Sucker list
Encyclopedia
A sucker list is a list of people who have previously been successfully solicited for something.
The major areas of "sucker lists" are solicitation
of donation
s and fraud
.
An early example of "sucker lists" made public is given in the November 18, 1929 issue of Time Magazine in an article about the United States Senate
probing into one lobbyist.
People who become victims of, for example, a telemarketing
fraud, often are placed on a sucker list. Sucker lists, which include names, addresses, phone numbers, and other information, are created, bought, and sold by some fraudulent telemarketers. They are considered invaluable because dishonest promoters know that consumers who have been tricked once are likely to be tricked again via the "reloading
". As a result, these persons became flooded with letters, e-mails and phone calls with various lottery
wins, investment
plans, get rich quick schemes and work from home
offers.
The consequences for the victims may be devastating, ranging from further loss of their money, and at worst, being forced to change their identity
and even commit suicide.
Yet another usage was described in the movie Sucker List, a part of the 1941 United States series Crime Does Not Pay
. The subject of the movie is fraudulent racetrack tout
s, who, in particular, used to call people known to be in deep debt and give them false tips.
The major areas of "sucker lists" are solicitation
Solicitation
Literally, solicitation means: 'urgently asking'. It is the action or instance of soliciting; petition; proposal. In criminal law, it most commonly refers to either the act of offering goods or services, or the act of attempting to purchase such goods or services...
of donation
Donation
A donation is a gift given by physical or legal persons, typically for charitable purposes and/or to benefit a cause. A donation may take various forms, including cash, services, new or used goods including clothing, toys, food, and vehicles...
s and fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
.
An early example of "sucker lists" made public is given in the November 18, 1929 issue of Time Magazine in an article about the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
probing into one lobbyist.
People who become victims of, for example, a telemarketing
Telemarketing
Telemarketing is a method of direct marketing in which a salesperson solicits prospective customers to buy products or services, either over the phone or through a subsequent face to face or Web conferencing appointment scheduled during the call.Telemarketing can also include recorded sales pitches...
fraud, often are placed on a sucker list. Sucker lists, which include names, addresses, phone numbers, and other information, are created, bought, and sold by some fraudulent telemarketers. They are considered invaluable because dishonest promoters know that consumers who have been tricked once are likely to be tricked again via the "reloading
Reloading scam
In a reloading scam, a victim is repeatedly approached by con artists, often until "sucked dry". This form of fraud is perpetrated on those more susceptible to pressure after the first losses, perhaps because of hopes to recover money previously invested, perhaps because of inability to say "no" to...
". As a result, these persons became flooded with letters, e-mails and phone calls with various lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
wins, investment
Investment
Investment has different meanings in finance and economics. Finance investment is putting money into something with the expectation of gain, that upon thorough analysis, has a high degree of security for the principal amount, as well as security of return, within an expected period of time...
plans, get rich quick schemes and work from home
Work-at-home scheme
A work-at-home scheme is a get-rich-quick scheme in which a victim is lured by an offer to be employed at home, very often doing some simple task in a minimal amount of time with a large amount of income that far exceeds the market rate for the type of work...
offers.
The consequences for the victims may be devastating, ranging from further loss of their money, and at worst, being forced to change their identity
Identity
-Philosophical topics:* Identity , also called sameness, is whatever makes an entity definable and recognizable* Law of identity, principle of logic stating that an object is the same as itself...
and even commit suicide.
Yet another usage was described in the movie Sucker List, a part of the 1941 United States series Crime Does Not Pay
Crime Does Not Pay
Crime Does Not Pay may refer to:* Crime Does Not Pay , a popular American series of comic books published between 1942 and 1955* Crime Does Not Pay , an anthology radio crime drama series from 1935 to 1952...
. The subject of the movie is fraudulent racetrack tout
Tout
In British English, a tout is any person who solicits business or employment in a persistent and annoying manner...
s, who, in particular, used to call people known to be in deep debt and give them false tips.