confidence artist
Trust-exploiting criminal
A confidence artist is someone who gains victims' trust in order to defraud them—running a con.
The term emphasizes the craft involved: these swindlers are skilled at inspiring confidence, then exploiting it.
The confidence artist posed as a wealthy investor to bilk retirees out of their savings.
Also called a con artist or confidence man.
One feigning another's identity
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- mountebankTraveling seller of fake remedies
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- scammerOne who defrauds others
trickster · hustler · shark · shyster · phony · faker · pretender · quack
Underhanded control of others
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- charmAttractive personal quality
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
- gaslightingManipulation causing self-doubt
grooming · exploitation · trust-building · rapport · social engineering · mark · pigeon · sucker
Dishonest money-making scheme
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
flimflam · bunco · hoax · sting · bamboozle · hoodwink · dupe · bilk
Deliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
pretense · fabrication · imposture · disguise · forgery · counterfeit · sham · ruse
impostor
One feigning another's identity
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- mountebankTraveling seller of fake remedies
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
scammer · trickster · hustler · shark · shyster · phony · faker · pretender · quack · flimflam man
manipulation
Underhanded control of others
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- charmAttractive personal quality
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
gaslighting · grooming · exploitation · trust-building · rapport · social engineering · mark · pigeon · sucker · vulnerability
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
swindle · flimflam · bunco · hoax · sting · bamboozle · hoodwink · dupe · bilk · fleece
duplicity
Deliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
chicanery · pretense · fabrication · imposture · disguise · forgery · counterfeit · sham · ruse · feint
confidence artisthonest broker
Impartial third-party negotiator
straight shooter · truth-teller · straight arrow · man of his word · philanthropist
confidence artistpickpocket
Thief who steals carried items
mugger · armed robber · burglar · thief · purse snatcher
confidence, confident, confidently, confidential, confidentially, confide, confided, confiding, confidant