Definition

Noun: A fraudulent scheme or swindle, typically one involving cheating at a gambling game or tricking someone into purchasing something of little or no value.

Usage

This term specifically refers to a type of confidence trick or scam. It is often used in legal or informal contexts to describe a deliberate act of deception for financial gain. The word "bunco" itself is slang for a swindle or fraud.

Examples

• The police broke up an organized ring running a bunco game that targeted elderly tourists.
• He lost his savings in what turned out to be a sophisticated bunco game involving fake gemstones.
• The documentary exposed the classic bunco game where people are persuaded to buy desert land.

Advanced Usage

• "to run a bunco game": To operate or manage such a fraudulent scheme.
  • The criminals were arrested for running a bunco game out of a fake investment firm.

Variants and Related Words

• Bunco (n., v.): As a noun, a synonym for swindle or fraud. As a verb, to swindle or cheat someone.
  • Noun: It was a simple bunco. Verb: They tried to bunco him out of his inheritance.
• Bunco artist (n.): A person who carries out such swindles; a con artist.
  • The so-called psychic was revealed to be a bunco artist.

Synonyms

• Swindle
• Con game
• Confidence trick
• Scam
• Fraud
• Hustle (informal)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Bunco squad: A specialized police unit that investigates frauds and swindles.
  • The case was handed over to the bunco squad.

Noun

1. a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property