What's the most successful scam you've ever pulled?

Back in the 80s, when Ireland started being on people's radar a bit more, because of you two

and Boontown rats, maybe, there were very few Irish backpackers compared to now.

I live in Australia.

I'd score massive amounts of free booze and faux Irish pubs by pretending to be from the Emerald

Isles.

I was in the restroom of one using the

urinal when a drunk guy came up next to me and asked if I was having a good day. For some reason,

my subconscious decided to answer in an Irish accent. He was excited to meet an actual Irish

person in a fake Irish pub where there were never any Irish, not even the staff. And he invited

me back to his table to meet his friends.

I didn't have to buy a round all night. I kind of forgot about it for a few months until I again

found myself in another Bridie O'Reilly's, and a pretty girl pulled up next to me at the bar

and said hello. One, hello, my darling, later, and I was drinking for free again. The act

became perfected over time. You had to give the audience

what they wanted. Many wanted a dangerous Irishman, maybe someone who had been peripherally involved

in other troubles. For those, I'd refuse to say if I was Protestant or Catholic, and would be vague

about my surname and employment. I'd also get evasive if asked about the scar above my eyebrow. For others, I'd admit to being Catholic and maybe tear up if asked about my hometown.

One time a girl told me she'd been to London Derry, and I corrected her hotly, saying,

That's just frickin' Derry, thanks very much.

I have no idea if that's actually a thing.

So every few months, I'd do this for years. After maybe a decade of it, I was sitting in a non-Irish

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