falls prey
Becomes the victim
Falls prey means to become a victim of something harmful or predatory.
The phrase draws from hunting—prey is what predators catch and consume.
Someone falls prey to a scam, a disease, or temptation: Elderly people often fall prey to phone fraud.
The expression emphasizes vulnerability and the predatory nature of what overcomes the victim.
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- easy targetVulnerable person or thing
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- gullibilityEase of being deceived
- naivetyInnocent lack of experience
blind trust · manipulation · taken advantage of · unawareness · victimization · scam victim · loss · entrapment · unwitting · caught off guard · exploitation · con artist · succumb · damage · deception · false promises · too good to be true · trauma