| Clue | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| "Curses! It was a ruse!" | New York Times | 10 May 2024 |
| Lament of the swindled | ||
| Scam victim's lament, and an apt title for this puzzle | LA Times Daily | 11 Nov 2022 |
| Response to a con | The Washington Post | 01 Jun 2019 |
| Response to a con | LA Times Daily | 01 Jun 2019 |
| Response to a con | ||
| Scam victim's cry | USA Today | 21 Jul 2016 |
| Scam victim's cry | ||
| Cry from a dupe | Newsday | 02 Apr 2015 |
| Cry from a dupe | ||
| Cry from a pigeon | ||
| Dupe's exclamation | ||
| Pigeon's cry |