Here are the possible solutions for a scam and this puzzle's theme clue
Answer
Clue
Relevancy
con
Clue
A scam and this puzzle's theme
Definition
to study carefully
lllllllllllllllllllll
Clue
Much of the Smurfs' theme song, and this puzzle's theme
wordladder
Clue
Puzzle invented by Lewis Carroll (and a hint to this puzzle's theme)
info
Clue
Theme word inside this puzzle's theme words
Definition
(short for) information
rawhide
Clue
Classic TV theme song covered by this puzzle's theme duo
Definition
to beat with a type of whip
congame
Clue
Scam ... or an apt title for this puzzle?
four
Clue
Number of times this puzzle's theme word appears diagonally in the grid (to complete the puzzle, shade those words plus the Down answers that begin where they meet)
Definition
the cardinal number next above three
skewedtooneside
Clue
Like this puzzle's theme, to solvers concerned with puzzle symmetry?
