Crossword Genius

Cult rip off perpetrator (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

culprit

'perpetrator' is the definition.
(I know that perpetrator can be written as culprit)

'cult rip off' is the wordplay.
'off' indicates anagramming the letters.
'cult'+'rip'='cultrip'
'cultrip' is an anagram of 'CULPRIT'.

(Other definitions for culprit that I've seen before include "Person responsible for wrongdoing" , "baddie" , "he should have conviction" , "The one responsible for a crime" , "one awaiting trial" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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