Recognizing Faces: How Physiognomy Can Help Identify Fraudsters

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In the classic text "The Strange Events Witnessed Over Twenty Years," Chapter Four notes: “Out there, they resort to gambling, swindling, and kidnapping, willing to do anything.” Similarly, Guo Moruo's "The Song of the Flood" mentions in Chapter Four: “Some people go to England or America, and after two or three years, they return pretending to be impressive. In reality, they are all frauds!” In today’s world, when a person begins their career, the most common advice from parents and elders is: “Child, the world is complex; be cautious in everything, beware of scammers, and don’t fall for tricks.” Indeed, in modern society, scammers of all kinds abound, making it challenging to guard against them. But since scammers don’t have labels on their faces, how can we tell if someone is a fraud? Our ancestors passed down some techniques in physiognomy that can help identify scammers, and with some attention, we can learn to recognize them.

Observe the Eyes

Generally, scammers have shifty eyes; if someone’s eyes show a lot of white, they might be deceitful. A malicious and murky gaze often signifies a treacherous nature; eyebrows that cross or grow in reverse suggest weak moral principles and a willingness to be cold-hearted in pursuit of profit; thin eyebrows typically indicate cunning individuals. This is in line with the saying about "thief-like eyes."

Observe the Ears

Individuals with weak and pointed earlobes, often described as "chicken beak ears," are likely self-interested; prominent, thin ear structures may indicate a rough demeanor; ears that protrude widely and lack clear contours often belong to bold opportunists; if someone has low ears with pointed tops, they might not hesitate to use unscrupulous means for profit.

Observe the Mouth

Thin lips that move excessively while speaking suggest that only one out of ten things they say can be trusted; if their thin lips don’t reveal their upper teeth and they fidget even more, it’s less reliable; a flat, long mouth with dark thin lips and drooping corners reveals a person with ulterior motives; having three prominent upper front teeth may indicate a tendency to steal and harm others for money; small teeth between the two front teeth often signal questionable character; very small, sharp teeth resembling rat teeth suggest a petty, selfish nature, always seeking small gains.

Observe the Walking Style

If someone frequently looks back while walking, appearing anxious, it suggests they are suspicious and untrustworthy, likely to betray friends; those who clutch their wallet or briefcase under their arm and walk hurriedly without letting their heels touch the ground are often restless and unreliable; walking with hands in suit pockets, appearing flustered, is typical of a rogue; even in warm weather, someone who keeps their hands in their pockets may be stingy and selfish, willing to do anything for profit; if a person walks while shaking their head and swaying their hips, they are unlikely to achieve great things and are easily deceptive.

Observe the Conversation

Someone who frequently touches their hair during a conversation and repeats themselves, even if they seem upright, is likely hiding insidious traits; if they smile and joke when criticized, or excessively praise the critic, they are often cunning; speaking with eyes closed suggests a calculating nature, focused on self-interest, and a thick-skinned, cold-hearted demeanor; if they speak as if with something in their mouth and often talk to themselves, it indicates ulterior motives.

The aforementioned physiognomic traits should be taken seriously when encountered; be cautious not to be deceived!