The pigeon drop or Spanish handkerchief or Chilean handkerchief is a confidence trick in which a mark, or "pigeon", is persuaded to give up a sum of money in order to secure the rights to a larger sum of money, or more valuable object.[2][3][4][page needed] One of the con artists will typically claim to have found the money or valuable on the ground just before talking to the mark, or will even leave it on the ground and pretend to happen upon it at the same time as the mark, hence the term "drop."
- ^ "Pigeon Drop Scam". Village of Romeoville. Romeoville, Illinois. 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
The offender then left the victim and the victim opened the bag and it only contained shredded paper, and no money.
- ^ Swierczynski, Duane (2003). The complete idiot's guide to frauds, scams, and cons. Alpha Books. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-02-864415-8.
- ^ Paul J. Zak (November 13, 2008). "How to Run a Con". Psychology Today. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ Arrington, Rick (2007). Crime prevention : the law enforcement officer's practical guide. Sudbury, Mass.: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7637-4130-3. OCLC 65537949.