scams
Tricks for money
Scams are fraudulent schemes designed to cheat people out of money or information.
The word covers everything from email phishing to elaborate cons: I keep getting scam calls about my car's warranty.
To scam someone is to swindle them.
A scammer runs such schemes.
The line between a scam and aggressive marketing can be blurry.
Argument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
flimflam · bamboozle · hoodwink · dupe · bunko · chicanery · sleight · ruse
Fraud who deceives for profit
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- fraudsterCriminal deceiver for gain
mountebank · hustler · impostor · shark · cheat · flimflammer · confidence man · snake oil salesman
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- PonziSwindler's surname, now generic
- pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
forgery · counterfeit · securities fraud · insurance fraud · credit card fraud · mortgage fraud · telemarketing fraud · charity fraud
Fraudulent imitation
- fakeryDeliberate deception or pretense
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
- impostureDeception through false identity
fabrication · falsehood · disinformation · manipulation · quackery · snake oil · spurious · phony
con
Argument against
hustle · flimflam · bamboozle · hoodwink · dupe · bunko · chicanery · sleight · ruse · artifice
conman
Fraud who deceives for profit
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
fraudster · mountebank · hustler · impostor · shark · cheat · flimflammer · confidence man · snake oil salesman · huckster
phishing
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- PonziSwindler's surname, now generic
- pyramid schemeFraud through endless recruitment
- identity theftStealing personal data criminally
embezzlement · forgery · counterfeit · securities fraud · insurance fraud · credit card fraud · mortgage fraud · telemarketing fraud · charity fraud · tax evasion
sham
Fraudulent imitation
- fakeryDeliberate deception or pretense
- deceitDeliberate misleading of others
- pretenseDeceptive outward show
imposture · fabrication · falsehood · disinformation · manipulation · quackery · snake oil · spurious · phony · counterfeit
gullible
Easily deceived
target · pigeon · patsy · victim · prey · easy mark · fall guy · rube · stooge · vulnerable
- digital annoyancesspam, pop-ups, ads, malware, viruses
- shady dealingsswindles, cons, grifts, fraud, bait and switch
- spamspam, junk mail, spam filter, spam folder, bulk mail
- travel problemslost luggage, flight delays, flight delay, delayed flight, missed flight
- fraudfraud, swindle, con, deceive, cheat
- Consumer Protectionconsumer rights, consumer protection, consumer safety, refunds, buyer protection
scamsgifts
Items freely given
philanthropy · altruism · benevolence · charity · charitable giving
- 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
scam, scammer, scammed, scamming, scammers, scamster, scamsters