The immediate victims of a con would rather act as if the con never happened

I believe the vast majority of marketing businesses for lawyers are legit, but if there are scams then the bad actors could be encouraged by the idea that lawyers are the last people in the world who want to be outed as having fallen for a scam. Lawyers must put forth an image of being intelligent, informed, and aggressive; being the victim of a shady business doesn't fit this model.

Even when I purposefully seek to be conned, it's embarrassing to have it happen.

In my case, simple subway con artist performing the classic magic trick where you bet money to determine where the queen is under three cards. As a hobbyist magician I'm able to follow him as the subway scammer performs the drop, switching the queen for another card.

I'm not ready for the smooth talking however that the con artist employees afterwards. It's a humbling experience but one that I'm happy to have lost real $$$ so that I can remember the lesson for the rest of my life.

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Coming to terms with smooth talkers and how they're able to easily manipulate you, even if you are familiar with the tricks (both slight of hand tricks as well as 'Magicians Force' smooth talking / distractions).

It does make me want to practice classical street magic again, as it's so obviously associated with thievery and con-jobs. But street magic is perhaps the 'safe' way of doing it all so that no one gets upset afterwards.

But in any case, just imagine a street magician who makes your money disappear. That's what it feels like. Even at the amateur level, you'll fall prey to the 2nd level or 3rd levels of trickery, cause the street con-man has probably tricked overconfident amateurs before.

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I've heard stories of people who talk with street vendors selling lotions or other items as well and falling for those sales pitches. In my experience, it's similar to the street magician-thief and uses many similar techniques.

No one likes the fact that our actions, reactions and behaviors are so predictable that literal con-artists can make a living predicting and planning around our reactions to mislead us. (Or in safer circles, a street magician doing the same thing but for wonder/amazement rather than stealing your money)

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EDIT: For those not in the know, a drop and/or steal are magician slight of hand tricks that switch cards or other objects in a way that most people can't follow.

Magicians Force is a question that gives the illusion of choice, often a choice that doesn't matter for the trick. But the illusion of choice is sufficient to keep the audience's attention and let the audience think that they're still in control of the situation. Or in other words: smooth talking.

There are many ways to drop, steal or use Magicians Force. But using them all together in one smooth action is how magicians (or con-artists on the street) do their tricks.

Leaving the conversation at I saw this or that ... is too incomplete. The question is what are we going to do about it. Management at scientific institutions should have more backbone not less on BS data reporting.

I have spoken with many lawyers who have threatened marketers with lawsuits, and in many cases the threat will help the lawyer. I have had a few lawyers tell me they WILL NOT file a lawsuit (why sue for $500 considering the time and court fees), but that it only costs about 60 cents to send a verbose letter using their firm's letterhead. They understand the old warning "if you sue for a cow, you may end up losing a cow".

Just as with a successful con against esteemed scientists, any skilled conman will know his target well and understand how he can fly just below the radar and probably avoid getting called out and destroyed.