con game
Fleecing the gullible
A con game is a swindle—a scheme to cheat someone out of money or valuables through deception and false promises.
The con artist gains the victim's confidence (hence "con"), then exploits that trust: The whole investment opportunity was a con game.
Extended to any elaborate deception: His charm offensive was just a con game to get promoted.
Deception for financial gain
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
bamboozle · hoodwink · dupe · charlatan · impostor · mark · sucker · pigeon
Sleight-of-hand street con
- pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
- Ponzi schemeFraudulent returns from newcomers
- bait and switchFraudulent sales tactic
- Nigerian princeEmail scam persona
phishing · catfishing · long con · short con · wire fraud · insurance fraud · identity theft · fake charity
Visible impression or sign
patsy · dupe · easy mark · target · chump · fall guy · victim · stooge
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
sleight of hand · misdirection · false pretense · front · setup · shill · plant · inside man
Petty fraud perpetrator
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- con womanFemale fraud perpetrator
- flimflam manProfessional deceiver for profit
mountebank · fraudster · snake oil salesman · scammer · trickster · sharper · cheat · spieler
swindle
Deception for financial gain
hoax · bamboozle · hoodwink · dupe · charlatan · impostor · mark · sucker · pigeon · rube
three-card monte
Sleight-of-hand street con
- pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
- Ponzi schemeFraudulent returns from newcomers
- bait and switchFraudulent sales tactic
Nigerian prince · phishing · catfishing · long con · short con · wire fraud · insurance fraud · identity theft · fake charity · boiler room
mark
Visible impression or sign
gullible · patsy · dupe · easy mark · target · chump · fall guy · victim · stooge · mug
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
chicanery · sleight of hand · misdirection · false pretense · front · setup · shill · plant · inside man · forged documents
grifter
Petty fraud perpetrator
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- con womanFemale fraud perpetrator
flimflam man · mountebank · fraudster · snake oil salesman · scammer · trickster · sharper · cheat · spieler · roper
- trickerytrick, deceive, mislead, hoax, ruse
- scamsscams, fraud, frauds, swindle, swindles
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- comedy tropespratfall, parody, sight gag, running gag, satire
- mischiefmischief, hijinks, antics, pranks, antic
- tricksmagic trick, card trick, card tricks, coin trick, rope trick
con gamefair dealing
Honest, equitable conduct principle
square deal · straight dealing · ethical business · honest work · fair trade
con gamecharity
Voluntary aid for others
philanthropy · gift · benevolence · altruism · good deed
game, confidence, scam, con artist, con artists, con man, con men, confidence game