Synonyms for Straw Man (same or very similar meaning)
WordNet sense 1 (a person used as a cover for some questionable activity):
figurehead, front, strawman, front man, nominal headWordNet sense 2 (an effigy in the shape of a man to frighten birds away from seeds):
scarecrow, bird-scarer, scarerFrom the ODE community, based on WordNetadd/edit