The cheat's victims may end up escaping inside (5)
I believe the answer is:
dupes
'the cheat's victims' is the definition.
'dupes' can be an answer for 'victims' ('dupe' can be a synonym of 'victim'). I'm unsure of the 'the cheat's' bit.
'end up escaping inside' is the wordplay.
'inside' indicates a hidden word.
'DUPES' is hidden in the letters of 'end up escaping'.
'may' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dupes that I've seen before include "People who have been fooled or swindled" , "Fools, hoaxes" , "Cheats" , "Gulls" , "Hoodwinks" .)