Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: ward-horn
A confidence man is someone who tricks people into trusting them and then steals their money or belongings. They gain the victim's confidence through lies and deceit. A confidence woman is a rare term for a female con artist. Another name for a confidence man is a con man. This type of fraud is also known as a confidence game. It is important to be aware of these types of scams and to not trust strangers too easily.
Definition: A confidence man is someone who tricks and defrauds a victim by first gaining their trust and then using deception to obtain money or property. This type of person is also known as a swindler or con man. The term "confidence woman" is rarely used, even though women can also be involved in confidence games.
Example: A common example of a confidence man is someone who calls or emails a person pretending to be a representative of a well-known company, such as a bank or a tech company. The con man will then ask the victim to provide personal information, such as their social security number or bank account details, under the guise of verifying their identity. With this information, the con man can then steal the victim's money or commit identity theft.
Explanation: The example illustrates how a confidence man gains the trust of their victim by pretending to be someone they are not. By using the name of a well-known company, the con man can make the victim believe that they are legitimate and trustworthy. Once the victim provides their personal information, the con man can use it to steal their money or commit other fraudulent activities. This is how a confidence man operates, by using deception and trickery to gain the victim's confidence and then exploiting it for their own gain.