deceiver

swindler

Person who deceives for money

• con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
• fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
• scammerOne who defrauds others

grifter · conman · cheat · hoaxer · flimflammer · bilker · hustler · shyster · defrauder · embezzler

pretender

Illegitimate claimant to power

• fakerOne who pretends
• phonyFraudulent person or thing
• imposterOne feigning identity

masquerader · charlatan · mountebank · quack · poseur · usurper · wolf in sheep's clothing · doppelganger · infiltrator · identity thief

manipulator

One who controls cunningly

• plotterMachinator or diagram machine
• conniverOne who schemes secretly
• intriguerOne who schemes secretly

mastermind · machinator · trickster · fox · cozener · strategist · operator · wheeler-dealer · puppet master · Machiavelli

traitor

One who betrays allegiance

• turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
• backstabberDisloyal pretend ally
• double-crosserOne who deceives confederates

Judas · quisling · double agent · informer · snake · sellout · defector · renegade · two-timer · apostate

artifice

Clever deceptive strategy

• guileSly, strategic dishonesty
• duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
• craftinessShrewd, devious cleverness

slyness · deceit · subterfuge · chicanery · trickery · wile · misdirection · sophistry · dissimulation · double-dealing

mirage

Atmospheric optical deception

• phantasmIllusory supernatural appearance
• chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
• delusionStubbornly held false belief

figment · apparition · hallucination · specter · fantasy · smoke and mirrors · false front · facade · veneer · will-o'-the-wisp

• roguesrogue, rogues, scoundrel, scoundrels, rascal
• smooth talkerssmooth talker, smooth-talker, sweet talker, sweet-talker, fast talker
• femme fatalesfemme fatale, seductress, temptress, vixen, enchantress
• scamsscam, scams, fraud, frauds, swindle
• sinnerssinner, transgressor, evildoer, wrongdoer, blasphemer
• schemersschemer, manipulator, conniver, plotter, intriguer