After asking her a few questions that I thought might uncover a possible con, I became convinced that she was telling the truth and gave her five bucks for gas.

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I'm a con man.

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"I think she was a con artist, yes, " Blake said.

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And my point about gold is I'm neither pro nor con gold.

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Through a colleague I found a small shelter operated by a reformed ex-con and former gang member who has spent the majority of his life in prison.

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"I don't know if he's an actor or a con man, " Diddy said of Heejun Han.

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There, I continued my affair with rice puddings, exploring variations like Spanish arroz con leche, Indian kheer and khao niao sang khaya a sticky rice and coconut custard that's popular in Thailand.

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At my favorite Mexican joint, I exchanged my customary cheese-filled chile relleno for a bowl of sopa con pollo.

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Det Con Steven Barnes told Nottingham Crown Court Mick Philpott, 56, said: "I just can't believe this is happening".

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Until that Christmas, when I opened a rectangular gift and realized, to my shock and disbelief, that it had all been an elaborate con.

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It was basic and sparsely furnished, but contained everything I needed for a comfortable stay: a private bathroom with hot and cold water, a bed, air-con, and even a mini fridge and a safe.

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