Scam
A fraud that gains trust before exploiting victims.
A scam, or confidence trick, is an attempt to defraud a person or group after first gaining their trust. Confidence tricks exploit victims using a combination of the victim's credulity, naivety, compassion, vanity, confidence, irresponsibility, and greed. Researchers have defined confidence tricks as 'a distinctive species of fraudulent conduct ... intending to further voluntary exchanges that are not mutually beneficial', as they 'benefit con operators at the expense of their victims (the marks)'.
- other_terms
- confidence trick, con, con game, confidence game, confidence scheme, ripoff, stratagem, finesse, grift, hustle, bunko, bunco, swindle, flimflam, gaffle, bamboozle
- perpetrator_terms
- scammer, confidence man, con man, con artist, grifter, hustler, swindler
- victim_terms
- marks, suckers, stooges, mugs, rubes, gulls
- accomplice_term
- shills
- short_con_duration
- minutes, possibly seconds
- long_con_duration
- several days or weeks
Lore & Background
The shell game dates back at least to ancient Greece. Thompson was a clumsy swindler who asked his victims to express confidence in him by giving him money or their watch rather than gaining their confidence in a more nuanced way. A few people trusted Thompson with their money and watches. Reporting on this arrest, James Houston, a reporter for the New York Herald, publicized Thompson by naming him the 'Confidence Man'. Although Thompson was an unsuccessful scammer, he gained a reputation as a genius operator mostly because Houston's satirical tone was not understood as such. The National Police Gazette coined the term 'confidence game' a few weeks after Houston first used the name 'confidence man'.
Reader's Guide
The stages of a con, as outlined by Edward H. Smith, include foundation work, approach, build-up, pay-off, the hurrah, and the in-and-in. David Maurer's ten stages for a 'big con' include locating a victim, gaining confidence, steering them to an insideman, and fleecing them. Vulnerability factors include greed, dishonesty, vanity, and credulity. Government organizations have set up online fraud reporting websites in the US, Australia, Singapore, UK, and Netherlands. The top countries for online fraud include Russia, Ukraine, China, the United States, Nigeria, Romania, North Korea, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and India.
Did You Know?
- The shell game dates back at least to ancient Greece.
- The National Police Gazette coined the term 'confidence game' a few weeks after James Houston first used 'confidence man'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a scam in Crime And Deviance 1-24?
A scam is a type of fraud in which the perpetrator first builds the victim's trust before exploiting that trust for personal gain. It is also widely known as a confidence trick or con game.
What are the other terms used for a scam?
The entry lists numerous synonyms including con, grift, hustle, bunko, bunco, swindle, flimflam, gaffle, bamboozle, ripoff, stratagem, and finesse.
What's the difference between a short con and a long con?
A short con unfolds in a matter of minutes or even seconds, while a long con stretches over several days or weeks. The longer duration allows the operator to deepen the victim's trust before the exploit.
What do people call the participants in a scam?
The perpetrator is referred to as a scammer, con artist, grifter, hustler, or swindler, while the target is called a mark, sucker, stooge, mug, rube, or gull. An accomplice who helps sell the illusion is known as a shill.
What psychological traits do scammers exploit in their victims?
Confidence tricks take advantage of a victim's credulity, naivety, compassion, vanity, confidence, irresponsibility, and greed. Researchers describe the scheme as a voluntary exchange that ultimately benefits only the operator at the mark's expense.
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