scamsters
People who swindle
Scamsters is the plural of scamster, a person who runs scams or swindles others.
The -ster suffix (as in gangster, trickster) marks the agent: Internet scamsters target elderly victims, The scamsters made off with thousands before anyone caught on.
Interchangeable with scammer, though scamster carries a slightly more old-fashioned or playful tone.
People who deceive for gain
- swindlersDeceivers who steal through trickery
- con artistsPeople who cheat others
- griftersPetty swindlers, confidence tricksters
- charlatansPretenders to special knowledge
impostors · mountebanks · shysters · hoaxers · flimflammers · cheats · defrauders · sharpers
Intentional criminal trickery
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- racketUproar, scam, or paddle
- con gameFraudulent scheme for profit
Ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · phishing · catfishing · bait and switch · shell game · wire fraud · investment fraud
Intentional misleading of others
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- bamboozlingDeceiving through confusion
- hoodwinkingDeliberately misleading someone
duping · flimflam · misdirection · impersonation · forgery · counterfeiting · false pretenses · bait and switch
Visible signs or grades
- targetsIntended aims or marks
- dupesDeceives or victims
- suckersEasily fooled people
- patsiesScapegoats or easy victims
prey · gulls · pigeons · rubes · easy targets · vulnerable populations · elderly · naive
Pursuing legal charges
- arrestSeize by law
- imprisonmentLegal detention in jail
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- finesMonetary sanctions or particles
investigation · exposure · conviction · fraud charges · asset seizure · extradition · whistleblowing · class action
fraudsters
People who deceive for gain
- swindlersDeceivers who steal through trickery
- con artistsPeople who cheat others
- griftersPetty swindlers, confidence tricksters
charlatans · impostors · mountebanks · shysters · hoaxers · flimflammers · cheats · defrauders · sharpers · hustlers
fraud
Intentional criminal trickery
con game · Ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · phishing · catfishing · bait and switch · shell game · wire fraud · investment fraud · telemarketing fraud
deception
Intentional misleading of others
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- bamboozlingDeceiving through confusion
hoodwinking · duping · flimflam · misdirection · impersonation · forgery · counterfeiting · false pretenses · bait and switch · social engineering
marks
Visible signs or grades
patsies · prey · gulls · pigeons · rubes · easy targets · vulnerable populations · elderly · naive · trusting
prosecution
Pursuing legal charges
- arrestSeize by law
- imprisonmentLegal detention in jail
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
fines · investigation · exposure · conviction · fraud charges · asset seizure · extradition · whistleblowing · class action · disgrace
scamstershonest brokers
Impartial third-party facilitators
straight shooters · truth-tellers · philanthropists · do-gooders · saints
scamstersfraud investigators
Professionals who expose deception
watchdogs · whistleblowers · regulators · truth-tellers · guardians