Complete guide with hints, spangram, and all theme words for Aug 18's puzzle
Strands Theme of Aug 18 is:
Think of a person who falsely claims to have special knowledge or skill, often a fraud or a swindler.
Reveal letter by letter or uncover a full solution

Today's theme 'Fool me once ...' explores the art of deception and the various ways people can be misled. It focuses on the vocabulary of trickery and dishonest behavior.
Spoiler Warning
Strands answer for Fool me once ... are revealed below!
Below is the complete solution for Today's Strands. Enjoy the game!

Strands is a free daily word puzzle from The New York Times. Each day, you get a theme and a letter grid where you must find hidden words. Like Wordle and Connections, it refreshes at midnight with a new puzzle.
You get a 6×8 grid of letters. Find all theme words plus the "spangram" that spans the grid and reveals the theme. Connect letters horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to form words. Find 3 non-theme words to unlock a hint.
This Strands Hint points toward the classic proverb about deception. It suggests that every word in the grid relates to the mechanics of being tricked or the people who do the tricking. Check out the full Strands Hint below for more details.
This puzzle features some longer, more sophisticated vocabulary related to dishonesty. You might find some of the older, more whimsical terms for trickery hidden in the corners. Check out the full Strands Hint below for more details.
Start by looking for common prefixes like 'mis-' or 'de-' that often start words about lying or cheating. Once you find one action word, the others in this NYT Strands grid will follow a similar pattern. Check out the full Strands Hint below for more details.
The spangram for this theme spans across the board, identifying the type of individual who might be responsible for all these deceptive actions. Check out the full Strands Hint below for more details.