Don't listen to those who promise you wealth overnight, my boy. As a rule they are either fools or swindlers! Listen to me and go home.

Tom didn't realize he'd been swindled.

Even the knowledge that he had succeeded where the police of three countries had failed, and that he had outmanoeuvred at every point the most accomplished swindler in Europe, was insufficient to rouse him from his nervous prostration.

In Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale, "The Emperor's New Clothes," two swindlers promise an emperor beautiful new clothes that are invisible to anyone who is unfit for their position, unjust or stupid.

Where did you swindle them?

Tom swindled Mary.

Tom soon realized that he'd been swindled.

I have no patience for swindlers.

Dan lost his money to a swindler.

He swindled me out of money.