scam

[skam]

noun

1. a confidence game or other fraudulent scheme, especially for making a quick profit; swindle.

verb (used with object)

scammed, scamming 

1. to cheat or defraud with a scam.

scam

/ skæm /

noun

1. a stratagem for gain; a swindle

verb

1. (tr) to swindle (someone) by means of a trick

Other Word Forms

• scammer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scam¹

1960–65; originally carnival argot; of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Only after wiring $2,000 to protect her daughter from danger did she learn the whole thing was a scam.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“Instead of trying to scam people out of their hard-earned benefits, we should require millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share into the system.”

Read more on MarketWatch

New rules that will make phone networks block scam texts from reaching potential victims have been proposed by Britain's communications' watchdog.

Read more on BBC

India was to repatriate 500 of its citizens from Thailand after a crackdown on a Myanmar scam hub led to workers fleeing over the border, the Thai prime minister said Wednesday.

Read more on Barron's

Awawdeh was also named in last week’s indictment over the alleged poker scam.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blackmail 
• deceit 
• deception 
• extortion 
• fraud 
• hoax 
• racket 
• ripoff 
• shakedown 
• sham 

When To Use

What does scam mean?

A scam is a deceptive scheme or trick used to cheat someone out of something, especially money.Scam is also a verb meaning to cheat someone in such a way.Example: Banks will never call you asking for your credit card number or social security number over the phone. If someone calls and asks for information like that, it’s a scam.