Frauds, Cons and Scams
The egg on the head scam
San Francisco Examiner - Dec 22, 1974
Posted By: Alex - Thu Aug 29, 2024 -
Comments (0)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, 1970s
The Roll-a-Ray Fat Remover
Introduced in 1948, by 1950 the Roll-a-Ray had been banned by the FDA. It was simply two rubber rollers with an electric light bulb mounted behind them.
Detroit Free Press - Nov 21, 1948
FDA Consumer - Feb 1977
Posted By: Alex - Sat Aug 17, 2024 -
Comments (3)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, 1940s, Dieting and Weight Loss
The Cellular Cosmogony
Here's your chance to learn the truth: that we are all living inside the Earth, rather than on top of its surface.The Wikipedia page for Koresh, aka Cyrus Teed.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 18, 2024 -
Comments (4)
Category: Eccentrics, Frauds, Cons and Scams, New Age, Spaceflight, Astronautics, and Astronomy, Nineteenth Century
Electrical Stimulation Face Mask
Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Dec 06, 2023 -
Comments (0)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Technology, Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, 1960s, Face and Facial Expressions
The Great Cheiro
The late part of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century were filled with occult types, most famously Aleister Crowley. But I had not previously encountered Cheiro.His Wikipedia page is here.
You can read his palmistry book here.
And luckily, in 1979, Cheiro (died 1936) conducted a long conversation with another medium. Read it here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 27, 2023 -
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Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, New Age, Supernatural, Occult, Paranormal, Nineteenth Century, Twentieth Century
Electrical Frauds of 1916
Rather than try to reproduce the text that accompanies these illos as an illegible thumbnail here, I direct you to the source, where you can enlarge the image for readability.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Mar 07, 2023 -
Comments (6)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Technology, 1910s
The Barrett Eye Normalizer
Perfect vision through eyeball massage. At least, that was the claim.
Hearst's International-Cosmopolitan - Oct 1926
Source: American Artifacts
Boston Sunday Globe - Oct 8, 2017
Posted By: Alex - Wed Nov 23, 2022 -
Comments (1)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Eyes and Vision
The Cures of Albert Abrams
As his Wikipedia page tells us:Albert Abrams (December 8, 1863 – January 13, 1924) was a controversial American physician, well known during his life for inventing machines, such as the "Oscilloclast" and the "Radioclast", which he falsely claimed could diagnose and cure almost any disease.[1] These claims were challenged from the outset. Towards the end of his life, and again shortly after his death, many of his machines and conclusions were demonstrated to be intentionally deceptive or false.[2]
He actually published a whole periodical devoted to his theories. Read an issue here.
Hugo Gernsback, the father of modern science fiction, was having none of this, running the expose below in a 1923 issue of his magazine SCIENCE AND INVENTION.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Oct 14, 2022 -
Comments (3)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators, Medicine, Patent Medicines, Nostrums and Snake Oil, 1920s
Fake Violin Scam
Police are describing people pretending to play the violin for money as a "nationwide issue."More info: The CW7
Posted By: Alex - Tue Aug 02, 2022 -
Comments (3)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Music
Balenciaga Destroyed Crewneck Sweater
Get yours here! Cheap!
Posted By: Paul - Fri Apr 29, 2022 -
Comments (3)
Category: Antisocial Activities, Design and Designers, Excess, Overkill, Hyperbole and Too Much Is Not Enough, Fashion, Frauds, Cons and Scams, More Money Than Brains
| Who We Are |
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |