DVF and the Crossword
A crossword print and other inspirations
Puzzle and magic friends!
In this newsletter:
DVF and the crossword - a collaboration!
A magician’s thoughts on a phone scam
Cryptic Crossword Clue Contest - GRIMACE
A brand new crossword! Lower Carbon
Diane von Fürstenberg and the Crossword
There’s something cool happening over in DVF-land. I’m working on a very fun project with her to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Wrap Dress in 2024. I can’t say too much yet, but I wanted to share a couple of photos.
This all began when DVF wore a crossword dress honoring Karl Lagerfeld at the Met Gala this past May. I was so excited to see this puzzley print that I reached out to her to tell her how much I loved the design. Several phone calls later, we’re cooking up something special. Here I am visiting the legendary designer at her office last month:
To kick off the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Wrap Dress, DVF threw a luncheon yesterday. Below is a photo from the step and repeat. There are more photos here.
The words in that background design are from her book Own It: The Secret to Life. Stay tuned for more DVF x Cruciverbal fun!
Thoughts on a juror scam
This one is fresh on my mind, as it just happened over the last couple of days. After you read this post, I am very curious if any of you have ever been scammed or if anyone has ever tried to con you. Please let us know in the comments!
There’s a great deal of overlap with illusion and confidence games. Obviously, the chief difference is that magic uses deception for entertainment. As James Randi so famously stated, a magician is an “honest liar,” the title of the excellent documentary about his life. “Magicians are the most honest people in the world. They tell you they’re gonna fool you, and then they do it.” Whereas spiritualists, fortune tellers, tarot card readers, psychics and, of course, scammers, prey on your emotions. And that’s exactly what a conman tried to do to me this week.
It started with a voicemail from one Sergeant David Jenkins with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office. The emotional manipulation began with Jenkins telling me that the “matter is urgent and does require my immediate attention.” I’m a new father, so I was slightly worried. I called back (a Los Angeles 213- number) and left a voicemail. The voicemail greeting was, of course, that I had reached the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
Eventually Sergeant Jenkins calls me back and informs me that I missed jury duty yesterday. I believe him, because I had been away from my house for a few months, and it was plausible I missed the summons. The conversation is reassuring at first. He says he’ll mark me down as “did not receive” and this will alleviate my case. OK great! But then he informs me that I will need to state my case in a recording.
I suddenly have the wherewithal to ask him if he could verify that he is in fact calling from the Sheriff’s Office. He explains that the number he called from showed up as unknown because he’s using some technical system and that he’ll call me back from the main line of the Sheriff’s Office. I am reassured by this.
We hang up and the phone rings. It’s (213) 229-1700 and my phone says “Public Service.” I google it and sure enough, it’s the LA Sheriff’s Office.
But this where the alleged Sergeant Jenkins screwed up. Magicians call this “over proving.” It’s like when you open a deck cards and say “This is a perfectly normal deck of cards.” Thank you, Penn and Teller:
Jenkins tried too hard to prove to me that everything was normal. Jenkins asked me “Do you have caller ID?” (who doesn’t!?) “Go ahead and Google that number so you can see it’s the Sheriff’s Office.”
I am starting to suspect things now, so I tell him that I would feel most comfortable if I could come into the office to give my statement in person. I think at this point the fake sergeant knew that it was time to try reel me in. He said, “In order to avoid physical detainment (there’s preying on fear again), you’ll have to pay a surety bond.” And at that point I knew. Part of me wanted to stay on the phone to hear how much money or how he wanted to collect it, but these days there’s a risk of scammers recording your voice and manipulating it for other nefarious schemes. So I screamed at him, “This is a scam!” and hung up. I was standing in the middle of the Grand Lux Cafe at the Venetian and I think everyone around me was very confused.
Here’s the thing: it was a very sophisticated scheme. I’ve since deduced that his initial calls always go to one’s voicemail (can you do that? please let me know in the comments) so that you’ll call back the 213 number. It’s a subtle way of reinforcing that you’re calling a Los Angeles bureau. Also, he SPOOFED the phone number of the Sheriff’s Office. Crazy!
Anyway, I hope you learn from my experience. There are some very crafty baddies out there. Never give your information to anyone over the phone.
I’m very curious to hear if anyone has ever tried to scam you. Please let me know in the comments!
Cryptic Crossword Clue Contest
In every newsletter I’ll be posting a fun little contest. Reply in the comments to this discussion thread with your best cryptic crossword entry. Like your favorites! Last newsletter’s winners are just below.
Yesterday I was in Las Vegas performing for some McDonald’s franchise owners. So this week, reply with your entry for GRIMACE.
Example:
Pained expression from serious-looking expert (7)
Include your entry and vote here in the discussion thread!
I’ve also included an explanation of how cryptic crosswords work in the discussion thread.
Last week’s winners for AMSTERDAM!
with 3 votesDutch city made smart renovation (9)
A nice one here by
as wellLunatic returns after ditching tail and taking in soaks in European city (9)
New crossword! “Lower Carbon”
I recently performed for Lowercarbon Capital and I realized that the firm name was a perfect crossword theme. Play it now! Would love to hear your thoughts below in the comments!
Corporate and Holiday Events
Interested in booking me for your next event? Holiday parties are starting to fill up! More info here on private parties, corporate speaking & performances and team-building puzzle hunts.
Upcoming Shows
After a sold out run at The Kennedy Center, The Enigmatist next moves to Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier in May 2024. The Windy City, get ready for the puzzle party! More info here.
Puzzle Hunt Playing Cards
Enigmas: Puzzle Hunt Playing Cards. Included within this unique deck are four very special puzzle cards. Solve them all to unlock an online Puzzle Hunt! Available here.
Scary scam! Just FYI there are definitely methods to route a call directly to voicemail. I think the most common method is to place two calls in quick succession so that the first goes through and the second goes to voicemail, then hang up the first.