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

Anyone who is being scammed is advised to cut off all contact with the scammer immediately, but short of taking her phone and blocking all means of reaching out to the fake celebrity, that may not be an option right now. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026

That’s because the same digital connectivity that powers convenience—mobile ticketing, travel apps, public Wi-Fi, social sharing and location services—also creates prime opportunities for cybercriminals, scammers and even physical threat actors. — Christopher Pierson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

The Idaho Attorney General’s Office said scammers are using public information submitted to local planning and development departments to create fake invoices. — Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 29 June 2026

The Better Business Bureau says scammers are targeting renters and unsuspecting home sellers through sophisticated online schemes that have grown a lot over the years. — T.j. Anthony, CBS News, 29 June 2026

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