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 century. It traditionally referred to aggressive sales or confidence schemes and has since broadened to describe similar conduct in other areas.

In consumer and sales contexts, sharking denotes high-pressure or deceptive tactics intended to coax a person into paying money or signing an agreement. Examples include bait-and-switch sales, unsolicited pitches, or exaggerated promises by unscrupulous salespeople.

In dating and online environments, sharking describes manipulative behavior meant to exploit emotions or financial resources, such as persistent pressure, love bombing, or coercive requests for money. This usage overlaps with broader terms like romance scams and catfishing.

In competitive settings such as billiards or other games, sharking can refer to tactics intended to distract, intimidate, or provoke an opponent. Such behavior is typically considered unsportsmanlike and may contravene event rules.

Legally, many forms of sharking—namely fraud, extortion, or coercion—can violate criminal or civil law, while others are addressed under consumer protection or harassment statutes. Socially, sharking is widely viewed as unethical and detrimental to trust in interactions.

See also: shark (predator), con artist, romance scam, consumer protection, harassment.