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
According to investigators, the scam operated by fraudsters contacting victims—often seniors—via email or text message.
—
Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
One attempts to protect bottle redemption centers from fraudsters returning bottles from states with nickel deposits to Connecticut, which pays a dime.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
The fraudsters went so far as to host sham immigration proceedings, including asylum interviews and court appearances via video conference, in which the defendants donned judicial robes and law enforcement uniforms to impersonate court officials.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Bird in the news release warned Iowans to be wary of a rising number of scams and fraudsters, and urged them do research before purchasing a product or service.
—Lee Rood, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
The fraudsters often push heavily for romance and emotional connection, piling on the compliments and open affection.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2026
There are lists upon lists of things to do to wrap up his estate, but nothing that tells me how to lock down his identity now that he's gone so that fraudsters cannot use it.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Apple Music introduced fraud penalties back in 2022, where along with demonetizing the illegitimate streams themselves, the company employed a sliding scale of fining fraudsters a fee calculated on what would’ve been royalties.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
The fraudsters, those administrators say, are taking advantage of a vulnerability created by the degree to which these schools are accessible to students.
—ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
One attempts to protect bottle redemption centers from fraudsters returning bottles from states with nickel deposits to Connecticut, which pays a dime.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
The fraudsters went so far as to host sham immigration proceedings, including asylum interviews and court appearances via video conference, in which the defendants donned judicial robes and law enforcement uniforms to impersonate court officials.
—Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Bird in the news release warned Iowans to be wary of a rising number of scams and fraudsters, and urged them do research before purchasing a product or service.
—Lee Rood, Des Moines Register, 20 Feb. 2026
The fraudsters often push heavily for romance and emotional connection, piling on the compliments and open affection.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 14 Feb. 2026
There are lists upon lists of things to do to wrap up his estate, but nothing that tells me how to lock down his identity now that he's gone so that fraudsters cannot use it.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Apple Music introduced fraud penalties back in 2022, where along with demonetizing the illegitimate streams themselves, the company employed a sliding scale of fining fraudsters a fee calculated on what would’ve been royalties.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
The fraudsters, those administrators say, are taking advantage of a vulnerability created by the degree to which these schools are accessible to students.
—ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraudsters
Noun
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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
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Others might feel the author cheats here, leaving it up to the reader to decide.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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Both the Navarre Beach catch and the earlier Orange Beach catch ended with the sharks being released.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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Most beach anglers target redfish, pompano, or smaller sharks.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 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
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In fact, scammers often look for people going through emotional or financial change.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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California has paid roughly $20 billion in fraudulent unemployment benefits to scammers, about 11% of all benefits distributed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, state officials said this week.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fraudsters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraudsters. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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