confidence game

confidence game
any swindle in which the swindler, after gaining the confidence of the victim, robs the victim by cheating at a gambling game, appropriating funds entrusted for investment, or the like. Also called, Brit., confidence trick.
[1855-60, Amer.]

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▪ swindling operation
      any elaborate swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence the victim reposes in the swindler. Some countries have created a statutory offense of this name, though the elements of the crime have never been clearly defined by legislation, and the scope of proscribed behaviour remains subject to varying interpretations among jurisdictions.

      In its most highly developed form, the confidence game, which has generated its own jargon, victimizes wealthy and prominent individuals. In a typical scheme, an “inside man” induces the victim, or “mark,” into a dishonest gambling establishment. There, the mark sees decoys, or “shills,” who appear to be making big winnings. The inside man advances the mark's funds, and he is allowed to win with uncanny regularity. When he has reached the point at which he is convinced that additional investment will bring him a substantial win, or a “killing,” the mark is persuaded to leave the game in order to obtain money or documents conveying title to property. When he returns and places his bet, his luck suddenly changes, and his fortune disappears in a matter of minutes.

      By the early 1900s, payoffs of as much as $100,000 attracted the interest of racketeers, particularly in the U.S. More elaborate schemes were devised in order to exploit sophisticated and wealthy victims. “Ropers,” posing as rich financiers, industrialists, and millionaire sportsmen, began travelling the world in search of victims. The game itself took on more complicated and convincing formats. A popular swindle, known as past posting, required a dummy telegraph office that was used to persuade the mark that horse-race results could be delayed long enough for him to bet on the winner after the race was won. As soon as the mark committed a large amount of money, sometimes as much as $250,000, the operators disappeared. Another game, called “the rag,” used a fake brokerage house, where the victim was deceived by false stock quotations placed by swindlers, or “con men,” posing as investment brokers.

      Confidence games continue to flourish, primarily because prominent victims rarely report them, for fear of being prosecuted for their own complicity in a criminal activity.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • confidence game — n. A swindle in which a swindler earns the trust of the victim and then takes advantage of it to cheat the victim out of money; informally called a con game or simply con. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks …   Law dictionary

  • Confidence game — Confidence Con fi*dence, n. [L. confidentia firm trust in, self confidence: cf. F. confidence.] 1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; formerly followed by of, now commonly by in. [1913 Webster] Society… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Confidence game — Game Game, n. [OE. game, gamen, AS. gamen, gomen, play, sport; akin to OS., OHG., & Icel. gaman, Dan. gammen mirth, merriment, OSw. gamman joy. Cf. {Gammon} a game, {Backgammon}, {Gamble} v. i.] 1. Sport of any kind; jest, frolic. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • confidence game — UK US noun [C] US ► CONFIDENCE TRICK(Cf. ↑confidence trick) …   Financial and business terms

  • confidence game — confidence games N COUNT A confidence game is the same as a confidence trick. [mainly AM] …   English dictionary

  • confidence game — ☆ confidence game n. a swindle effected by gaining the confidence of the victim …   English World dictionary

  • confidence game — confidence ,game noun count a trick in which someone persuades another person to trust them and then gets money from them …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • confidence game — noun a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property • Syn: ↑bunco, ↑bunco game, ↑bunko, ↑bunko game, ↑con, ↑confidence trick, ↑con game, ↑gyp, ↑hustle, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • confidence game — Obtaining of money or property by means of some trick, device, or swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence which the victim reposes in the swindler. The elements of the crime of confidence game are: (1) an intentional… …   Black's law dictionary

  • confidence game — Obtaining of money or property by means of some trick, device, or swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence which the victim reposes in the swindler. The elements of the crime of confidence game are: (1) an intentional… …   Black's law dictionary

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