Deceptively simple - the craft of the con artist

The methods employed by the street swindler always appear obvious when put down on paper, but they prove effective, year after year.

Invariably they exploit the victim's good nature or greed. The following is the top five list of con tricks for this year, up until November.

1. 'Help! I need your phone/money'

Culprit poses as a tourist in distress and asks to borrow money or a mobile phone from the victim, leaving them a false contact number. 218 cases.

2. 'Evil spirit be gone'

The victim is taken to see a holy man to expel an evil spirit, in a ritual involving the use of personal valuables or money. When the victims are returned their 'valuables' in a bundle, they find only worthless items. 120 cases.