Con vs. Scam — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 21, 2024
Con refers to a deceptive trick or confidence game to defraud someone, while a scam is a broader term for any fraudulent scheme or deceitful activity.
Difference Between Con and Scam
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Con, short for confidence trick, involves gaining the trust of a victim to deceive and defraud them. It often involves elaborate stories and manipulation to make the victim believe in the scammer's sincerity. On the other hand, a scam is a more general term for any fraudulent scheme designed to deceive people for financial gain. Scams can vary from online phishing to fake business opportunities.
Cons are typically personalized, involving one-on-one interaction where the scammer builds a relationship with the victim. They rely heavily on social engineering and psychological manipulation. Conversely, scams can be impersonal and executed on a larger scale, such as through mass emails, fake websites, or fraudulent advertisements, targeting a wider audience.
While cons often require the scammer to invest time and effort into creating a believable narrative and gaining the victim's confidence, scams can be less time-intensive, often relying on volume and the probability of tricking enough people to make it worthwhile.
Both cons and scams involve deceit, but cons usually have a more complex and interactive approach. A scam might be simpler and more direct, such as asking for personal information under false pretenses.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Deceptive trick to defraud
Fraudulent scheme or deceit
ADVERTISEMENT
Interaction
Personalized, one-on-one
Impersonal, mass targeting
Effort
High, with elaborate stories
Varies, often less time-intensive
Scope
Narrow, specific targets
Broad, large audience
Method
Social engineering
Various (emails, ads, etc.)
Compare with Definitions
Con
To persuade someone to do something by deception.
They conned him into signing the fake contract.
Scam
A fraudulent scheme or activity.
The email was clearly a scam designed to steal personal information.
Con
In opposition or disagreement; against
Debated the issue pro and con.
Scam
To deceive someone with a fraudulent scheme.
They scammed tourists with fake tickets.
Con
An argument or opinion against something.
Scam
An instance of cheating or tricking someone.
She fell for a scam that promised a free vacation.
Con
One who holds an opposing opinion or view.
Scam
A dishonest business or practice.
The company's investment plan turned out to be a scam.
Con
The area or structure on a vessel from which the vessel is conned.
Scam
To swindle someone out of money or property.
They scammed him out of his life savings.
Con
The position or authority of the officer conning a vessel.
Scam
A fraudulent business scheme; a swindle.
Con
A swindle.
Scam
To defraud; swindle.
Con
A convict.
Scam
A fraudulent deal.
That marketing scheme looks like a scam to me.
Con
To study, peruse, or examine carefully.
Scam
Something that is promoted using scams.
That new diet burger is a scam.
Con
To learn or commit to memory.
Scam
(ambitransitive) To defraud or embezzle.
They tried to scam her out of her savings.
Con
To direct the steering or course of (a vessel).
Scam
A fraudulent business scheme
Con
To swindle (a victim) by first winning the victim's confidence; dupe
A criminal who conned an unsuspecting tourist out of $5,000.
Scam
Deprive of by deceit;
He swindled me out of my inheritance
She defrauded the customers who trusted her
The cashier gypped me when he gave me too little change
Con
To cause (someone) to do something by lying, misrepresentation, or trickery
My roommate conned me into washing the dishes.
Con
Of, relating to, or involving a swindle or fraud
A con artist.
A con job.
Con
(rare) To study or examine carefully, especially in order to gain knowledge of; to learn, or learn by heart.
Con
To know; understand; acknowledge.
Con
To trick or defraud, usually for personal gain.
Con
A disadvantage of something, especially when contrasted with its advantages (pros).
Pros and cons
Con
(slang) A convicted criminal, a convict.
Con
(informal) A fraud; something carried out with the intention of deceiving, usually for personal, often illegal, gain.
Con
(informal) An organized gathering, such as a convention, conference, or congress.
Con
(informal) The conversion of part of a building.
We're getting a loft con done next year.
Con
Consumption; pulmonary tuberculosis.
Con
Squirrel, particularly the red squirrel.
Con
A squirrel's nest.
Con
(abbreviation) A political conservative.
Own the cons
Con
Against the affirmative side; in opposition; on the negative side; - The antithesis of pro, and usually in connection with it. See Pro.
Con
To know; to understand; to acknowledge.
Of muses, Hobbinol, I con no skill.
They say they con to heaven the highway.
Con
To study in order to know; to peruse; to learn; to commit to memory; to regard studiously.
Fixedly did lookUpon the muddy waters which he connedAs if he had been reading in a book.
I did not come into Parliament to con my lesson.
Con
To conduct, or superintend the steering of (a vessel); to watch the course of (a vessel) and direct the helmsman how to steer.
Con
An argument opposed to a proposal
Con
A person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
Con
A swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property
Con
Deprive of by deceit;
He swindled me out of my inheritance
She defrauded the customers who trusted her
The cashier gypped me when he gave me too little change
Con
Commit to memory; learn by heart;
Have you memorized your lines for the play yet?
Con
On the negative side;
Much was written pro and con
Con
A deceptive trick or confidence game.
He fell victim to a con that promised huge investment returns.
Con
A person who deceives others.
The con managed to swindle millions from unsuspecting people.
Con
To deceive someone by trickery.
She conned him into believing she was a millionaire.
Con
A negative argument or reason against something.
The cons of the new policy were thoroughly discussed.
Common Curiosities
What is a con?
A con is a deceptive trick or confidence game used to defraud someone.
What is a scam?
A scam is a fraudulent scheme designed to deceive people, often for financial gain.
Can a scam be a con?
Yes, a scam can involve conning individuals by gaining their trust.
Do cons always involve financial loss?
Cons often result in financial loss, but they can also involve other forms of exploitation.
What are common types of scams?
Common scams include phishing, lottery scams, and online shopping fraud.
What are common types of cons?
Common cons include Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, and romance scams.
How does a con differ from a scam?
A con involves gaining the victim's trust through personalized interaction, while a scam is a broader term that can include various forms of deceit targeting multiple people.
Are all scams illegal?
Most scams involve illegal activities as they are designed to deceive and defraud people.
How can one avoid scams?
Avoid sharing personal information online and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
How can one avoid being conned?
Be cautious of unsolicited offers and always verify the credibility of the person or organization.
Are cons more complex than scams?
Cons often involve more complex narratives and interactions than simpler scams.
Are there legal consequences for cons and scams?
Yes, both cons and scams can result in severe legal consequences for those who perpetrate them.
What role does social engineering play in cons?
Social engineering is crucial in cons as it involves manipulating people into trusting the scammer.
Do scams require personal interaction?
Not necessarily; many scams operate through impersonal means like emails and fake websites.
Can a con operate on a large scale?
While typically personalized, cons can sometimes operate on a larger scale, like with Ponzi schemes.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Dialogue vs. Discussion
Next Comparison
Prepopulate vs. PopulateAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
