In a Confidence Game, the thief takes advantage of the victim’s beliefs, characteristics and emotions such as greed, arrogance, fear, compassion and naïveté. A mugger merely sticks a gun in your face and demands your money. The thief in a Confidence Game is much more subtle. His/her goals are the same, though. They intend to steal from the victim.
Here are the players in a Confidence, or Con, Game.
THE GRIFTER - This is the boss. This is the person running The Con. He/she is the brains of the operation.
SHILLS - These are the assistants to The Grifter. A Shill is used to distract the victim or to encourage the victim to participate in The Con. Shills can be young or old, male or female, attractive or plain. They can look like anyone.
THE MARK - This is the victim. The person The Grifter and Shills are running The Con on. Also known as THE SUCKER.