scammer

noun

scam·​mer ˈska-mər 

plural scammers

: one who perpetrates a scam : a person who commits or participates in a fraudulent scheme or operation

insurance/credit card scammers

The company will not call you to ask for your Social Security or account number, but nefarious scammers might.

—Ellen Marks

Now that most people are alert to suspicious e-mails and phony phone calls, text messages are the new frontier for scammers out to con you.

—Consumer Reports

Synonyms of scammer

• cheat
• dodger
• shark
• swindler

Examples of scammer in a Sentence

Internet scammers who never seem to run out of swindles

Recent Examples on the Web

Being bombarded with emails from scammers. —Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025

The Verona Police Department said scammers are stealing gift card numbers and PINs from grocery stores, putting the cards back and waiting for someone to activate the card. —Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 11 Dec. 2025

The most valuable benefit is ferreting out scammers pitching deals, which is a common issue for family offices, Nallen Copley said. —Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025

These messages warn you to verify your wallet by following a link, but scammers use emails like this to steal your crypto information. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for scammer

• amor
• clamor
• clamour
• glamor
• glamour
• grammar
• hammer
• jammer
• rammer
• stammer
• programmer
• sledgehammer

Kids Definition

scammer

noun

scam·​mer ˈskam-ər 

: someone who perpetuates a scam : a person who commits or participates in a fraudulent scheme or operation