A deceptive scheme is a plan or strategy that is intended to deceive or mislead someone. In this crossword, the solutions 'RUSE, ' 'SCAM, ' and 'setup' all refer to different types of deceptive schemes. A RUSE is a clever trick or stratagem used to deceive someone, while a SCAM is a fraudulent scheme designed to cheat people out of money or property. Lastly, a setup is a plan or arrangement made in advance to achieve a desired outcome.