Great Scams Of History.

One of the most striking things about reading history is how stupid the general public were in years gone by, take this excerpt from Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples, about the sort of scams that were prevalent in the era in which the South Sea Bubble developed:

the boldest of all was the advertisement for "a company for carrying on an undertaking of Great Advantage, but no one to know what it is." This amiable swindler set up a shop in Cornhill to receive subscriptions. His office was besieged by eager investors, and after collecting £2000 in cash he prudently absconded.

It's a good thing we aren't so stupid in this day and age.