long con
Slow-burn fraud
A long con is a swindle that unfolds over an extended period, requiring patience, elaborate deception, and the gradual cultivation of a victim's trust.
Unlike quick scams, the long con involves sustained character work and careful setup: He spent months gaining her confidence before the long con paid off.
The term comes from confidence games—schemes that depend on winning the mark's confidence before taking their money.
Dishonest money-making scheme
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
flimflam · bamboozle · hoax · sham · ruse · dupery · impostor · charlatan
Self-care for appearance
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- psychologyStudy of mind, behavior
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- trust-buildingEstablishing mutual confidence
gaslighting · maneuvering · influence · coercion · conditioning · leverage · power-play · rapport
Arranging for future events
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- executionCompleting a planned task
- foresightAbility to anticipate futures
patience · setup · endgame · calculation · orchestration · timing · preparation · coordination
Organized large-scale theft
- caperPrank or pickled bud
- twistRotating motion or surprise
- revealMake something visible
- double-crossTreacherous deception of partner
betrayal · suspense · climax · protagonist · antagonist · storyline · undercover · stakeout
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
hustle · flimflam · bamboozle · hoax · sham · ruse · dupery · impostor · charlatan · grifter
grooming
Self-care for appearance
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- psychologyStudy of mind, behavior
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
trust-building · gaslighting · maneuvering · influence · coercion · conditioning · leverage · power-play · rapport · vulnerability
planning
Arranging for future events
- mastermindScheme's chief planner
- schemeCalculated strategy, often secretive
- executionCompleting a planned task
foresight · patience · setup · endgame · calculation · orchestration · timing · preparation · coordination · groundwork
heist
Organized large-scale theft
double-cross · betrayal · suspense · climax · protagonist · antagonist · storyline · undercover · stakeout · sting
- plot twistsplot twist, twist ending, surprise ending, unexpected turn, final reveal
- consscam, swindle, grift, hustle, sting
- manipulationgaslighting, guilt tripping, blame-shifting, brainwashing, guilt trip
- scamsscam, scams, fraud, frauds, swindle
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- deceptionslie, lies, lying, deceit, decoy
long conshort con
Brief deception for money
street hustle · smash-and-grab · smash and grab · shell game · hit and run
long, con, confidence, confident, confidential, cons, conman, confidence man, long game