Legal Definitions - bunco

Bunco refers to a deceptive scheme or trick designed to gain a person's trust, often with the ultimate goal of swindling them out of money or valuables.

Here are some examples to illustrate this term:

• Example 1: The Online Romance Scam

  An individual creates a fake online profile, cultivating a romantic relationship with a victim over several months through messages and calls, building deep emotional trust. Once the victim's confidence is secured, the scammer invents a sudden, urgent financial crisis—such as a medical emergency, a business opportunity, or travel expenses—and requests money, promising to repay it. The scammer then disappears with the funds.

  This scenario illustrates bunco because the scammer uses a carefully constructed persona and emotional manipulation to win the victim's confidence, then exploits that trust through a deceptive story to swindle them out of funds.

• Example 2: The Fake Investment Opportunity

  A con artist establishes a sophisticated-looking website and creates elaborate brochures for a fictitious "high-yield, low-risk" investment fund. They host seminars, present convincing (but entirely fabricated) financial data, and use charismatic language to persuade potential investors that their money will grow exponentially. After collecting significant investments from multiple individuals, the scammer disappears with the funds, leaving investors with nothing.

  This demonstrates bunco because the perpetrator employs a detailed, fabricated scheme and persuasive tactics to build confidence in the investment's legitimacy, ultimately deceiving people into parting with their money under false pretenses.

• Example 3: The Bogus Home Repair

  A person claiming to be a contractor approaches an elderly homeowner, stating they "noticed a serious problem" with the roof or driveway that needs immediate repair. They offer a seemingly good deal, quickly perform shoddy or unnecessary work, and then demand an exorbitant cash payment, often pressuring the homeowner before they can get a second opinion or verify the necessity of the repairs.

  This is a bunco because the individual uses a fabricated sense of urgency and a false claim of expertise to gain the homeowner's immediate trust and agreement, then deceives them into paying for overpriced, unnecessary, or poorly executed services.