Grift

A grift is a scheme or act of obtaining money or other benefits by deceit or trickery. It often involves exploiting the trust or vulnerabilities of others, often targeting individuals who are easily persuaded or in desperate circumstances. Grifting can range from small-scale scams to elaborate, long-running operations that generate significant financial gain for the perpetrator. It is characterized by dishonesty, manipulation, and the intent to defraud.

Grift meaning with examples

• The con artist ran a classic grift, convincing elderly residents to invest in a nonexistent company. He spun a web of lies, promising huge returns, and vanished with their life savings. The police investigation uncovered a network of accomplices who facilitated the grift by laundering money and recruiting new victims. This type of grift preys on vulnerability.
• He perfected a sophisticated grift, using online dating apps to target lonely hearts. He'd build rapport, fabricate a tragic backstory, and then request 'urgent' financial assistance. Eventually, these victims of the grift would realise it was all a fabrication. Sadly, there are people that continue to use the same grift year after year to benefit themselves at others expense.
• The political campaign was accused of a massive grift, using donations for personal enrichment rather than legitimate campaign activities. Auditors found evidence of inflated expenses, questionable vendor contracts, and payments to shell companies. The scandal damaged the party's reputation, highlighting the unethical and potentially illegal nature of the grift.
• The reality TV star's supposed 'charity' turned out to be a blatant grift. Investigators discovered that almost none of the donations reached the intended beneficiaries; instead, funds were diverted to support the star's lavish lifestyle. This grift was exposed during the release of his memoirs which detailed his past behaviours. Sadly, few people were shocked.