I was in Barcelona in December of last year and I stood and watched some of the gambling games they play on la ramblas. I'd been told they were a con but I noticed some people having a go and I was just curious really how they work the fraud, is it just a sleight of hand or is it more complicated by that? Has anyone ever been stung by these?

It is an absolute ripoff. The crowd is made up off friends that will win - and other indsiders that will encourage you.

There will also be "muscle" there to allow the money guy to escape if you get hostile about being cheated - and they will just outright cheat, you have ZERO chance of EVER winning.

Don't be stupid.

There was a report on Telediario (TVEI) about this last night, saying that they sometimes use fake money.

It is called Three Card Monty and most of the ones who get stung are just greedly males. The people you saw having a go at this game are usually involued in it. They are easy to spot because they are wining.

When I visited Barcelona, they even had women involved in the scam and they played off the machos of their male victims.

This might sound mean or cruel, but somehow I really do not feel sorry for their victims, because their victims are just being greedy.

Who goes on a vacation to gamble with a stranger?

Bill