Projo Offbeat Blog

Journal file photo (left), Journal photo/ Bill Murphy (right)
The thought of a tasty lobster dinner and the smooth talk of con man John Kluth are a dangerous combination.

Con man John Kluth may have the charm of a prince. He may have been perceptive enough to prey on people with kind hearts. But lobster was the key to his success.

Lobster is like a powerful drug.

Just the thought of it makes us crazy. It prompts us to don silly bibs and make messy fools of ourselves in public. It makes us reach deep into our pockets -- even when we're not being conned. The feds should declare lobster a controlled substance and regulate its distribution and consumption.

Kluth has grabbed headlines and airwaves in Rhode Island for months -- a guy who was able to con 30 people, many of them smart and accomplished, out of thousands of dollars.

How did he do it?

Most of Kluth's marks fell for his story about a truck in need of repair before his load of lobster perished. He promised to pay them back, and -- here's the kicker -- he'd even throw in some free lobsters as a sign of his gratitude.

Perfect. Who isn't a hero when he brings home a couple of lobsters? Who wouldn't want to make friends with a guy who can get us free lobsters? It would be like having a buddy who regularly comes up with great seats at Fenway or tickets to see Jimmy Buffett.

There's no way Kluth's con would have worked as well if it involved a truck full of tomatoes or frozen chickens.

On Wednesday, Kluth got his payback in a courtroom. He was called "rotten," "a predator" and "incorrigible." The judge sent him to prison for 16 years.

Still, if in 16 years, a guy approaches me with a story of a broken-down lobster truck, I just might reach into my pocket, even though I should know better. I want to think people are trustworthy. I want to think I'm the type who would help a person in need, but, most of all, I really like lobster.

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