Shigeo Kageyama, or "Mob," is the undeniable protagonist of Mob Psycho 100, but his mentor, Reigen Arataka, has his moments of stealing the spotlight. Reigen quickly became a beloved anime character for his scamming shenanigans that often served to add comic relief to the series.
He also possesses extraordinary self-esteem that makes him a good enough con artist to trick dozens of actual espers into believing he's the Greatest Psychic of the 21st Century despite having absolutely no psychic ability to speak of. Con artists are an amusing character archetype that occasionally appears in anime, spicing up various narratives with smooth-talking schemes that distract and charm audiences.
10 Reigen's Impressive Confidence Makes Scamming Others Look Easy (Mob Psycho 100)
Not only is Mob Psycho 100's Reigen Arataka silver-tongued, but he's also a quick thinker and a good actor - all of which are essential traits for an effective con artist. Reigen doesn't have a shred of psychic ability when he starts his Spirits and Such Consulting business, but he effectively scams every client he brings in. Although Reigen is a shameless liar about his abilities, he's still a good mentor for Mob and possesses a heart of gold. As a bonus, his scams tend not to hurt people.
9 Erimi Relies On Her Family Business To Intimidate Others (Kakegurui xx)
Although she can't quite take the heat in her gamble with Yumeko Jabami and Midari Ikishima in Kakegurui xx, Erimi Mushibami is still a slick gambler. Whenever the situation seems completely safe, Erimi uses her rigged games to cheat others and win. She uses her family's standing in the torture business to psychologically unnerve her opponents who believe she's sadistic and terrifying simply by virtue of her family's business. If Yumeko hadn't misled Erimi into thinking her finger guillotine wasn't actually rigged, Erimi could have easily won the gamble.
8 Whitney Hagas Matsumoto Posed As A Lawyer To Shirk His Debts (Cowboy Bebop)
Not much is known about Whitney Hagas Matsumoto when he makes his debut in Cowboy Bebop, but he introduces himself as a lawyer and dedicates himself to helping Faye. Suffering from amnesia so bad she can't remember her name, Faye clings on to Whitney's confident, handsome façade in a scary new world.
All Whitney's smoothness accomplishes, however, is faking his own death and bequeathing all his debts to Faye, who'd fallen hopelessly in love. Whitney Hagas Matsumoto is truly one of the worst kinds of con artists.
7 Faye's New Personality Became Like The Con Man Who Scammed Her (Cowboy Bebop)
After having her naivete and amnesiac status taken advantage of by the first person she trusted in an unfamiliar world, Faye Valentine decided to live a life of crime herself. Whitney Hagas Matsumoto stuck her with over 35 million woolongs' worth of debt in Cowboy Bebop, and with no way to pay for it, Faye turned to scamming others out of their money. Always on the run from the law, Faye quickly learned how to be a confident smooth talker with the combat skills to match.
6 Iyami Doesn't Let Failures Or Judgment Slow Down His Scams (Mr. Osomatsu)
Confidence might be the most essential trait for a successful con artist, and Mr. Osomatsu's Iyami has confidence in spades. Even though he's often poor or starving and doesn't have the best looks, Iyami maintains that he's a sophisticated man from France who's just trying to buy his way back home. In reality, Iyami usually just needs living expenses (although he would very much like to live in France). Between his occasional honest jobs here and there, Iyami shamelessly tricks other residents out of their hard-earned money.
5 Fujiko Is A Femme Fatale Who Routinely Cons The World's Greatest Thief (Lupin the Third)
One of the original anime Femme Fatales, Lupin the Third's Fujiko Mine is infamous for involving herself in Lupin III's crimes and even beating him to the treasure sometimes. If she doesn't beat him to the gold, she knows just which of his buttons to push to trick him into letting his guard down so she can take it. Fujiko is known for lying, disguises, and double-crossing Lupin's team, making her quite the con artist. She's also able to speak dozens of languages and mask her accent seamlessly.
4 Miroku Had No Qualms Scamming Rich Patrons By Providing His Services (Inuyasha)
While he's pledged his life to living as a Buddhist monk in Inuyasha, a man still has to eat, and not all of Miroku's patrons are wealthy people. That's why he uses his religious status and smooth-talking to easily trick wealthier patrons out of their possessions.
In fact, when Miroku debuts in Inuyasha, it's after he's scammed someone out of their belongings and he's pawning them for cash. He gives up the con man life once he joins Kagome's crew, but he's still got a gifted silver tongue.
3 Marie The Mink Acts As A Disingenuous Information Broker (BNA: Brand New Animal)
When Michiru Kagemori first ventures off to Anima City, she runs into a bit of trouble. Luckily, Marie Itami the mink (or weasel) has been sent to snatch Michiru up and safely deliver her to Anima City. Not only does Marie demand payment for her services, but she also participates in a distraction to steal Michiru's wallet. Marie only shows up occasionally in BNA: Brand New Animal, but whenever she does, there's usually a profit to be made and shady business afoot.
2 Laurent Thierry Is So Skilled That He Enacts Cons On An International Level (The Great Pretender)
Fluent in nine languages and remarkably skilled in the art of persuasion, The Great Pretender's Laurent Thierry leads the good-intentioned con artist group Team Confidence. Acting as a Robin Hood-esque organization, this group of noble con men only scam those who use their money and influence for ill. Laurent is silly, quick-witted, and possesses impressive speaking skills but can become quite angry and vengeful due to his traumatic past. He has excellent self-control, however, and manages to keep those urges in check.
1 Team Rocket's Jessie, James, & Meowth Are Infamous For Their Scamming (Pokémon)
Any Pokémon anime fan would be remiss in forgetting Jessie, James, and Meowth, Team Rocket's most bumbling and slippery trio. In the early seasons especially, the mischievous trio is frequently seen participating in a number of schemes. These schemes often employ various disguises and scams that aim to trick unsuspecting Trainers into relinquishing their money, Pokémon, or both. The Team Rocket trio almost always gets away with their troublemaking until Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu catch on to their villainy and send them blasting off again.