Confidence Game
Definition:
A "confidence game" (often shortened to "con game") is a type of trick or scam where someone deceives another person to gain their trust, usually to cheat them out of money or property. The scam often involves convincing the victim that they are making a good investment or that they are participating in a fair game, when in reality, they are being cheated.
Usage Instructions:
You can use "confidence game" when talking about situations where someone is tricked into believing that something is true, but it is not. It often involves manipulation and deceit.
Example Sentence:
"She lost a lot of money in a confidence game where the con artist promised her a big return on a fake investment."
Advanced Usage:
In more advanced contexts, you might refer to the psychological tactics used in a confidence game, such as building rapport and trust with the victim before revealing the scam.
Word Variants:
- Con artist: A person who performs confidence games. - Conning: The act of deceiving someone in such a manner.
Different Meanings:
While "confidence game" primarily refers to a type of scam, it can also imply a situation where someone is overly confident in something that turns out to be false or misleading.
Synonyms:
- Scam - Swindle - Fraud - Hoax - Racket
Idioms:
- "Too good to be true": This phrase is often used to describe an offer or deal that seems excellent, but is likely a scam. - "Pulling a fast one": This means to trick someone quickly and cleverly.
Phrasal Verbs:
- "Con someone out of": To trick someone into giving you something, usually money (e.g., "He conned her out of her savings").