patsy
Con artist's target
A patsy is someone set up to take blame for others' wrongdoing—a fall guy or scapegoat.
The term implies naivety or vulnerability: the patsy doesn't realize they're being used until it's too late.
They needed a patsy, and he was dumb enough to volunteer.
More broadly, a patsy is anyone easily manipulated or deceived.
Easily fooled person
- markVisible impression or sign
- chumpGullible fool
- stoogeEasily manipulated pawn
- gullibleEasily deceived
naive · trusting · unsuspecting · credulous · hoodwinked · bamboozled · swindled · conned
One blamed for others
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
- sacrificial lambOne offered for others' benefit
- stoogeEasily manipulated pawn
- pawnUnwitting tool of another
puppet · frontman · expendable · sacrificial · tool · collateral · mark · chump
Object of pursuit
- preyAnimal being hunted
- casualtyPerson harmed in disaster
- suffererOne who endures hardship
- pawnUnwitting tool of another
helpless · vulnerable · defenseless · unwitting · setup · entrapped · framed · used
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- setupHow something is arranged
- frame-upOrchestrated false incrimination
- conArgument against
swindle · sting · racket · hustle · manipulation · entrapment · deception · double-cross
sucker
Easily fooled person
gullible · naive · trusting · unsuspecting · credulous · hoodwinked · bamboozled · swindled · conned · fleeced
fall guy
One blamed for others
- whipping boyDesignated recipient of punishment
- sacrificial lambOne offered for others' benefit
- stoogeEasily manipulated pawn
pawn · puppet · frontman · expendable · sacrificial · tool · collateral · mark · chump · easy target
target
Object of pursuit
pawn · helpless · vulnerable · defenseless · unwitting · setup · entrapped · framed · used · exploited
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- setupHow something is arranged
- frame-upOrchestrated false incrimination
con · swindle · sting · racket · hustle · manipulation · entrapment · deception · double-cross · inside job
- suckerssucker, lollipop, Dum Dum, Tootsie Pop, all-day sucker
- Blameblame, fault, culprit, accusation, guilt-tripping
- comedy typesclown, satire, parody, farce, slapstick
- accomplicesaccomplice, accessory, co-conspirator, abettor, collaborator
- easy marksmark, easy mark, sucker, dupe, pigeon
- naivetenaivety, naive, innocence, gullible, gullibility
patsycon artist
Professional fraud perpetrator
swindler · manipulator · scammer · con man · trickster
patsymastermind
Scheme's chief planner
ringleader · perpetrator · puppet master · kingpin · architect
- Patsy ClinePioneering female country vocalist