scamming
Deceiving for profit
Scamming is defrauding people through deceptive schemes, typically for money.
The word implies deliberate trickery rather than honest misrepresentation: He's been scamming elderly people out of their savings, She got caught scamming insurance companies.
Someone who scams is a scammer; the scheme itself is a scam.
Petty fraud perpetrator
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
impostor · hustler · shark · flimflam man · confidence man · catfish · phisher · shyster
Argument against
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- shamFraudulent imitation
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
deceit · dupery · fakery · guile · subterfuge · chicanery · artifice · pretense
Swindle or petty fraud
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- racketUproar, scam, or paddle
- flimflamDeceptive scheme or nonsense
- bunkoFraudulent gambling operation
confidence trick · long con · short con · sting · shakedown · rip-off · fleece · bilk
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- spoofingFraudulent imitation
- catfishingDeceiving via false identity
- pretextingDeceptive identity manipulation
- baitingDeliberately trying to provoke
vishing · smishing · social engineering · impersonation · identity theft · account takeover · SIM swapping · advance fee
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- counterfeitingMaking fake money
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
- pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
Ponzi scheme · wire fraud · credit card fraud · insurance fraud · securities fraud · mortgage fraud · tax evasion · charity fraud
grifter
Petty fraud perpetrator
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
charlatan · impostor · hustler · shark · flimflam man · confidence man · catfish · phisher · shyster · mountebank
con
Argument against
trickery · deceit · dupery · fakery · guile · subterfuge · chicanery · artifice · pretense · masquerade
grift
Swindle or petty fraud
bunko · confidence trick · long con · short con · sting · shakedown · rip-off · fleece · bilk · bamboozle
phishing
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- spoofingFraudulent imitation
- catfishingDeceiving via false identity
- pretextingDeceptive identity manipulation
baiting · vishing · smishing · social engineering · impersonation · identity theft · account takeover · SIM swapping · advance fee · money mule
embezzlement
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- counterfeitingMaking fake money
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
pyramid scheme · Ponzi scheme · wire fraud · credit card fraud · insurance fraud · securities fraud · mortgage fraud · tax evasion · charity fraud · telemarketing fraud
- misconductmisconduct, bullying, stealing, vandalism, cheating
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, fraud
- dirty trickscheating, lying, deceit, trickery, deception
- dishonestydishonesty, deceit, duplicity, lying, mendacity
- scamsfraud, frauds, swindle, swindles, con
scammingacting in good faith
being honest · leveling with · ethical conduct · fair trading
scamminghelping
Single portion given
giving · protecting · donating · supporting · assisting
scam, scammer, scams, scammed, scammers, scammy, scamster, scamsters