Victor Lustig was a con artist who became very famous for his scams in various countries. He is best known as "the man who sold the Eiffel Tower twice." He was America’s most dangerous con man. In his long criminal career, he had deceived many people with sleight-of-hand tricks and get-rich-quick schemes. He had sold Eiffel Tower twice just with his confidence. In 1935, he was captured by police after masterminding a counterfeit banknote operation which aimed at shaking the confidence in American economy.
Lustig was very attractive and stylish. He dressed like a matinee idol and possessed a hypnotic charm. He was a girl’s dream man. He was fluent in speaking 5 languages and had the confidence to evade law like a figure from fiction. As per the New York Times: “He was not the hand-kissing type of bogus Count—too keen for that. Instead of theatrical, he was always the reserved, dignified nobleman.”
Lustig used 47 aliases and carried dozens of fake passports. He was successful in creating such a false perception about him that even today his real identity remains shrouded in mystery. He always projected himself as someone hailing from a long line of aristocrats who owned European castles. But, the findings have revealed that he had a very humble beginning. Victor Lustig was born in Hostinné, Austria-Hungary. He then headed to West.
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During his criminal outings, Lustig used to describe himself as the son of Ludwig who was the burgomaster or mayor of the town. But, according to prison papers, he described his parents as the poorest peasant people who raised him in tough conditions.
As per Lustig, he used to steal only to survive and his target used to be greedy and dishonest. He had done all including being a panhandler, a pickpocket, a burglar and a street hustler.
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In the year 1925, France had recovered from World War I and the economic activities in Paris were booming like anything. It was just a perfect time for a con artist to flourish. During that time, an article came in newspaper mentioning that it was getting difficult to maintain Eiffel Tower.
Lustig’s eyes got bigger after reading this news. He got cues from this article and decided to sell Eiffel Tower. Lustig prepared fake government stationary and invited six scrap metal dealers to a confidential meeting at the Hotel de Crillon, one of the most prestigious of the old Paris hotels, to discuss a possible business deal. All the invited metal dealers attended meeting at the hotel. Lustig had introduced himself as the deputy director-general of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs.
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Lustig described to metal dealers that the maintenance of Eiffel Tower is getting difficult and therefore they wanted to sell it for scrap. He also urged them to keep the deal secret. He said that he had been given the responsibility to select the dealer to carry out the task. Lustig then took the metal dealers to Eiffel Tower for inspection in a rented Limousine. The tour also gave Lustig an opportunity to assess all the dealers and sense who among them will be more keen for the deal.
After the inspection, Lustig asked the metal dealers to submit their bids by next day and also reminded them to keep the deal secret. One of the dealers Poisson was insecure and was thinking to obtain the deal as it would give him the opportunity to be in the league of big players. However, Poisson’s wife was suspicious about the deal. She also doubted why the deal was arranged in a very short span of time.
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To eliminate their doubts, Lustig arranged another meeting where he said that he did not make enough money to pursue the lifestyle he enjoyed, and needed to find ways to supplement his income. This way, he subsided the fears that Poisson and his wife had.
And, then, Lustig was not only successful in sealing the deal but he was also successful in collecting a large bribe. He then escaped with all the money.
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After getting success, Lustig again returned to Paris after a month. He again tried to sell the Eiffel Tower. This time, the victim complained to police with all the counterfeit contract and papers before Lustig could close the deal. But, like the earlier times, Lustig was successful to escape and was not arrested for the offense.
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