The Iversen family is on the verge of bankruptcy. All the family members are fired from their jobs one after another; most of the furniture is confiscated; the telephone is blocked; the electricity is cut off. When the bailiff wants to sell the house by auction, something must be done. To solve their economic problems, Charles Iversen, the father of the family, decides to become a conman. He needs 1500 kroner as a start-up for this venture, and goes to loan shark Leopold Phieselknasat, who doesn't trust his new customer, so he orders a henchman to tail him when he leaves. With rising astonishment the henchman observes the Iversen family accumulating more and more luxuries, without understanding how they can afford it. With their new fortune the family starts climbing the social ladder. They change their family name to Gyldenkål, and move to a deluxe villa in a fashionable district. To be able to pay for the house within one month, they must swindle one million kroner from somebody. Charles befriends wealthy financier Blaskenberg and starts his confidence trick.