[0001 [0471 [0000 Ec[000000]LBabbeyB In.I 1. A confidence man who impersonates a clergyman in order to swindle the devout. 2. A confidence game employing the impersonation of a clergyman. Ec[000000]f[16]LBabbey, on the BWorking the abbey confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBabraham cove BA healthy confidence man who dresses in the guise of a decrepit beggar to elicit sympathy and money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBabraham suit, on the BA confidence game designed to gain sucker sympathy. Ec[000000]f[16]LBabram cove B A healthy confidence man who dresses in the guise of a decrepit beggar to elicit sympathy and money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBad man; ad-man BA confidence man who sells worthless or non-existent advertising space. Ec[000000]f[16]LBadvantage goods B The instruments that cardsharps and con artists use to cheat and steal. Ec[000000]f[16]LBAlderman Lushington BThe victim of a con artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBangelB In.I 1. One who is an easy target for criminals. 2. An easy target for investments in theatrical enterprise swindles. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"angle" BIn.I The approach that a con artist employs in his swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBappleB In.I The victim of a con artist; a sucker; a dupe. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"artist"B In.I A clever criminal, con artist or gambler, usu. one commanding respect. Ec[000000]f[16]LBautem goggler BA con artist who uses a spiritual or religious angle to lure his victims. Ec[000000]f[16]LBautographB In.I A swindle where the victim's signature is obtained to use later in the forging of checks. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbackingB In.I A confidence game where the victim finds himself implicated in criminal activity and liable for punishment should he report the swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbacking and filling BIn.I To fill a confidence game victim with hope. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"backs" BIn.I Counterfeit money, usu. crude, often only printed on one side, used as bait in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbackup man BThe accomplice of a confidence man, usu. the one who lures the victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbag, hold the BIv.I To be fooled or duped, left holding an empty bag instead of one full of money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBballyhooB In.I The patter that lures the victim into a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbanco BIn.I A confidence game employing either dice or cards, banco first appeared in the western U.S. in 1855. The game entailed stringing along a victim by allowing him to win a contest until he was fooled into playing for a rather large amount of money. In cards, the victim would be dealt Ec[000000]f[16]LFa high card from a marked prearranged deck duping him into betting an amount equal to what he has already won. With the stakes now doubled, the next card would naturally turn up in favor of the dealer. Due to the suspicions aroused by always losing the big bet, accomplices in the game were employed to win and lose in the same manner. Upon losing, they Ec[000000]f[16]LFwould start a fight with the operator and hence beat the real victim to the opportunity and distract him from protesting. Banco was a short-lived game, as it was easily detected. Among those who employed the game were Charles P. Miller, known as the "King of the Banco Men," and "Hungry Joe" Lewis who used banco in the 1860s in New York City. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"banker" BIn.I Anyone who financially backs a robbery, confidence game, or gambling operation. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbankrollB In.I Newspaper cut to the size of currency and covered with a few legitimate bills, usu. used to lure the victim into a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbarnard's law; Barnard' s Law B1. The various tricks of swindling and their use. 2. The profession of a confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbarneying BIn.I A swindle or robbery. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"bat"B In.I A confidence game where the victim is persuaded to purchase an ordinary brick believing that it is made of gold. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbatesB In.I A victim of a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbaulker BIn.I An accomplice in "a game of bowls" confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbean trap BIn.I A well-dressed confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"beat" BIn.I A confidence game or swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"beating"B In.I A swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbeat the bush BTo lure a victim to a swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbeef murder BTo complain loudly and repeatedly, usu. after being duped in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbeen had BTo be taken advantage of, swindled, cheated, deceived, victimized. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"best"B Iv.I To get the better of someone; to dupe or defraud him. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbestingB Iv.I Cheating or swindling. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbig con BA confidence game where the victim is allowed to go home or to his bank to get more money, as opposed to the big short game where the take is limited to whatever the victim is carrying. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbig mitt BA confidence game involving slight-of-hand in a card game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbig store BIn.I A bogus business or gambling establishment created to give a confidence game victim the impression of a legitimate operation. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbilkB Iv.I To deceive or defraud. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbilker BIn.I A confidence man or other cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbill-wrapperB A confidence man who wrapped currency inside certain packages of his products and then held a lottery selling his product to victims who hoped to receive one of the packages with money inside, unfortunately these were usu. reserved for the confidence man's accomplice. Ec[000000]f[16]LBblack-leg BA gambler or confidence man, usu. one who works the racetrack, e.g. a tout. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbleatersB In.I Those who have been cheated in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbliksem B(for.) In.I A criminal, usu. a confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"blind" BIn.I The pretext used by a confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBBlind Harpers BBeggars who fake blindness to gather sympathy and greater contributions. Ec[000000]f[16]LBblue river land BThe confidence man's most feared territory; an area where the residents are not easily duped. Ec[000000]f[16]LBblue sky racket BThe promotion and sale of worthless stocks and bonds. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbluffer BIn.I A confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbonnet BIn.I The accomplice of a confidence man, esp. one who works the thimble-rig, an early version of the shell game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBboomerB In.I A crook or confidence man who works briefly in one locale, then moves on to more lucrative areas. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"bounce"B In.I A flashy confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbreak-downB A fabricated telegram which prepares a confidence game's victim to part with his money. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"broad"B In.I The game of three-card monte where the con artist shuffles three cards and asks the player to choose which one of the three cards is the card he had previously been shown. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbroad, at the BWorking the three-card monte game, or some other crooked card game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbroadman; broadsman BIn.I A dishonest card player, esp. one who works the three-card monte confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbroad-pitcher BThe dealer of a three-card monte game or any three-card gambling trick. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbroad spieler BA three-card monte dealer. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbroad work BA game of three-card monte. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbroady-worker BA confidence man who sells inferior merchandise at inflated prices by pawning them off as quality goods that have been stolen. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbubble BIn.I 1. Fraudulent real estate speculation. 2. The one duped in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbucket shop BA room where confidence men acting as legitimate stockbrokers sell worthless or nonexistent stock to foolish investors. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbuffaloB Iv.I To bluff, deceive, or swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbull con artist BAny confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbunco BI v.I To swindle or cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbunco artist BA confidence man, swindler, or crooked gambler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbunco game BAny plan or scheme designed to defraud or swindle someone. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbunco-steerer BIn.I The member of a gang of confidence men or crooked gamblers who lures the victim into the trap. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbunco-steeringB The working or business of confidence games. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbundle type BA swindle where folded bills are used to shortchange someone. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbunko BIv.I To swindle or cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbunny BIn.I The victim of a confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBburnt up BA person or business that has been the victim of confidence men, swindlers, or bad check artists so often that they finally are alerted and are no longer dupes. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"button"B In.I 1. The point in a "big store" confidence game in which accomplices dressed as police officers pretend to raid the place and arrest the leader of the operation, ensuring his escape and prompting a quiet departure by the victim. 2. A counterfeit coin. 3. A confidence man's decoy. Ec[000000]f[16]LBbuzzing the tenner B A confidence game where part of the change received from a shopkeeper is hidden about the shop, to be picked up later by an accomplice. The shopkeeper is then challenged on his arithmetic and usu. the confidence man walks away with the additional money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcapperB In.I A fast-talking accomplice to a confidence game artist, usu. his confederate who appears to win at a gambling game as an enticement to victims. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcaravanB In.I The victim of a swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcard-coney-catching; card-cony-catching BAny type of confidence game that employs playing cards, e.g., three-card monte. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcarve up BTo disperse goods acquired in a swindle among the members of the confidence game team or gang. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcatcher BIn.I The confidence game artist who learns about a victim from a confederate and who then persuades the victim to enter a rigged card game or other rigged venture. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcharm game BA confidence game that employs a fortune teller as an accomplice. Ec[000000]f[16]LBchiselB In.I 1. A confidence man or cheat. 2. The game of a confidence artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBchumpB In.I The victim of a confidence or gambling game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcircusB In.I A swindle in which the victim signs a blank check. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcircus grifting BA brief confidence game with the circus as a background. Ec[000000]f[16]LBclay work BI n.I A swindle involving the victim exchanging money for something thought to be valuable, e.g., the gold brick game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBclean deal BThe selling of worthless stocks. Ec[000000]f[16]LBclipB Iv.I To swindle or cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBclip artist BA professional confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcome-onB The victim of a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcome-on game BAny swindle or confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcome-on guy BA confederate of a confidence game swindler who acts as spectator. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcome through B1. A victim of a swindle who returns with the police to recover his money. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"con"B In.I Persuasive talk necessary for a swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcon, on the BInvolved in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcon along BTo operate a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcon artist BA clever swindler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBconfidence game BA crime in which one obtains money or property from another by gaining and then taking advantage of a victim's confidence through fraud, trickery, or swindling operations. Ec[000000]f[16]LBconfidence man BA person who swindles others by gaining their confidence. Ec[000000]f[16]LBconfidence racketB A swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcon gameB A crime where valuables are obtained from a victim after securing his confidence. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcon headB A confidence man of note. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcon-herrB A con artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcon manB One who practices confidence games. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcon mobB A group that swindles by confidence games. Ec[000000]f[16]LBconnerB In.I A swindler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBconningB Iadj.I Misleading or defrauding. Ec[000000]f[16]LBconniver BIn.I One who defrauds someone by acting secretly. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcon racketB A swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBconwiseB Iadj.I Knowledgeable of swindlers' ways. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcon womanB A female confidence game swindler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcountry sendB The part of a swindle involving farmers or other people living in rural areas when the victim goes home to acquire more money to invest in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBcut cakeB Practicing any swindle that involves short-changing the victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdartB In.I A criminal plan or swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdefraudB Iv.I 1. To recklessly or intentionally misrepresent the facts. 2. To cheat or trick by deceit. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdillB In.I A sucker or easy mark in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdingoB In.I A petty swindler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdink spielerB A decoy who acts as a player in a three-card monte confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdodgeB In.I An evasive act or device employing trickery. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdo overB To swindle or cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdropping the leatherB The pigeon-drop confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdudderB In.I A confidence man who sells a harmless white powder as morphine or cocaine. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdukerB In.I A confidence man who lures the victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBdupeB In.I A gullible victim. Iv.I to deceive Ec[000000]f[16]LBeasy markB The victim of a confidence man who is easily taken in. Ec[000000]f[16]LBegg-sucking weaselB A clever confidence game artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBend runB A trick that is misleading. Ec[000000]f[16]LBenvelope switchB The aspect of a confidence game in which an envelope full of money is exchanged for one filled with a worthless substitute, usu. newspaper cut to the size of currency. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfairbankB In.I A confidence technique used by crooked gamblers who allow a victim to win for a time until he grows confident and bets higher sums, at which point he begins to lose. Ec[000000]f[16]LBFaroB In.I A card game in which players bet on the order in which certain cards will appear. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfaro bankB The technique of allowing intended victims of a crooked game to win sufficiently so they remain in the game until they can be taken for greater amounts. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfawney BIn.I A ring, esp. one used in the confidence game known as "the fawney rig." Ec[000000]f[16]LBfawnyB In.I A ring, esp. one used in the confidence game known as "the fawney rig." Ec[000000]f[16]LBfawney rigB A popular 18th and 19th Cent. confidence game. The confidence man would drop a Lady's purse containing a cheap ring and wait for someone to spot it. He would then pretend to notice it at the same time and claim half the loot for sharing in the discovery. The confidence man or an Ec[000000]f[16]LFaccomplice would appraise the ring at three or four times its real value, and offer the dupe his half of the find for about double its actual value. Although the ruse sounds implausible today, one London jewelry shop specializing in bogus gold rings did substantial business as a fawney factory. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfeelerB In.I The member of a swindling or gambling confidence team who finds a potential victim, discovers his identity and eligibility, and "fingers" or points him out to the professionals who complete the job. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfidB Iv.I To swindle or cheat, a shortening of "fiddle." Ec[000000]f[16]LBfiddleB In.I A confidence man, esp. one who works the street. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfiddlerB In.I A confidence man or crooked gambler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfight storeB A confidence game where a fixed or phony boxing game is used to defraud a victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"fish"B In.I A person easily cheated. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfishermanB In.I A confidence game artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfizB Iv.I To cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfizzer BIn.I A confidence man, one who swindles and cheats. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfizzlerB In.I A confidence man, one who swindles and cheats. Ec[000000]f[16]LBflash gangB A group of confidence game artists. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfleeceB In.I A swindle or robbery, separating the "fleece" from the sheep. Ec[000000]f[16]LBflim-flamB Cheating or deceiving done with dexterity, orig. a dodge involving changing money, in which the dodger confounds the clerk or bank teller into giving more in a transaction than he should. Ec[000000]f[16]LBflim-flammerB One who practices the flim-flam. Ec[000000]f[16]LBflueB Iv.I To cheat a person, usu. by use of the envelope switch. Ec[000000]f[16]LBflue-gameB The confidence trick in which money is palmed while it is being changed. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfly fakerB A smart confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfly flatB The victim of a confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfly-gayB A smart confidence game or swindle victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBflying coveB A swindle worked on robbery victims by confidence men who pretend that they can get the loot returned, adding insult to injury when they remove even more from the victim and are never seen again. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"fog" BIn.I The confusion in the mind of a victim after listening to a confidence man's patter. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfold-up jointB A phony room or business set up to build confidence in a victim; when the deal is over, the room is folded up and everyone disappears. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfoot raceB A swindle where a foot race is rigged so that the apparent winner, the runner the victim has been convinced to bet upon, suddenly falls down and loses the race. Before the victim realizes his loss, the game is raided by phony or bribed police. The con artist then escorts the victim out of town, and promises to contact him later. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfoot race storeB A city or an area where foot race swindles can be safely conducted due to the cooperation and protection of local police who take bribes from the con operator him later. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"front"B In.I A facade created to give a good impression, usu. to the victim in a confidence game but also to the police or anyone else in the non-criminal world. Ec[000000]f[16]LBfunkB In.I 1. A swindler or cheater. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgazoozleB Iv.I To swindle, cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgazump B(for.) Iv.I Yiddish, meaning to swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgazumpher B(for.) In.I Yiddish for a swindler or cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgezumph B(for.) Iv.I Yiddish, meaning to swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgezumpher B(for.) In.I Yiddish for a swindler or cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBGeorgia scuffleB A swindle in which the criminal is unable to rob a victim with finesse because the victim is dim-witted. Ec[000000]f[16]LBget-rich-quick schemeB A scheme in which the confidence man uses advertising and the mail to spread promises of overnight riches; he lures his victim by the prospect of gaining a lot of money quickly. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgip artist BA skillful cheat or swindler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBglim-dropB In.I A confidence game in which the con artist pretends to lose his glass eye. Ec[000000]f[16]LBglim-hustlerB 1. One who sells cheap eye glasses. 2. A confidence man pretending to be an eye specialist; he "identifies" a rare eye disease in victims, writes out a prescription, and collects a fee. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"goat"B In.I 1. A scapegoat, a person blamed for another's crime. 2. A con artist's victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgold brickB A person who works the gold brick game. Iv.I To defraud or mislead. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgold brick gameB A swindle in which the victim is asked to keep a bar of "gold," then required to put up "good faith money." The con artists keep the money, and the gold turns out to be false. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgold dropperB A swindle in which fake gold is found in front of the victim, who is invited into a tavern to celebrate the good luck. A few others wander in, and someone proposes a game of cards or dice, which separates the victim from his money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgooseB In.I A fraud or swindle. Iv.I To cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgougeB In.I Three-card monte, a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgougerB In.I A person who swindles or cheats. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgougingB In.I A swindle or fraud. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgreen goodsB A swindle in which a victim is lured into investing money in a counterfeiting operation. He gets back neither the investment nor counterfeit money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgreen-goods gameB 1. A confidence game; in one common version the victim is asked to hold money after putting up some of his own money as security. Eventually the victim is left with an empty purse or package. 2. A confidence game involving a victim who gives a swindler real money in exchange Ec[000000]f[16]LFfor what he thinks is flawless counterfeit money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgreen pea BA victim easy to swindle because he is inexperienced or "soft" and "green." Ec[000000]f[16]LBgriftB In.I Any confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgrifterB In.I 1. A swindler who short-changes his victims. 2. A confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgrindB In.I The confidence man's slick talk. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgudgeonB In.I A fool, a gullible person. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgullB In.I A swindler or cheater. Iv.I To defraud or swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgulleryB In.I A swindle involving a large number of victims. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgull-groperB In.I 1. A cardsharp, who lends money to the victim, usu. a rich young man. The victim is allowed to win at first and then is cheated out of all his winnings and whatever he had borrowed, which he must now repay. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgyp artist BA skillful cheat or swindler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBgypsy blessing gameB A confidence game in which the swindler promises his victim good fortune in exchange for money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhawkB In.I A cheat or confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBheave BIn.I An attempt to swindle someone. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhedgehopper BIn. IA confidence artist who defrauds automobile insurance companies and is constantly on the move to avoid exposure. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhicksB In.I 1. Shells used in the shell game, usu. derived from walnuts. 2. The shell game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhigh score BThe sum of money exacted from a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhighway robberyB A flagrant rip-off or scam. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhipeB In.I 1. A confidence game involving short change. The confidence artist counts out correct change in view of the victim, then quickly exchanges the coins, handling them in such a way that the victim, receiving fewer coins than he saw, will pocket them without counting. 2. Any Ec[000000]f[16]LFclever confidence game involving fast talk, agility, and small amounts of money. 3. A hustle that allows a victim to win some games before raising the stakes and cheating him out of his money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhiper BIn.I A confidence artist who takes small amounts of money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhoaxB In.I A falsehood intended to trick or deceive. Iv.I To fool someone into believing a falsehood to be true. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhocus-pocus BIn.I A fraud involving fast talk. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhog boxB A rigged faro box. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhold-out manB A card cheat who palms out worthless cards and substitutes valuable cards from his own stash. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhold the bagB To be tricked. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhold the sackB To be tricked. B Ec[000000]f[16]BLhoosierB In.I One who is easily tricked. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhornswoggleB Iv.I To deceive someone, usu. for money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhot seatB A confidence game in which the victim believes that he is delivering currency when he is actually carrying cut-up newspapers, and the confidence men already have the money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhot-seat mobB A group of confidence men. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhumbugB In.I 1. One who deceives others regarding his true identity. 2. Something that misleads or deceives. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhustleB In.I Any confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhustlerB In.I An expert confidence man or card player who lures others into games. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhydrophoby layB A confidence game involving an angry father who demands damages for phony dog bites he marks on his child's skin. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhype, on theB Swindling people with the short-change game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhype artistB A specialist in the art of short-changing others. Ec[000000]f[16]LBhyper BIn.I One who short-changes others in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBidentification-paper racketB An insurance swindle where a thief buys a wrecked car to obtain the title, registers the car, insures it as an undamaged vehicle, then reports it stolen in order to collect the insurance. Ec[000000]f[16]LBilly-whackerB In.I A confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBimpersonateB Iv.I To portray or assume the character of another. Ec[000000]f[16]LBjacker-upperB In.I One who runs the price up in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBjakeB In.I The victim of a confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBjargooneerB In.I One who sells fake diamonds as genuine. Ec[000000]f[16]LBJason's fleeceB 1. A confidence game in which one is swindled of his gold or silver is exchanged for gold. 2. A citizen who has been cheated out of his gold. Ec[000000]f[16]LBjigginsB In.I The victim of a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBjohn; JohnB In.I The victim in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBjollierB In.I A confidence man's accomplice, usu. at a phony auction. Ec[000000]f[16]LBjug mobB A gang of confidence men who swindle banks or bank patrons. Ec[000000]f[16]LBjuggins BIn.I The victim of a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBjukeB Iv.I To deceive, cheat, or swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBkid rigB To obtain money or property by a confidence trick or any false pretense. Ec[000000]f[16]LBkifingB A swindle or a bad or unfair deal. Ec[000000]f[16]LBKing ConB A name that fellow criminals give to the most accomplished of confidence men. To date only two men have held this title: Victor "The Count" Lustig and Joseph "Yellow Kid" Weil. Ec[000000]f[16]LBkneckerB In.I A low-level confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlambB In.I The victim of a crime. Ec[000000]f[16]LBleggerB In.I A swindler who professes to sell high-quality contraband goods, but who actually sells only old or damaged items. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlegsmanB In.I A confidence swindler who operates at racetracks and encourages betting on the horses. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlemon gameB In.I A swindle, organized around a game of cards, dice, or pool, in which flimflammers use betting in collusion against a victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlemon mobB In.I A group of organized swindlers who operate the lemon game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlemon-steererB In.I An accomplice working the lemon game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlevantB In.I One of the many swindles that center around a horse race. It begins when the swindler accepts bets on the horses, watches the outcome of the race, and upon learning of any losses, quickly departs with the wagered money to avoid making any pay-outs to the bettors. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlift-up sucker-stealB During the shell-game swindle, a movement that permits the victim of the swindle to see the removal of the pea from under a shell. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlimbB In.I A swindle that entails solicitation and acceptance of payment for advertising in either a fraudulent publication or a legitimate publication that the sales "representative" is not authorized to represent. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlimb-jointB Any publication, legitimate or illegitimate, used as a front by swindlers who solicit advertising for the publication. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlobsterB In.I 1. A person who is considered easy prey for swindlers. 2. A name for the victim of a con. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlobster-steererB The member of a confidence team who lures the victim into the swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlobster workB Swindling. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlolly workerB A con man who establishes a business as a front for a swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlong doughB A large sum of money carried by the victim of a shell-game swindler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlong firmB A confidence team working together to carry out a swindle that entails obtaining merchandise under false pretenses. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlopeB In.I A swindle that entails coercing a chosen dupe to lay bets on the distance that he and another person, the hustler, can jump. The dupe eventually loses his gamblings to the superior jumper. Ec[000000]f[16]LBluggerB In.I 1. An outside man in a con game. 2. A steerer for a game of cards. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlumberB In.I 1. A facility where swindlers store stolen merchandise. 2. Members of a confidence game team. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlumbererB In.I 1. A con artist who advertises his illegitimate services in bars and racetracks by word-of-mouth. 2. An individual who recruits a dupe for a swindle. 3. The payoff from a successful con-game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlurchB In.I A swindler. Iv.I To steal or swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlure BIn.I The enticement for the victim of a con. Iv.I To entice or attract another with a hint of gain or pleasure. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlurk-coveB In.I An individual who cheats or betrays his partner. Ec[000000]f[16]LBlurk-man BIn.I A con artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmace BIn.I A confidence man who disguises himself as a well-to-do citizen in need of goods or services from a retail establishment. After securing the trust of the shop-keeper, the mace will attempt to receive cash or merchandise on credit without paying for it. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmace, work the BTo swindle a storekeeper or wealthy individual of cash or merchandise. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmace cove BA swindler or con artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmacemanB In.I A street con man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmacer BIn.I A con artist or swindler who is a member of a gang primarily engaged in buying merchandise against worthless bonds or securities. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmacing BIn.I The act of swindling a dupe. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmaggingB In.I The act of swindling someone out of their cash and valuables through charm, style, and fast double-talk. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmagic walletB Con game introduced by William Elmer Mead, in which a victim is talked into investing a large sum of money in a private business deal. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmagsmanB In.I 1. A fashionably dressed con man or swindler; prob. fr. the Yiddish phrase ImachasI or ImagasI, meaning a great person, or someone highly respected. 2. A con man on the look out for gullible rural townsfolk. Sometimes the magsman would pose as a traveling minister preaching salvation. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmail order flim-flam BA scheme using the postal system to con the public. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"make"B In.I A successful swindle or con. Ec[000000]f[16]LBman at the maceB A swindler or con artist who runs his game through a sham loan office. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmasonB In.I A con artist who exchanges promissory notes for money with no intention of paying it back. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmasoner BIn.I Someone who exchanges worthless paper for merchandise. A confidence man attends a fair or visits a public market place for the purposes of securing livestock or produce from gullible country people. With phony note in hand, the farmer releases the merchandise to the Ec[000000]f[16]LFgang, who dispose of it as they see fit, often to dealers with whom they are working. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmasoningB The act of swindling someone. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmasoning cullB A con artist who is a masoner. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmason's maundB A swindle in which a worker fakes a broken arm or injury by falling from a scaffold. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmatch gameB A "shell game" involving matchboxes. The victim is shown three matchboxes, but only one is full. He wagers that he can select the full box after the "dealer" has rearranged them -- unaware that it has been cleverly substituted for an empty one. The person about to be swindled Ec[000000]f[16]LFbelieves the game is fair because a partially filled matchbox taped to the sleeve of the dealer's arm makes sounds that appear to be coming from the boxes on the table. The dealer's confederates stand nearby to assist in the swindle should the player express doubts about the honesty of the game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmatrimonial conB A lonely-hearts swindle involving a promise of marriage once a sum of money has been paid. Ec[000000]f[16]LBMister BatesB A victim of a con game, esp. three-shell. Ec[000000]f[16]LBMister GoodmanB The man who falls victim to a con game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBMister WrightB The victim of a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmittB In.I A hand of cards that has been prearranged by a card sharp or confidence man in a rigged game of chance. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmobsmanB In.I A dapper swindler or light-fingered con man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmoney dropperB A confidence man who shares money that he has found on the road, after purposely dropping it there earlier, with a person he hopes to swindle. The victim is lured into a tavern or public place to celebrate the "discovery" and is then relieved of his own cash or valuables in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmoney machineB A device used by confidence men to entice a victim. The money machine is fraudulently presented as an invention capable of printing currency or Treasury Notes, or increasing the value of the cash on hand. When white bond paper is fed into a concealed chamber, previously Ec[000000]f[16]LFinserted bills emerge through a slot. Newly arrived immigrants are frequent victims of this type of swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmonkeyB In.I The confidence man's victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmonkey businessB 1. Sly or deceitful behavior. 2. Cheating in a game of chance. Ec[000000]f[16]LBmonteB In.I A card game in which four cards are laid out face up and players choose two on which to place bets that one of their cards will be matched by cards being dealt one at a time before the other cards are matched. Ec[000000]f[16]LBMurphy GameB A confidence game run by a pimp who receives money for a prostitute that never shows up. Ec[000000]f[16]LBMurphy manB A con artist, esp. one who practices the Murphy game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBnabbing work BSwindling. Ec[000000]f[16]LBnever send them to the riverB A con artist's adage which means that one should never take so much money as to drive the victim to suicide. Ec[000000]f[16]LBnicksB In.I The walnut shells used in a con artist's shell game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBnickumB In.I A con artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBnineteenerB In.I A con artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBnobB Iv.I To swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBnobbleB Iv.I To swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBnobblerB In.I A con artist's partner who plays the game in order to attract innocent victims. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"nurse"B Iv.I To swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBnutsB In.I The shells used by con artists. Cf. Bshell game. Ec[000000]f[16]BLnut-squealers BCon artists who play the shell game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBobituary fraud BA con artist's swindle in which the victims are the survivors of the dead; the con artist discovers them by reading obituaries in newspapers. Ec[000000]f[16]LBO-for-OctoberB A con artist's game in which the victim is asked to pick out the letter O from a pile of cards marked with capital letters, but placed inside envelopes so that only the top of the letter is visible. This way, the con artist could have two Qs and no Os and thus always win. Ec[000000]f[16]LBone-linerB Any short confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBon the sharpB Too clever to be easily conned. Ec[000000]f[16]LBoutside manB 1. The member of a group of con artists who gains the confidence of the victim prior to the con. Ec[000000]f[16]LBover-issue BA con game in which the victim is made to believe that he is using counterfeit money, which is followed by a phony federal agent threatening to arrest him. Finally, the scheme ends when the "agent" accepts a bribe from the victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpalaverB In.I Slick talk, esp. of a confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"palm"B Iv.I To swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpalming racketB A confidence game, in which the victim's money is hidden in the cheat's hand. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpanel gameB A confidence game which originates by fixing a room with a panel in the wall or door and rigging locks that look as if they fasten from the inside, but really fasten outside so the victim cannot escape. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpan-handling conB The practice of soliciting money, supposedly for charity, but actually keeping it. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpatterB In.I The jargon or speech employed by the underworld, including the fast-talking done by confidence-game artists. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpayoff; pay offB In.I A confidence game in which the victim wins, but before he gets the winnings, he must show some of his money and is then robbed; or his "good faith" money is palmed and counterfeit money is substituted for his real money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpay-off manB A confidence swindler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpay-off mobB A gang working confidence swindles, usu. a racetrack swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBPeter-to-PaulB A swindle in which a group of investors quickly receives huge profits of money that comes from other investors' deposits. William Franklin Miller began this confidence game in the U.S. and Charles Ponzi later used it successfully. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpigeon-drop BA swindle that involves dropping a purse, which is picked up by a victim, the pigeon, who "happens" to be in the company of the swindlers. He is persuaded to hold the money until they can claim and divide it and to give the swindler "good faith" money to guarantee he will return. The Ec[000000]f[16]LFcheats take his "good faith" money and switch bags or steal the "found" money; also called "drop the poke." Ec[000000]f[16]LB"pitch"B In.I A confidence man's persuasive conversation with a victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBprivate gameB A swindle in which a victim is led to believe he will be gambling only with other amateurs. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpromote, on theB Using a confidence game to cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpromotionB In.I Any confidence game or fraud. Ec[000000]f[16]LBput the bend onB To swindle by playing three-card monte in which the winning card is bent and the victim believes he is in on the trick. After a few rounds, the bent card then becomes the losing card. Ec[000000]f[16]LBput the lug onB To take away an angry swindle victim with strong-arm men; usu. this scheme works only if the local police have been bribed. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpyramidB In.I 1. A pyramid investment plan used to swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBpyramid franchise BA plan in which someone purchases goods and is promised that if he can persuade any others to buy the goods, he will be given a profit from each of those sales; illegal in most states. AKA: Bpyramid franchise; pyramid sales franchise. B Ec[000000]f[16]LBpyramid promotional scheme BA plan in which someone purchases goods and is promised that if he can persuade any others to buy the goods, he will be given a profit from each of those sales; illegal in most states. AKA: Bpyramid franchise; pyramid sales franchise. Ec[000000]f[16]BLpyramid sales franchise BA plan in which someone purchases goods and is promised that if he can persuade any others to buy the goods, he will be given a profit from each of those sales; illegal in most states. AKA: Bpyramid franchise; pyramid sales franchise. B Ec[000000]f[16]LBracketeer BIn.I 1. A criminal or unethical person. Ec[000000]f[16]LBramp, on the BSwindling as a habit or career. Ec[000000]f[16]LBrazzleB In.I Any tempting carnival game which is nearly impossible to win and quite profitable for the operators. Ec[000000]f[16]LBrazzle-dazzleB In.I 1. A swindle operation. 2. An attempt at cheating. Ec[000000]f[16]LBreamB Iv.I To deceive someone, usu. in a confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBreamerB In.I A confidence-game artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBred-inkingB The threat of a confidence man to remove a victim from an elaborate con to scare him into continued participation. Ec[000000]f[16]LBreloadB Iv.I To sell worthless stock repeatedly to the same person, esp. by accepting some of the original stocks as partial payment for the second group. Ec[000000]f[16]LBreloaderB In.I A criminal who victimizes the same person at least twice, especially in racketeering and confidence games. Ec[000000]f[16]LBringmanB In.I A petty swindler who pretends to find a phony but valuable-looking ring in front of a victim, to whom he sells a share of the alleged value. Ec[000000]f[16]LBroll flashB A shell game trick in which the operator places a pea underneath a different shell than the one under which he appeared to place it. Ec[000000]f[16]LBroper-inB A confidence-game artist; the recruiter of innocents in a swindle. AKA: Broper. Ec[000000]f[16]BLropingB In.I A method of befriending a suspect or his friends to gather information which may lead to the conviction of the suspect. Ec[000000]f[16]LBrortB In.I A confidence-game artist. AKA: Brorter; rorting. Ec[000000]f[16]BLRoumanian box trick; Rumanian box trickB A swindle in which an innocent person loses money by inserting it into a changing machine that will not return the bills or change. Ec[000000]f[16]LBrunaround; run aroundB A con in which a winner yells to get others to play the supposedly easy game. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"sale" BIv.I To swindle the gullible. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"salesman"B In.I A con man who is a member of a gang of swindlers. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsalt a mine; salted mineB A con game in which the sellers of a worthless mine will place a quantity of valuable minerals or gems in plain view of the prospective buyers. The swindle works equally well when superior-quality ore is placed over a poor variety. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsamplerB In.I A con artist who tricks merchants into selling him goods on credit for which he has no intention of paying. The merchandise is then sold to the highest bidder. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsapB In.I 1. A wooden club, carved from a young sapling tree, usu. covered with a leather sheath. It was the preferred weapon of a posse, a lynch mob, or a band of vagrants. 2. The innocent who has fallen victim to a thieving gang or con artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsawdust gameB A con game in which the dupe receives a fancy package said to contain money or valuables, but instead he finds a pile of wood shavings inside. Ec[000000]f[16]LBscamB In.I 1. A fraud or confidence game. The term was originally applied to fraudulent bankruptcies by investment swindlers, but has a more general use now. 2. A well-planned scheme. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsecond-countB A con artist's trick of counting back change to a victim, and switching coins of larger denominations for smaller ones. Ec[000000]f[16]LBselling stiffsB Any confidence game involving dead bodies. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"send"B In.I A sucker's trip home to fetch the necessary amount of money to participate in a con man's game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsend, on theB That part of the stocks and bonds wire confidence game when the victim of the con returns in an attempt to retrieve his money. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsend to the cleaners BTo relieve a person of all his cash in a con game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBservice layB A con in which a female thief hires herself out as a chambermaid, and then at the opportune moment burglarizes the household. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshamB In.I 1. A fraud or deliberate deception. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"shape"B In.I 1. A con game or fraudulent deception. 2. A pair of loaded dice designed to prevent a crapshooter from winning against the house. They are removed from play at a fortuitous moment so the player is none the wiser. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsharp, on theB Looking for a person to swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"sharper"B In.I A card cheat or professional con man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsharpieB In.I A slick hustler engaged in any form of cheating, be it at cards, dice, or billiards. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsharping layB Cheating or swindling. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsharpyB In.I A slick hustler engaged in any form of cheating, be it at cards, dice, or billiards. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshaverB In.I A con man whose clever ways always result in a clean "shave" of his victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsheep-shearersB Con men who "fleece" their victims. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsheet racketB Con game in which a newsboy sells phony magazine subscriptions on the street. A variation of this type of swindle is practiced against newly arrived immigrants who are asked to sign petitions and join patriotic causes. After affixing their signatures to what they believe to be a Ec[000000]f[16]LFworthwhile document, the victims are then asked to fork over small sums of money to pay for the mailing costs of the nonexistent literature. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsheikB In.I A swarthy con man or gigolo who only victimizes women. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"shell"B In.I A successful con job. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshell gameB 1. A classic "thimble-rigging" con game in which the victim selects one of three walnut shells hiding a pea. The operator moves the three walnut shells rapidly across the table. What the victim does not realize is that the small pea-like pellet is tucked in the crook of the con man's finger Ec[000000]f[16]LFthe whole time. 2. Any fraud, esp. one in which an item of little or no value is substituted for something valuable. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshell mobB A gang of confidence men operating a shell game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshillB In.I The front man for a con artist or carnival operator. The shill moves through the crowd, appealing to the greed of the victims with a promise of easy riches and a quick payoff. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"short"B In.I A con game requiring just a few moments of the victim's time, e.g., spud, the match game, the lemon game, or the shell. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshort, the working B1. Operating any one of the "short" con games as a means of a livelihood. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshortcakeB In.I A con game in which the loser does not receive all the change due him in a transaction. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshort-changeB Iv.I To cheat someone. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshort-change artist BA carnival sideshow operator or shill who cheats his customers by failing to return the proper amount of change. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshort-conB Any con game requiring a few moments of the victim's time. The operator of the game need only possess a high level of deception and be willing to settle for just the amount of money the victim has in his wallet. Iv.I To deliberately short-change. Ec[000000]f[16]LBshorts, on theB 1. Operating any one of the "short" con games as a means of a livelihood. AKA: Bthe working short. Ec[000000]f[16]BLshuckB In.I A fraud or swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsiderB In.I A trickster. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"silk"B In.I A confidence man whose style is as "smooth as silk." Ec[000000]f[16]LBsilkyB In.I A skilled confidence trickster. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsimB In.I The confidence man's intended victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsitter inB A criminal who joins in on a confidence game that he might not be necessarily connected with. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"skip"B In.I A swindler who obtains merchandise on credit, has it shipped to a false address, and then departs without leaving a forwarding address. Ec[000000]f[16]LBskirt foistB In.I A female con artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBskunkerB In.I A swindler. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"slang"B In.I 1. A career of cheating, bilking, and defrauding. Ec[000000]f[16]LBslang dipperB A confidence man who paints or gilds worthless metal chains and then passes them as genuine gold. Ec[000000]f[16]LBslang dropperB A slang dipper's associate who tries to peddle counterfeit chains. Ec[000000]f[16]LBslickerB In.I 1. A shrewd con artist or thief. Ec[000000]f[16]LBslinterB In.I A deception or swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"smack"B In.I A confidence man's game in which a victim is bilked of his money by attempting to "match" coins or other items with the gamesman. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsmug layB A confidence game perpetrated on local shopkeepers by agents who claim to have in their possession fancy goods and valuable merchandise for resale. These articles may have been borrowed from some other business, but are shown to the merchant to convince him that the "goods" Ec[000000]f[16]LFare readily available. Upon payment of charges, the swindlers depart leaving behind empty boxes or shabby items of little or no value. Ec[000000]f[16]LBSnake Oil SamB A nickname for a wily con artist. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsnookerB Iv.I To deceive, cheat, or bilk a person of his money or assets. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsoaperB In.I A con man who earns his living playing the soap trick on his victims. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsoap trickB A petty con game involving several bars of soap, a five-dollar bill, and a bag. The trick is to correctly identify the bar of soap in the bag, wrapped in the five note. A variation of the swindle was perfected by the notorious con man Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, who, with a gang of shills, Ec[000000]f[16]LFinduced people to purchase bars of soap with a five-note wrapped around the surface, with a promise of more inside. His associates would move among the crowd selling the soap without the money to the gullible. Ec[000000]f[16]LBSpanish handkerchiefB An old-fashioned game of switch. The con man exchanges handkerchiefs with the victim, one with a bankroll inside, and one without. Ec[000000]f[16]LBSpanish prisonerB A con game that trades on the greed of the unsuspecting dupe. The victim is persuaded into believing that a convict will reveal the location of a hidden cache of jewels, or sizable amount of cash, if he will provide money to take care of the relatives of the prisoner and secure legal help. Ec[000000]f[16]LBspielerB In.I 1. A con artist or card cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsplit aceB A card cheat's swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsteererB In.I A con man's "shill." Cf. Bcapper. Ec[000000]f[16]BLsteer game BAny crooked game of chance in which the sucker has been surreptitiously led to the table. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsteer guy BA member of the gang who "ropes in" the prey. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsteer jointB A crooked gambling house where it is impossible to leave the premises a winner. Ec[000000]f[16]LBstickman BIn.I A con game. Two fashionably dressed women encounter a drunken man in the street. Deciding he has some money, they escort him to a tavern where they give him more to drink and rob him of his valuables. The goods are then passed to a third party, the stickman, who arrives after the Ec[000000]f[16]LFrobbery. If the drunk realizes that he has been robbed, the stickman may pose as a helpful citizen who promises to fetch the law. Ec[000000]f[16]LBstingB In.I A cunning swindler. v. To swindle or rob someone. Ec[000000]f[16]LBstingareeB In.I A con man's game involving an exchange of money in which the victim is short changed. Ec[000000]f[16]LBstock marketB A detailed and highly synchronized confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBstock-reloadingB An investment swindle in which the victims are asked to exchange their bankrupt shares for stock that is equally worthless. Ec[000000]f[16]LBStrad gameB Passing an ordinary violin off as a genuine Stradivarius in a saloon, pawn shop, or retail establishment. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"suck"B In.I An easy mark for a swindler. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsuckerB BclipperB A master con man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsucker dice BA pair of concave dice. They have been altered to effect a favorable outcome to the player. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsucker doughB Easy money, usu. taken from financial speculators taken in by a flimflam man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsucker listB A listing of potential investors likely to sink their money into a company that doesn't exist or one that is fraudulent in nature. Cf.B blue sky racket. Ec[000000]f[16]BLsucker's holler B1. The protest of a victim made after the fact. 2. The "squawk" of a loser in a game of chance. Ec[000000]f[16]LBsure-thing ghee B1. The conman's associate who assures the players that the chances of winning are a sure-thing. AKA: Bsure-thing ghee; sure-thing grafter.B Ec[000000]f[16]LBsure-thing grafter B1. The conman's associate who assures the players that the chances of winning are a sure-thing. AKA: Bsure-thing ghee; sure-thing grafter.B Ec[000000]f[16]LBsure-thing guy B1. The conman's associate who assures the players that the chances of winning are a sure-thing. AKA: Bsure-thing ghee; sure-thing grafter.B Ec[000000]f[16]LB"sweeten" BIv.I 1. To swindle by means of flattery, false praise, and lavish attentions. Ec[000000]f[16]LBswindleB In.I Any confidence game or fraud. Iv.I From the Ger. word IschwindlinI, meaning "to waver or fall." In modern usage, it means to obtain money, property, services, or goods through deception, fraud, or chicanery. Ec[000000]f[16]LBswindler BIn.I A card cheat, confidence man, or embezzler. In old English it was applied to the class of men who obtained merchandise on credit, and then sold it for the highest price. Ec[000000]f[16]LBswindlingB In.I Acquisition of personal or movable property, securities, or miscellaneous assets through deceptive means, usu. after an agreement or contract has been signed. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"switch" BIn.I 1. A sexual massage in which the customer and the masseuse change places. 2. Any con game involving the substitution of genuine articles for imitations, usu. cut newspaper for money. This is the critical stage of the "green-goods" swindle. Cf. Bgreen-goods game. Ec[000000]f[16]BLtake down BTo cheat or swindle someone. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtake jointB A dishonest establishment, esp. a nightclub or casino, where the sucker's money is taken away. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtakeoff manB The confidence man who enters in the final act and takes the money off the victim. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtakerB In.I 1. The member of a confidence team who leads a victim into the game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtake the chill out of the gameB To alleviate suspicion that a game is not legitimate, esp. in three-shell and three-card confidence games. Cf. Bthree-card monte.B Ec[000000]f[16]LB"tap"B In.I A swindle or confidence game esp. one involving advertising space in nonexistent magazines or in legitimate magazines that the swindlers are not authorized to represent. Ec[000000]f[16]LBthimble coveB A confidence man who works the thimble rig. Ec[000000]f[16]LBthimble rig BIn.I An 18th Cent. version of three-card monte in which the victim tries to pick the thimble that has the pea or button hidden under it. This is gen. an impossible feat because the button or pea is usu. in the confidence man's hand and will only be placed under one of the other thimbles, as Ec[000000]f[16]LFproof of an honest game, after the victim has made his pick. Ec[000000]f[16]LBthree-card monteB A card game in which three cards are dealt face-up, usu. two red cards and one black card but sometimes the other way around. The dealer then turns the cards face down and manipulates them in clear view of the players who put up money and bet that their eyes are quicker than the dealer's Ec[000000]f[16]LFhands and that they can pick the lone black or red card. Ec[000000]f[16]LBthree-joint swindleB A confidence game in which three adjacent bookmakers accept bets but only the one in the middle pays off. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"thrust" B In.I A confidence game in which a coat adorned with brass that appears to be gold is left as security on a loan that will never be repaid. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"tiger"B In.I The card game faro. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtiger, fight theB To play faro. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtoss the boardsB To work the three-card monte confidence game. AKA: Btoss the broadsB. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtoss the broads BTo work the three-card monte confidence game. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtouch one out of somethingB To swindle, cheat, or steal something from someone. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtown shiftB A confidence man. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtricksterB In.I One who deceives others with the intention of defrauding them. Ec[000000]f[16]LBtrimmingB In.I A confidence game in which the swindler, exchanging gold coins for silver, short-changes the shopkeeper. Ec[000000]f[16]LBturnerB In.I 1. A confidence man who cheats by pretending to change money but turns the money so fast in his hands that the victim cannot keep count. 2. One member of a confidence gang engaged in the "green goods" swindle. Ec[000000]f[16]LBVincent's lawB A confidence game employed in 16th-and 17th-Century English bowling emporiums. The "Vincent," or victim, was drawn into playing, and losing, in a high-stakes game against a hustler, or "bawker." Ec[000000]f[16]LB"visitor"B In.I A confidence-game artist who earns the trust and respect of a rural farm family by portraying himself as a scholar who would provide and care for the eldest son about to go away to the university. After persuading the farmer to allow the son to be escorted to a school in the city, the Ec[000000]f[16]LFswindler runs off with the money given to the son by the father. Ec[000000]f[16]LBwheeler-dealerB A swindler who operates overly complex financial deals in order to hide their illegality. Ec[000000]f[16]LBwhickerB Iv.I To swindle or cheat. Ec[000000]f[16]LB"wipe"B In.I A confidence game in which a victim places money in a handkerchief which is tied and exchanged for a tied handkerchief containing shredded newspaper, thus swindling the victim of the cash. AKA: BSpanish Handkerchief. Ec[000000]f[16]BLwire tapperB A swindler who coerces victims into gambling on horses and purchasing stock based on fraudulent information that he falsely claims he is privy to due to his influence with those people who have access to inside information. Ec[000000]f[16]LBwork the rattlerB A card sharp who usu. operates his swindles aboard a train. Ec[000000]f[16]LBwork the shellsB To operate any of the various thimble-rigging confidence games. Ec[000000]f[16]LBwork the tubesB To swindle steamship travelers. Ec[000000]f[16]LByuldB In.I An easy victim.