The Art of Exploiting Trust

We think of embezzlement and grand theft as crimes of brute force or digital wizardry.

But history’s most brilliant heists weren't about smashing windows—they were about exploiting

trust, bending systems, and understanding human nature better than anyone else. <break time="2.5s" />

This isn't a glorification of crime. It's a study in audacious genius, flawed systems,

and the moments when someone decided the rules were just a suggestion. Here are five historical

thefts that redefined the art of the steal. <break time="11.0s" /> 1. The Fire Sale Conspiracy (1st Century BC,

Rome). The first great embezzlement was a real estate scheme. Marcus Licinius

Crassus, one of Rome’s richest men, ran a private fire brigade in a city