a Domain Smack, created by Patrick Delahanty overpaid.and.still.not.adequate.com

Connect with Scam School

  • about 2 hours ago

    @RaymundoGuezz Thx for following!

  • about 2 hours ago

    @john_laird Aw, thanks for the compliments. Glad you're enjoying the show!

  • yesterday

    RT @BeSocialMusic: Tricks are a great social ice breaker - heres 2 fast & EASY matchbox #puzzles - big up @ScamSchool @shwood - http://t.co

  • 6 days ago

    This week, @shwood shows you a puzzle that will either make you look really smart or.... http://t.co/9AxhPQ0Hv8

  • 8 days ago

    @Shwood shows off the Rogue Ring in the latest episode of Behind the Scam: http://t.co/3npbKfXEDP

  • 12 days ago

    Scam School is five years old! Watch as @shwood shows the six greatest scams of all-time: http://t.co/7zlqw32rHQ

About the Show

Details
Show Title:
Scam School
Description:
If Harvard offered a PhD in deceit, this would be it. Award-winning magician Brian Brushwood takes viewers on an inside tour of bar tricks, street cons and scams. If you watch carefully, you'll never have to pay for a drink again!
Categories:
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Launch Date:
Apr 6, 2008
Episodes:
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