The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower. Twice! / Victor Lustig 🗼 #shorts #wojak
Victor Lustig was one of the most audacious con men in history, famously known for "selling" the Eiffel Tower not once, but twice. This bizarre scam unfolded in 1925 when Lustig, exploiting the post-World War I economic turbulence in Paris, conceived a fraudulent scheme centered around the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Lustig's plan was triggered by a news article discussing the costly upkeep of the Eiffel Tower. Posing as a government official, he fabricated government credentials and invited a select group of scrap metal dealers to a confidential meeting. He informed them that the Eiffel Tower was being considered for dismantling due to its maintenance costs and that the government was seeking bids for the sale of the metal.
Convincing the dealers of the legitimacy of his claims with his charismatic persuasion and detailed knowledge, Lustig managed to create a sense of urgency and competition among them. One of the dealers, Andre Poisson, was particularly eager to secure the deal, seeing it as an opportunity to enhance his status. Doubting the legitimacy of the scheme, Poisson sought reassurance; Lustig cleverly played into this insecurity by confessing that he was a low-paid official and hinting at needing a bribe to smooth the process.
Poisson, convinced by this display of supposed honesty, handed over a substantial bribe and the money for the Eiffel Tower, only to later realize the scam. Embarrassed, he refrained from reporting the crime, allowing Lustig to escape with the money.
Incredibly, Lustig returned to Paris to attempt the scam a second time, targeting a different group of scrap dealers. This time, however, suspicions arose, and he was forced to flee to avoid capture. Victor Lustig's audacity in selling the monumental Eiffel Tower twice not only marked him as a notable figure in the annals of crime but also immortalized him as a symbol of the ultimate con. His story is a staple in discussions about famous con artists, historical scams, and the limits of gullibility.
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