Don't try to con me

Origin

The term 'con' is a shortened form of 'confidence' or 'confidence trick,' which burst into public consciousness in mid-19th century America. It referred to a unique type of swindler, the 'confidence man,' who didn't use brute force but rather charm and psychological manipulation to first gain the trust—the 'confidence'—of their victim. Once this bond of trust was established, the con man would exploit it, convincing their unsuspecting mark to willingly part with their money or possessions. The phrase 'Don't try to con me' directly invokes this history, serving as a sharp, modern warning that the speaker sees through any attempt at deceptive charm or trickery, refusing to become another victim of a clever, confidence-based scheme.