as in cheats
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
Internet scammers who never seem to run out of swindles
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Recent Examples of scammers
Between March 2023 and November 2025, the scammers portrayed themselves as lawyers operating out of a bogus immigration law firm, called CM Bufete De Abogados Consultoria Migratoria, who solicited prospective clients primarily through Facebook, prosecutors said.
—
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Billing notices like this are common, and scammers rely on that familiarity to slip past quick checks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The office also says recent FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data shows scammers stole more than $243 million from Colorado residents in 2024, which was an increase of nearly $56 million from the previous year.
—Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 20 Feb. 2026
Pham argued that visitor caps introduced after the pandemic can create scarcity that draws scammers.
—Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
In some cases, scammers take advantage of that perception by presenting precious metals as a simple solution to complex financial concerns.
—Jessica Walrack, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Flawed oversight has left a critical health program vulnerable to scammers while taxpayers foot the bill.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Yahoo Boys are also prolific romance scammers.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
With Gmail attacks ongoing, as well as warnings being issued as Google users are impacted by new security threats, users of Android smartphones are increasingly in the crosshairs of hackers and scammers alike.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Billing notices like this are common, and scammers rely on that familiarity to slip past quick checks.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The office also says recent FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data shows scammers stole more than $243 million from Colorado residents in 2024, which was an increase of nearly $56 million from the previous year.
—Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 20 Feb. 2026
Pham argued that visitor caps introduced after the pandemic can create scarcity that draws scammers.
—Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
In some cases, scammers take advantage of that perception by presenting precious metals as a simple solution to complex financial concerns.
—Jessica Walrack, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Flawed oversight has left a critical health program vulnerable to scammers while taxpayers foot the bill.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Yahoo Boys are also prolific romance scammers.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
With Gmail attacks ongoing, as well as warnings being issued as Google users are impacted by new security threats, users of Android smartphones are increasingly in the crosshairs of hackers and scammers alike.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scammers
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Scammers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scammers. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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