confidence game
Fraud through charm
A confidence game is a swindle that depends on gaining the victim's trust.
The con artist—short for confidence artist—establishes rapport, then exploits it for money or valuables.
Classic confidence games include the shell game, Ponzi schemes, and romance scams.
The term is often shortened to con game or simply con.
Deception for financial gain
- conArgument against
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
bunco · flimflam · sting · racket · Ponzi · pyramid scheme · phishing · catfish
Visible impression or sign
gull · target · easy mark · fall guy · chump · rube · greenhorn · victim
Deliberate act of deception
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- shamFraudulent imitation
- impostureDeception through false identity
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
artifice · chicanery · duplicity · sleight of hand · misdirection · false pretenses · smoke and mirrors · front
Petty fraud perpetrator
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
scammer · mountebank · fraudster · impostor · shyster · flimflam man · snake oil salesman · sharper
Underhanded control of others
- fast-talkPersuade through rapid deception
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- groomingSelf-care for appearance
- baitingDeliberately trying to provoke
hook · play · gambit · bait and switch · pressure · urgency · trust-building · flattery
swindle
Deception for financial gain
hustle · bunco · flimflam · sting · racket · Ponzi · pyramid scheme · phishing · catfish · wire fraud
mark
Visible impression or sign
patsy · gull · target · easy mark · fall guy · chump · rube · greenhorn · victim · gullible
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
subterfuge · artifice · chicanery · duplicity · sleight of hand · misdirection · false pretenses · smoke and mirrors · front · cover story
grifter
Petty fraud perpetrator
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
hustler · scammer · mountebank · fraudster · impostor · shyster · flimflam man · snake oil salesman · sharper · cardsharper
manipulation
Underhanded control of others
- fast-talkPersuade through rapid deception
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- groomingSelf-care for appearance
baiting · hook · play · gambit · bait and switch · pressure · urgency · trust-building · flattery · sob story
confidence gamearmed robbery
Theft with weapon threat
mugging · robbery · violent crime · burglary · holdup
confidence gamefair dealing
Honest, equitable conduct principle
square deal · fair trade · straight dealing · straight shooting
game, confidence, confident, confidential, confidently, unconfident, confiding, overconfidence, self-confidence