Final answer:
A con artist is correctly described as a person who practices fraud, which makes the statement true. The case of Diederik Stapel is an example of how con artists can operate in the academic field.
Step-by-step explanation:
A con artist is indeed a person who practices fraud. This statement is true. A con artist, also known as a confidence artist, is someone who deceives or manipulates others to gain their trust for the purpose of committing fraudulent acts for personal gain. These fraudulent acts could be for financial benefits, to deceive others into illegal activities, or simply to take advantage of someone's trust. One notable example of academic fraud is the case of Diederik Stapel, a former social psychologist, who admitted to fabricating data in his research, as reported by the Tilburg University and The New York Times.
In the case of Diederik Stapel, his fraudulent research practices highlight the importance of making an informed and careful analysis in academic and professional fields to root out such deceptive behavior.