long cons
Elaborate patient schemes
Long cons are elaborate deception schemes that unfold over extended periods—weeks, months, or years—building trust before the payoff.
Unlike quick scams, long cons require patience and sustained performance: The grifter spent six months on the long con before disappearing with the inheritance.
The term comes from confidence games, where the "con" is short for confidence.
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
The Sting · pyramid scheme · house of cards · deception · charlatan · grooming · scheme · confidence trickster · slow burn · ploys · trust-building · too good to be true · frauds · white collar crime · gaslighting · confidence trick · social engineering · patsy