The word "bunco" comes from the Spanish word "banco," meaning bank, and is used to describe several swindle schemes. Other terms for the swindles are confidence or con games.
In a scheme, the bunco operator:
In a scheme, the bunco operator:
- selects a person to participate
- gains the participant's confidence by telling a believable story
- asks for the participant's help or promises the participant money or goods
- asks the participant to show "good faith" by producing cash in advance for the promised money or goods