confidence games
Scams using charm
Confidence games are swindles that exploit the victim's trust.
The con artist gains confidence—in the old sense of trust—then uses it to defraud.
Classic examples involve fake investments, rigged gambling, or elaborate schemes where the mark believes they're in on something profitable.
The term gives us *con man*, *con artist*, and *con* as both noun and verb: He conned her out of her savings.
- hustlesMoves quickly, or swindles
- victimOne harmed by another
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
bait and switch · charlatan · mountebank · fast talker · fraud · false pretenses · snake oil · long con · short con · trickery · pyramid schemes · grift · deception · misrepresentation · ruse · sleight of hand · machinations · scheme
- deception storiesdouble identity, assumed identity
- Con Artist Tropescon artists, deceivers, schemes, imposters, double-crosses
confidence gamesstraight talk
Honest, direct communication
full disclosure · transparency · candor · plain dealing · good faith
confidence gamesarmed robbery
Theft with weapon threat
mugging · robbery · violent crime · burglary · home invasion
confidence, game, confident, confidently, confide, confiding, confidant, confidante, confidential