I popped up a request in crime forum which bears repeating here:
http://www.writewords.org.uk/groups/57_139670.asp

Anyone know of any books or websites with details of hustles/long cons? Until I find one for the second half of my WIP, I'm stuffed.

- NaomiM

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Basically I need to bankrupt a crooked property developer or frame him for murder.

Framing someone for murder sounds easier, I'd have thought.

I presume you've watched tv progs Hustle and The Real Hustle. Sorry, don't know of any websites.

Deb

Yup, I've been an avid watcher of BBC1's Hustle series over the years, and checked out their website. I have the jargon, but have not found anything suitable for my con. I have one con involving an insurance scam in the first half of the wip, but am grasping at straws for another.

Naomi, I'll WW you.

Juliet

Naomi, not sure if you saw me mention The Real Hustle, which is on digital tv if you have it (I think BBC3). It's a half hour programme showing real people (their own people) scamming members of the public and secretly filming it. Then they own up and give the people their money back.

Not immensely well made but very thought-provoking nevertheless. They haven't covered long cons but I thought it might help stoke your fire.

Deb

Thanks, Deb, I'll check it out online.

Okay, off the top of my head, so bear with me...

The bad guy has to put his property portfolio up as collatoral for something. How about the wronged tennants set up some kind of landbanking firm and have them pose as influential people (or, if he knows them, get their friends to). They act as people in government/investment and say that part of Richmond Park (or somewhere equally unlikely but local) is to be zoned for housing within 10 years thanks to the growing population and a Parliamentary Act has gone through but they're not making it public.
He has to put up his properties and sign them over to their company but "don't worry nothing will happen for a while we just need a name outwith the system to use. To avoid suspicion."
Meanwhile they have a solicitor change the deeds of the properties and sign them over to some charity or other. Leaving him landless, properyless and penniless.
They dissapear into the ether leaving no trace.

Sounds a bit Jeffrey Archer but you could do some sort of twist on this with things going wrong like bumping into him wearing the wrong clothes, phones answered wrongly, e.t.c and wondering if they will pull it off...

If he's a shady type then the shadier the deal he's involving himself in the better.

Anyway only a suggestion. When I start thinking about these things my brain won't stop.

Eve.

Hmmm, now that's an interesting scenario, Eve. Maybe I can throw Tesco's landbank into the mix - under an assumed name, of course

- Naomi

New series of Hustle starts next week, and they do long cons, don't they? So maybe if you watch that something will come to you....

Deb

Thanks deb. I've got something down on paper now which I'm hoping will work. Looking forward to watching the new series and fingers crossed they haven't had the same idea as me

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...with help from eve and everyone else who chipped in with a suggestion. It's all gone into the mixing pot ;)
Thanks guys.

Watch The Grifters, if you haven't already. A great movie, and I'm sure it'll provide some inspiration.

JB

Yup, JB. John Cusack and Angelica Houstan - a very dark movie.
I have sole wuppin', but maybe a sack of oranges would be better