It might be more apropos to look at it as a con man thinks he spots a mark, runs his con but gets conned himself. At every step he can see the tables are being

It might be more apropos to look at it as a con man thinks he spots a mark, runs his con but gets conned himself. At every step he can see the tables are being turned and there are multiple opportunities to walk away, as it's a long con. However, the instigating con man's greed won't allow for it. He then cries out 'that's not fair... he conned me!' There are no innocent victims in this story.