confidence trickster
Smooth-talking cheat
A confidence trickster is someone who defrauds people by first gaining their trust.
The con artist builds rapport, establishes credibility, then exploits that confidence for money or valuables.
The term is more common in British English; Americans typically say con artist or con man.
The confidence trickster posed as a wealthy investor to bilk retirees of their savings.
Fraud who deceives for profit
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- scammerOne who defrauds others
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
charlatan · impostor · mountebank · hustler · flimflammer · sharper · shyster · hoaxer
Argument against
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
bunco · sting · racket · scheme · ruse · ploy · subterfuge · artifice
Underhanded control of others
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- charmAttractive personal quality
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
- rapportHarmonious mutual connection
trust · grooming · gaslighting · misdirection · exploitation · seduction · smooth talk · fast talk
conman
Fraud who deceives for profit
fraudster · charlatan · impostor · mountebank · hustler · flimflammer · sharper · shyster · hoaxer · faker
con
Argument against
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
flimflam · bunco · sting · racket · scheme · ruse · ploy · subterfuge · artifice · chicanery
manipulation
Underhanded control of others
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- charmAttractive personal quality
- charismaMagnetic personal appeal
rapport · trust · grooming · gaslighting · misdirection · exploitation · seduction · smooth talk · fast talk · patter
mark
Visible impression or sign
victim · patsy · gull · easy mark · rube · stooge · fall guy · chump · mug · greenhorn
confidence tricksterpickpocket
Thief who steals carried items
mugger · armed robber · burglar · thief · cutpurse
confidence, confident, confer, trickster, confidential, confidant, confidently, unconfident, overconfidence