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

• bilk
• bilker
• cheat
• cheater
• chiseler
• chiseller
• confidence man
• cozener
• defrauder
• dodger
• fakir
• finagler
• fraudster [chiefly British]
• hoaxer
• scamster
• shark
• sharper
• sharpie
• sharpy
• skinner
• swindler
• tricker
• trickster

Examples of scammer in a Sentence

Internet scammers who never seem to run out of swindles

Recent Examples on the Web

This is especially true for older adults, who are often seen as easier targets by scammers. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025

Beware that the scammers will change aliases and tactics in order to evade detection, but the overall scam remains the same. —Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025

The scammer is suggesting that water tests be performed. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025

Misspellings or unusual language: A scammer may not pay attention to details or try to breach filters with intentional misspellings. 4. —Brian Sloan, CNBC, 7 Apr. 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