scam
Trick for money
A scam is a fraudulent scheme designed to cheat people out of money or valuables.
The word implies deception—victims believe they're getting something legitimate.
Scams range from email phishing to elaborate confidence tricks: That investment opportunity turned out to be a scam.
To scam someone is to defraud them: He scammed elderly people out of their savings.
Argument against
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
racket · setup · plot · conspiracy · ruse · ploy · stratagem · subterfuge
Professional fraud perpetrator
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- hustlerAggressive, unscrupulous earner
charlatan · impostor · trickster · cheat · faker · phony · shyster · mountebank
Deliberate deception or fraud
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
- bamboozleDeceive through cunning
hoodwink · dupe · mislead · guile · artifice · sleight · pretense · bluff
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- extortionObtaining through threats
- pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
- Ponzi schemeFraudulent returns from newcomers
money laundering · identity theft · counterfeit · forgery · wire fraud · securities fraud · investment fraud · bank fraud
Grossly overpriced exchange
- fleeceWool still on sheep
- bilkDefraud of payment
- defraudObtain through deceit
- gypInformal term for swindle
mulct · soak · sting · sucker · mark · pigeon · patsy · gullible
Intentionally deceptive media content
- urban legendUnverified viral story
- prankPlayful trick on someone
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- spoofComic exaggerated imitation
tall tale · disinformation · misinformation · pseudo-science · quackery · snake oil · vaporware · catfishing
con
Argument against
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
grift · racket · setup · plot · conspiracy · ruse · ploy · stratagem · subterfuge · maneuver
con artist
Professional fraud perpetrator
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
hustler · charlatan · impostor · trickster · cheat · faker · phony · shyster · mountebank · snake oil salesman
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
bamboozle · hoodwink · dupe · mislead · guile · artifice · sleight · pretense · bluff · dupery
embezzlement
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- phishingFraudulent credential harvesting
- extortionObtaining through threats
- pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
Ponzi scheme · money laundering · identity theft · counterfeit · forgery · wire fraud · securities fraud · investment fraud · bank fraud · credit card fraud
rip-off
Grossly overpriced exchange
gyp · mulct · soak · sting · sucker · mark · pigeon · patsy · gullible · taken
fake news
Intentionally deceptive media content
- urban legendUnverified viral story
- prankPlayful trick on someone
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
spoof · tall tale · disinformation · misinformation · pseudo-science · quackery · snake oil · vaporware · catfishing · deepfake
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- consumer problemsdefective product, billing error, wrong item, hidden fees, hidden fee
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- dirty trickscheating, lying, deceit, trickery, deception
- falsifiedfalsified, doctored, fabricated, fake, faked
scamhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
truth · sincerity · candor · truthfulness · good faith
scamgift
Item given freely
charity · generosity · good deal · fair trade · benefaction
- scam artistOne who defrauds others
- Nigerian prince scamEmail requesting money for fictional fortune
- online scamInternet-based swindle
- scam callDeceptive telephone solicitation
- internet scamOnline deceptive theft scheme
- romance scamFeigned courtship for theft
scamp, scamper, scammer, scams, scammed, scamming, scampering, scampered, scammers