Badger game

In its simplest form, the badger game proceeds thus: a married man begins an extramarital affair.

Variants of the trick involve luring the victim with the promise of a homosexual act, underage children, child pornography, a bizarre sexual fetish, or some other activity carrying a legal penalty and/or social stigma.

The "sick" woman, who is of course part of the deception, takes the side of her accomplice and threatens the doctor with criminal charges or a lawsuit.

This form of the badger game was first widely publicized in an article in the August 25, 1930 edition of Time magazine.

[1] Non-sexual versions of this trick also exist, particularly among ethnic and religious groups with strong social taboos, for example inducing a Mormon to gamble or drink alcohol in violation of his religious vows, and then demanding money to keep the indulgence secret and thus preserve his reputation.