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noun

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fraud - Intentional deception for personal or financial gain.

Monty was sentenced to 10 years in jail for tax fraud when the tax man discovered that he had undeclared assets.

adjective

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bogus - Not real or genuine - fake or false (used in a disapproving manner when deception has been attempted)

Mr. and Mrs. Smith had suspected all along that the letter offering Oklahoma land for $100 an acre had been totally bogus.

noun

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ruse - A ploy or stratagem used to manipulate a situation in one's favor, often by hiding one's true intentions or motives.

His apparent offer to help was just a ruse to get access to her personal information.

noun

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hype - Extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion, that often turns out to be false

Todd spread the hype that his party was going to be the event of the year, but only a few people showed up.

adjective

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sly - Having or showing a cunning and deceitful nature

Walt was sly in the way that he would promise everything to everyone, without intending to fulfill his promises.

noun

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gimmick - A trick or device intended to attract attention, publicity, or business

Sales promotions like "buy one, get one free" are a common marketing gimmick.

adjective

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sneaky - Doing things in a secretive or sly way, often to avoid being noticed or caught.

Before breakfast, Billy was sneaky and ate some cookies when his mother wasn't looking.

noun

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culprit - A person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed

After a long foot chase through downtown, the police officer finally arrested the culprit.

noun

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machinations - Crafty schemes or plots, especially intended to achieve something deceitful or underhanded; secret or complicated plans, often with a negative or manipulative goal.

The villain's machinations were finally exposed, revealing his plan to transfer other people's money into his own account.

noun

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nepotism - When those with power or influence favor relatives, friends, or associates, such as by giving them jobs or ruling in their favor.

The public was disappointed by the nepotism of the newly elected mayor, when they saw that his whole government was filled with incompetent friends and relatives.

verb

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scheme - Make plans, especially in a devious way or with intent to do something illegal or wrong

The family butler was always polite, but in his mind he was always scheming how to steal the family's jewels.

verb

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downplay - To make something seem less important than it really is.

The government downplayed the water crisis, but when the water levels fell too much, they told people to try to use less water.