Conned

The past tense and past participle of the verb 'con', meaning to persuade someone to do or believe something, typically by deception or trickery; to swindle or cheat. This involves using cunning strategies to exploit another person's trust, naivety, or vulnerabilities for personal gain, often financial. The deception can range from subtle manipulations to elaborate scams, designed to extract money, property, or advantages. The act implies a degree of premeditation and a deliberate intention to mislead, causing potential harm or loss to the victim. It suggests a betrayal of confidence and an unethical approach in achieving a goal. The success of a 'con' relies on the ability to craft a believable narrative and to exploit emotional or cognitive biases.

Conned meaning with examples

• The smooth-talking salesman conned her into buying a worthless timeshare, promising luxurious vacations that never materialized. She was devastated when she realized the extent of his deceit, losing all her savings in the process. She felt deeply betrayed by his charming façade. This unfortunate incident served as a harsh lesson about trusting strangers too easily.
• He admitted that he had conned his way into the prestigious university by falsifying his transcripts and crafting a compelling, but completely fabricated, life story. He regretted his actions and understood the serious consequences. His elaborate deception allowed him to attend the University but would ultimately undermine his credibility and integrity.
• The investment banker conned his clients out of millions by promising impossibly high returns while secretly diverting their funds. The authorities are currently investigating his elaborate scheme. The scandal brought the client's company to its knees and now has a criminal trial ahead.
• After weeks of online exchanges, the romance scammer successfully conned the lonely widow, convincing her to send him large sums of money for various supposed emergencies. She ignored warnings from her friends because she was blinded by affection and believed in the man she had developed a close relationship with. The betrayal caused her significant financial and emotional hardship.
• The clever street performer conned unsuspecting tourists into believing he could read their minds, using subtle cues and pre-arranged information. The onlookers were impressed as he seemingly knew what they were going to say before they said it, which created a lot of fun for the show. But the act depended entirely on his manipulation of their perception and a deep understanding of human psychology.