SCARS Institute Knowledge & Support for Scam Victims/Survivors
Master Dictionary of Glossary Terms on AgainstScams.org
Our catalog of terms is constantly expanding.
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Perfidious — Describes a person, action, or pattern of behavior characterized by calculated betrayal, deliberate deception, and the intentional violation of trust. Perfidious conduct occurs when someone presents an outward appearance of honesty, loyalty, affection, or good faith while secretly intending to deceive, exploit, or harm another person. The betrayal is especially damaging because the person first creates a sense of safety and dependability, then uses that trust as a weapon against the individual who granted it. In relationship scams, a criminal’s conduct is perfidious because the criminal fabricates intimacy, makes false promises, and encourages emotional dependence while knowingly pursuing exploitation. The term carries a stronger meaning than simple dishonesty because it emphasizes treachery committed within a relationship or agreement in which trust has been deliberately established and then violated. — Manipulation and Deception
Added September 26, 2026
