: a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation
an insurance scam
scammed; scamming; scams
1
: to deceive and defraud (someone)
… the law firm had got the lucrative job of defending the corporate head of a savings and loan that had scammed another thousand or so people out of their savings …—
Joseph Wambaugh
Joseph Wambaugh2
: to obtain (something, such as money) by a scam
A Boston hedge fund manager who scammed millions of dollars from friends, family and other investors in what authorities say was a Ponzi scheme has been sent to prison for more than 14 years.—The Worcester (Massachusetts) Telegram & Gazette
The Worcester (Massachusetts) Telegram & GazetteExamples of scam in a Sentence
Noun
She was the victim of an insurance scam.
a sophisticated credit card scam
Verb
The company scammed hundreds of people out of their life savings.
I could tell they were scamming you and charging too much.
They scammed a lot of money from unwary customers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Aug. 2025
Over the past five years, LPGA players have repeatedly raised their voices against a disturbing trend of catfishing scams that impersonate female golfers, lure fans into fake relationships and drain them of thousands of dollars.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 28 July 2025
Set against the backdrop of Costa Rica and inspired by true events, 52nd State follows an IT worker who discovers his job is a front for a criminal operation that scams elderly Americans.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for scam
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Noun
Authorities with Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office are warning residents about a phone scam in which callers pretend to be sheriff’s deputies and falsely accuse people of crimes or unpaid fines.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Aug. 2025
Over the past five years, LPGA players have repeatedly raised their voices against a disturbing trend of catfishing scams that impersonate female golfers, lure fans into fake relationships and drain them of thousands of dollars.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
Turns out, her entire story was a lie meant to scam Americans out of their money.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 28 July 2025
Set against the backdrop of Costa Rica and inspired by true events, 52nd State follows an IT worker who discovers his job is a front for a criminal operation that scams elderly Americans.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for scam
Cite this Entry
“Scam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scam. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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