grifts
Runs petty scams
Grifts are petty swindles or confidence schemes—small-scale frauds that rely on deception rather than force.
The word covers both the schemes themselves and the act of running them: He's been running grifts since he was a teenager.
Someone who grifts is a grifter.
The term has expanded to describe any hustle or dubious money-making venture: influencer grifts, political grifts.
Professional fraud perpetrator
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
scammer · impostor · mountebank · shyster · flimflam man · confidence man · snake oil salesman · chiseler
Deceive through cunning
- bilkDefraud of payment
- fleeceWool still on sheep
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- defraudObtain through deceit
dupe · hoodwink · con · rook · cheat · deceive · mislead · manipulate
Argument against
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- racketUproar, scam, or paddle
flimflam · shakedown · sting · bunco · shell game · pyramid scheme · Ponzi scheme · phishing
Deliberate deception or fraud
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
subterfuge · artifice · sleight · cunning · deceit · dishonesty · skullduggery · pretense
con artist
Professional fraud perpetrator
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
fraudster · scammer · impostor · mountebank · shyster · flimflam man · confidence man · snake oil salesman · chiseler · sharper
bamboozle
Deceive through cunning
defraud · dupe · hoodwink · con · rook · cheat · deceive · mislead · manipulate · exploit
con
Argument against
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
racket · flimflam · shakedown · sting · bunco · shell game · pyramid scheme · Ponzi scheme · phishing · catfishing
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
guile · subterfuge · artifice · sleight · cunning · deceit · dishonesty · skullduggery · pretense · dissimulation
mark
Visible impression or sign
dupe · gull · victim · rube · easy mark · chump · fall guy · stooge
- shady dealingsscams, swindles, cons, fraud, bait and switch
griftsearns
Acquires through effort
works · labors · toils · produces · contributes
griftsfair dealing
Honest, equitable conduct principle
square dealing · honest work · fair trade · integrity · philanthropy