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Synonyms

scam

American  
[skam] / skæm /

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 British  
/ skæm /

noun

  1. a stratagem for gain; a swindle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

  • scammer noun

Etymology

Origin of scam

1960–65; originally carnival argot; of obscure origin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fake cops, fake judges: The Hollywood-style scam poised to go global.

From MarketWatch

She decided to write another post warning others about being scammed.

From BBC

You’re right to be worried about handing over control of your money to a financial adviser, but not because it’s possible you’re going to get scammed.

From MarketWatch

Authorities worry similar scams could be coming soon to other countries, including the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then comes the pitch: pay to "humanize" the writing, a pattern experts say bears the hallmarks of a scam.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.