as in cheats
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
an ingenious phishing operation that got him named the year's most inventive online fraudster
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Recent Examples of fraudsters
Allowing the federal government to efficiently investigate fraud will save Minnesota taxpayers' money and ensure that Minnesota's welfare funds are being used to help those in need, not enrich fraudsters.
—
Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 25 Jan. 2026
Retailers say fraudsters are increasingly exploiting lenient policies, often by sending back cheaper or different items than what was originally purchased.
—Kristine Lazar, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
In one instance, fraudsters used a Social Security number to receive insurance subsidies for over 127 insurance policies.
—Ken Calvert, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
And fraudsters have been running rampant all over the country.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
That investigation, which has had bipartisan support, has led to dozens of convictions, and many of the fraudsters in that case were of Somali descent.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
Would-be fraudsters will get the message that schemes will be uncovered and are not worth pursuing, and fewer city dollars will be lost on a going-forward basis.
—Randall Fox, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2026
Bitcoin, the world’s first crypto-currency, was created in 2009, but municipal officials allege the ATMs charge such high mark-ups on conversions — as much as 20% to 30% or more — that they’re mostly used by fraudsters preying on seniors and other vulnerable customers unfamiliar with the industry.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025
The scandal, which diverted money meant to feed children during the pandemic to fraudsters, is one of numerous Covid-19 fraud schemes identified nationwide.
—Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 25 Jan. 2026
Retailers say fraudsters are increasingly exploiting lenient policies, often by sending back cheaper or different items than what was originally purchased.
—Kristine Lazar, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
In one instance, fraudsters used a Social Security number to receive insurance subsidies for over 127 insurance policies.
—Ken Calvert, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
And fraudsters have been running rampant all over the country.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
That investigation, which has had bipartisan support, has led to dozens of convictions, and many of the fraudsters in that case were of Somali descent.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
Would-be fraudsters will get the message that schemes will be uncovered and are not worth pursuing, and fewer city dollars will be lost on a going-forward basis.
—Randall Fox, New York Daily News, 1 Jan. 2026
Bitcoin, the world’s first crypto-currency, was created in 2009, but municipal officials allege the ATMs charge such high mark-ups on conversions — as much as 20% to 30% or more — that they’re mostly used by fraudsters preying on seniors and other vulnerable customers unfamiliar with the industry.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 30 Dec. 2025
The scandal, which diverted money meant to feed children during the pandemic to fraudsters, is one of numerous Covid-19 fraud schemes identified nationwide.
—Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 13 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraudsters
Noun
-
The world is full of bad actors—cheats, liars, tyrants, sickos—who are, ultimately, mere human beings; at least, this was how rationality would have it.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Others might feel the author cheats here, leaving it up to the reader to decide.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But my collection intentionally ignored the fraudulent exploits of billionaire heirs, tax dodgers and corporate magnates — defense contracts, government lobbying, bank accounts in Switzerland, shell companies in Panama, citizenship of Antigua and political asylum in London.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Specifically, on average, silky sharks spent only about 47 percent of their time inside the Galápagos Marine Reserve, an area often held up as a global gold standard for marine protection.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Researchers will be watching to see if Contender comes into contact with other sharks during this time.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This scam, according to Kent, could be proliferated with the use of AI, which can allow swindlers to enroll in many different college programs at once.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Good afternoon and welcome to Con Con, the convention for swindlers, mountebanks, and the people who love them.—
Henry Alford,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The Yahoo Boys promises to be an in-depth work of narrative nonfiction that explores the material conditions that make these scams profitable, and the lives of four such scammers in Lagos, Nigeria.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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Because the items used — like seeds — are inexpensive and cheap to ship, scammers view the practice as cost-effective.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fraudsters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraudsters. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
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