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

“It’s hard for me to understand why people don’t recognize this as the total scam it is.”

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Wendy and Ken, who live near Canterbury, say the scam started with a phone call from a so-called detective constable, claiming someone had been arrested for trying to use their bank card in London.

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Every scam, if this was a scam, is an everyday scam, it’s just tailored for various holidays and occasions.

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"Always question uninvited approaches in case it's a scam."

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Several investigations, including by the BBC, have shown that many of them have fallen prey to cross-border visa scams and lost hundreds of thousands of pounds.

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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.