scam victim

Duped by fraud

A scam victim is someone who has been deceived by a fraudulent scheme, typically losing money, personal information, or both.

The term encompasses anyone from elderly people targeted by phone scams to investors defrauded by Ponzi schemes: Scam victims often feel ashamed to report what happened.

Unlike marks or suckers, the phrase carries no blame—it frames the deceived person as wronged rather than foolish.

Related

conned · swindled · deceived · fell for it · cheated · ripped off · taken advantage of · gullible · naive · trusting · too good to be true · exploited · manipulated · phishing · identity theft · catfished · pyramid scheme · Ponzi

Categories
Opposites
role in fraudulent transaction

scam victimscammer

One who defrauds others

con artist · fraudster · con man · swindler · grifter

outcome of encounter with deception

scam victimskeptic

One who doubts claims

fraud investigator · whistleblower

Family

scam, victim, scams, scammed, scammer, scammers, scamming, victims, victimize

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG