hoodwinkers
Those who dupe
Hoodwinkers are people who deceive or trick others.
The word comes from an older sense of hoodwink meaning to blindfold someone, and by extension to prevent them from seeing the truth.
The hoodwinkers convinced elderly victims to hand over their savings.
The term suggests deliberate deception rather than innocent misunderstanding.
Pretenders to special knowledge
- impostorsThose falsely claiming identity
- swindlersDeceivers who steal through trickery
- conmenThose who defraud through deception
- scammersPeople who defraud others
fraudsters · tricksters · cheats · grifters · hoaxers · fakers · dupers · mountebanks
Deception through clever manipulation
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- smoke and mirrorsDeceptive obfuscation tactics
bait and switch · fast talk · double-dealing · decoys · feints · bluffs · diversions · red herrings
Secret plans or storylines
- machinationsCrafty scheming toward goals
- consDownsides or inmates
- scamsDishonest money-making schemes
- gambitsTactical opening sacrifices
ruses · ploys · stratagems · subterfuges · intrigues · tricks · deceptions · manipulations
charlatans
Pretenders to special knowledge
- impostorsThose falsely claiming identity
- swindlersDeceivers who steal through trickery
- conmenThose who defraud through deception
scammers · fraudsters · tricksters · cheats · grifters · hoaxers · fakers · dupers · mountebanks · defrauders
chicanery
Deception through clever manipulation
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
- sleight of handSkillful manual deception
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
smoke and mirrors · bait and switch · fast talk · double-dealing · decoys · feints · bluffs · diversions · red herrings · shell games
plots
Secret plans or storylines
- machinationsCrafty scheming toward goals
- consDownsides or inmates
- scamsDishonest money-making schemes
gambits · ruses · ploys · stratagems · subterfuges · intrigues · tricks · deceptions · manipulations · double-crosses
hoodwinkerstruth-tellers
Those who state facts
straight shooters · honest brokers · whistleblowers · straight talkers · debunkers