Born: January 4 1890
Hostinne, Czech Republic

Died: March 11, 1947
Springfield, Missouri

Victor Lustig was born in Bohemia (Czech Republic), but soon headed west, demonstrating his talents even in his early twenties. He was a natural conman, glib and charming in multiple languages. He established himself by working scams on the ocean liners steaming between Paris and New York City, but eventually decided to stay in Paris for a while and see what he could find there.

Lustig first arrived in the United States at the port of New York City, onboard the SS Badenia on April 8, 1907 (port of departure was Hamburg, Germany on March 23, 1907), and calling himself Count Victor Lustig, conducted a number of scams. Eventually his luck ran out. He was arrested for counterfeiting and sent to Alcatraz prison. He died at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri.