Crossword Genius

Con tearaway? (3-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rip-off

'con' is the definition.
(I know that con can be written as rip-off)

'tearaway?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'tearaway?' could be 'rip' (I've seen this before) and 'rip' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'off' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

(Other definitions for rip-off that I've seen before include "Grossly overpriced item" , "Scam" , "Con trick" , "Greatly overpriced item" , "Act of fraud or swindle (inf)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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