Confidence artist

A confidence artist, or con-artist, is an individual who makes a living by defrauding others, usually out of money or favors. As the term implies, a con artist acquires the target's trust, or confidence, which they then exploit in order to take advantage of them. Confidence artists are also known as grifters. A short con or small con is a fast swindle which takes just minutes. It typically aims to rob the victim of everything in his or her wallet. A long con is a scam that unfolds over several days or weeks and involves a team of swindlers, as well as props, sets, extras, costumes, and scripted lines. It aims to rob the victim of huge sums of money or valuable things, often by getting him or her to empty out banking accounts and borrow from family members.