Sharking
Sharking is a term used to describe predatory, deceitful, or aggressive behavior by an individual aimed at exploiting others for money, information, or advantage. It is informal and not a formal legal category, and its meaning varies by context.
The word draws on the predator metaphor of sharks and appears in American slang from the 20th
In consumer and sales contexts, sharking denotes high-pressure or deceptive tactics intended to coax a person
In dating and online environments, sharking describes manipulative behavior meant to exploit emotions or financial resources,
In competitive settings such as billiards or other games, sharking can refer to tactics intended to distract,
Legally, many forms of sharking—namely fraud, extortion, or coercion—can violate criminal or civil law, while others
See also: shark (predator), con artist, romance scam, consumer protection, harassment.