Swindler's scheme (4)
I believe the answer is:
scam
'swindler's scheme' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for scam that I've seen before include "Hoax" , "Screw" , "Swindle (Slang)" , "fiddle" , "Fraudulent action" .)