Sentence:  With these gadgets - impressive to the gullible because of their flashing light bulbs , ticks , and buzzes - he then carries out a vicious medical <WSD>con</WSD> game , capitalizing on people 's respect for the electrical and atomic wonders of our scientific age . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property