Crossword Genius

Dupes being used and led astray (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

deludes

'dupes' is the definition.
(dupe can mean to trick or delude)

'used and led astray' is the wordplay.
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'astray' indicates anagramming the letters.
'used' after 'led' is 'ledused'.
'ledused' is an anagram of 'DELUDES'.

'being' is the link.

(Other definitions for deludes that I've seen before include "dupes" , "Fools" , "Tricks" , "Deceives (as to truth)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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