fleecer
One who cheats
A fleecer is someone who swindles or cheats others out of money or valuables.
The term derives from the verb fleece, which evokes the image of shearing wool from sheep—stripping them bare.
Fleecers operate through scams, overcharging, or other deceptive practices: The tourists fell prey to fleecers selling counterfeit goods.
The word carries strong connotations of predatory behavior toward vulnerable targets.
One exploiting shortages
- gougerOne who overcharges unfairly
- extortionistOne who demands payment through threats
- loan sharkIllegal high-interest moneylender
- usurerLender demanding excessive interest
price gouger · predator · bloodsucker · leech · parasite · opportunist · plunderer · milker
Fraud who deceives for profit
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- scammerOne who defrauds others
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- cheatAct dishonestly to win
bilker · defrauder · shark · charlatan · impostor · trickster · hoaxer · mountebank
profiteer
One exploiting shortages
- gougerOne who overcharges unfairly
- extortionistOne who demands payment through threats
- loan sharkIllegal high-interest moneylender
usurer · price gouger · predator · bloodsucker · leech · parasite · opportunist · plunderer · milker · squeezer
conman
Fraud who deceives for profit
cheat · bilker · defrauder · shark · charlatan · impostor · trickster · hoaxer · mountebank · racketeer
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
grift · fraud · racket · scheme · bamboozle · flimflam · dupery · confidence trick · bait and switch · shell game
cunning
Sly, scheming cleverness
- schemingCrafty and calculating
- calculatingColdly self-serving in strategy
- craftyCleverly deceptive
wily · guileful · conniving · artful · sly · shrewd · insidious · deceptive · smooth-talking · silver-tongued
fleecerbenefactor
One who gives aid
philanthropist · giver · patron · donor · helper
- sheep fleeceShorn coat of wool
- fleece jacketSoft synthetic warming garment
- fleece blanketSoft synthetic bedcover
- polar fleeceSynthetic insulating textile
- Golden FleeceMythic ram's pelt
- fleece pantsSoft warm casual legwear