Crossword Genius

The warning light was to be a scam (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

beacon

'the warning light' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'to be a scam' is the wordplay.
'scam' becomes 'con' (I've seen this before).
'be'+'a'+'con'='BEACON'

'was' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for beacon that I've seen before include "Signal fire - lighthouse" , "Warning light on hilltop" , "Signal fire - signalling buoy" , "Light on a height for navigation or warning" , "Fire on a hill, lit as a signal" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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