I found these "contract" synonyms amusing:
Con tract
Rip-off region
Trick territory
Swindle swathe
Cheat zone
Lure leaflet
I used to believe people (even contractors and salesman) were generally honest and good-hearted - giving a day's work for a day's pay, providing services of value and selling the promised quality products. As I've gotten older, though, experience has taught me this belief is naive and a little bit stupid. Salesmen lie because it's lucrative. Contractors cheat because it's easy. And members of both groups steal because they can. I haven't given up on humanity completely though. I still believe in Santa.