Arrival at Alcatraz
On April 27, 1936, Victor Lustig looked out from a ferryboat cabin toward Alcatraz. At 46, he was chained and headed for a prison sentence of 20 years. Known as America’s most dangerous con man, Lustig had sold the Eiffel Tower—twice—and ran a counterfeit ring so large it caught the attention of the U.S. Secret Service.
Master of Deception
Lustig operated under 47 aliases and carried dozens of forged passports. Though he claimed aristocratic roots, prison records list his parents as poor peasants from Hostinné in the former Austria-Hungary. A skilled card cheat and fluent in five languages, he swindled businessmen across Europe and America with fake investment schemes and a “money box” that supposedly duplicated currency using radium.
Pursuit and Capture
Lustig escaped federal custody in 1935 but was recaptured after a car chase in Pittsburgh. He was sentenced in New York that November. His counterfeit $100 bills were so perfect, banks mistook them for genuine notes.
Final Disappearance
On Alcatraz, Lustig filed over 1,100 medical complaints before being moved to a hospital in Missouri. He died there of pneumonia on March 11, 1947. His true identity remains unconfirmed—no birth records have ever been found.
On April 27, 1936, Victor Lustig stared through a ferry window as Alcatraz emerged from the mist.
Chained and sentenced to 20 years, he had once sold the Eiffel Tower—twice.
His charm fooled millions. Now, America’s most elusive con man was heading to prison…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/CHW1ceCyZ7
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) May 20, 2025