Definition:
A con is a confidence-based deception in which trust is deliberately cultivated to enable exploitation.
Usage Context:
Seen in fraud analysis, criminology, and cultural descriptions of deception.
Critical Note:
The core mechanism is emotional manipulation rather than technical trickery. Trust is the primary resource extracted.
Related Terms:
Scam, Grift, Bait and Switch, Legalised Scam, Trust Leveraging