What term describes a scam that manipulates victims, often by exploiting greed or trust?

• A. Affordance of trust and legitimacy
• B. Money laundering
• C. Confidence game
• D. Shoplifting

Answer: (C)

Recognizing scams that manipulate trust to take money is being tested. A confidence game is the classic term for this kind of deception: the scammer builds up trust and a sense of legitimacy, then exploits that confidence to persuade the victim to hand over money or information, often playing on greed or the hope of a quick payoff. It relies on social engineering—convincing stories, credible personas, and urgency that bypasses prudent scrutiny. Money laundering describes hiding the source of illicit funds, not deceiving someone to part with their money; shoplifting is outright theft of goods, not a manipulative scam; and describing the act as an “affordance of trust and legitimacy” isn’t a standard label for this behavior. So, the term that best captures the scenario is a confidence game.