swindle
Crooked money grab
To swindle is to cheat someone out of money or property through deception: They swindled him out of his life savings.
A swindle is an instance of such fraud.
The word suggests elaborate schemes rather than simple theft—confidence games, fake investments, fraudulent contracts.
A swindler is someone who makes a practice of it.
Argument against
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
- racketUproar, scam, or paddle
hustle · sting · flimflam · shell game · pyramid scheme · ponzi scheme · phishing · bait-and-switch
Deliberate deception or fraud
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
artifice · cunning · deceit · dishonesty · fraud · double-dealing · skulduggery · sharp practice
Professional fraud perpetrator
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
mountebank · trickster · hustler · cheat · shark · sharpie · shyster · scammer
defraud
Obtain through deceit
dupe · bamboozle · hoodwink · gull · cozen · deceive · rook · mulct · victimize · delude
con
Argument against
racket · hustle · sting · flimflam · shell game · pyramid scheme · ponzi scheme · phishing · bait-and-switch · rigged
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
subterfuge · artifice · cunning · deceit · dishonesty · fraud · double-dealing · skulduggery · sharp practice · underhandedness
con artist
Professional fraud perpetrator
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
impostor · mountebank · trickster · hustler · cheat · shark · sharpie · shyster · scammer · flimflammer
ruse
Deliberate act of deception
scheme · dodge · maneuver · stratagem · wile · feint · pretense · charade · bluff · hoax
mark
Visible impression or sign
patsy · target · gull · prey · fall guy · easy mark · sitting duck · victim · mug · chump
- chesscheck, pawns, knights, rooks, pawn
- crimerobbery, accomplice, alibi, burglary, conspiracy
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
swindlesquare deal
Honest, equitable treatment
fair trade · play fair · play it straight · ethical business · transparency
swindlegive
To transfer possession
donate · gift · bestow · donation · benevolence
swindledo right by
Fulfill obligations honorably
integrity · rectitude · uprightness · probity · virtue
swindler, swindling, swindled, swindlers, swindles, swindlings