Higher Learning

The classic stereotype of the con man as smooth, crafty and clever just took a hit.

[the] former Harvard University instructor of medicine who was arrested on Tuesday for conning friends, colleagues and Internet acquaintances out of $600,000 was himself duped when he trusted other swindlers with the money, police said.

Weidong Xu, 38, quickly lost his ill-gotten loot by investing it in a dubious Nigerian business offer he received by e-mail. The spam message promised gains of $50 million, police said.

But, what does it tell us about Harvard professors?

Posted by Kate at April 11, 2004 4:25 PM