Definition

1. Noun:
   • A fraudulent business scheme: The act or practice of deceiving someone, especially in a business or commercial context, through trickery or dishonesty.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The elaborate cozenage involved fake investment opportunities that promised high returns.
  • He was a master of cozenage, swindling countless people with his convincing lies.
  • The authorities uncovered a widespread cozenage targeting elderly homeowners.

Advanced Usage

• "To be a victim of cozenage": to be deceived by a fraudulent scheme.
  • Many unsuspecting investors were victims of his financial cozenage.

Variants and Related Words

• Cozen (verb): to deceive, win over, or induce to do something by artful coaxing and wheedling or shrewd trickery.
  • He tried to cozen his way into the exclusive club.
• Cozen (verb): to gain possession of (something) by deceitful trickery.
  • They cozened the old man out of his life savings.

Synonyms

• Fraud: wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
• Swindle: a fraudulent scheme or action.
• Deception: the action of deceiving someone.
• Trickery: the practice of deception.

Related Phrases

• "A web of cozenage": a complex, interconnected series of fraudulent deceptions.
  • The investigation revealed a vast web of cozenage spanning several countries.

Noun

1. a fraudulent business scheme