as in frauds
an instance of the use of dishonest methods to acquire something of value
that's just a scam to bilk insurance companies for staged accidents
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scams
Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cyber-enabled crimes and online scams in 2025 alone, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
—
ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Through meticulous reporting, the series reveals the complex operations behind modern scams, featuring stories of victims and scammers, while prompting global conversations among leaders in technology and policy to address this escalating crisis.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
The magic community doesn't want to do anything that could leave audiences more vulnerable to those kinds of scams or false beliefs, George explains.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
Pirro described the operations as highly organized, industrial-scale fraud hubs that attract victims with fake cryptocurrency investments and romance scams, often draining life savings.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 23 Apr. 2026
How refund scams are hitting multiple victims Ten other victims testified at Seth Wayne's trial.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
To avoid these types of scams, Chavis said, the most important thing to do in these moments is slow down and take a step back.
—Anna Schecter, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Some business journalists were criticized for having failed to uncover the scams earlier.
—Chris Roush, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
Last year, more than 40,000 Chinese people were detained in Myanmar over scams and deported to China.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
Through meticulous reporting, the series reveals the complex operations behind modern scams, featuring stories of victims and scammers, while prompting global conversations among leaders in technology and policy to address this escalating crisis.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
The magic community doesn't want to do anything that could leave audiences more vulnerable to those kinds of scams or false beliefs, George explains.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
Pirro described the operations as highly organized, industrial-scale fraud hubs that attract victims with fake cryptocurrency investments and romance scams, often draining life savings.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 23 Apr. 2026
How refund scams are hitting multiple victims Ten other victims testified at Seth Wayne's trial.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
To avoid these types of scams, Chavis said, the most important thing to do in these moments is slow down and take a step back.
—Anna Schecter, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Some business journalists were criticized for having failed to uncover the scams earlier.
—Chris Roush, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
Last year, more than 40,000 Chinese people were detained in Myanmar over scams and deported to China.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scams
Noun
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The National Association of Mortgage Brokers recommends customers take precautions to avoid potential frauds by calling sources and double-checking any information or requests.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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There are some elite frauds going on in the sports world right now.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But cybersecurity experts believe many are coming from the same criminal organizations in Southeast Asia that have been linked to other high-profile swindles in recent years, like romance scams on dating apps.—
Shannon Pettypiece,
NBC news,
20 Oct. 2025
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Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, has also been the subject of death hoaxes in the past, including in 2018, when a fake article reporting his death circulated online.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
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Fox, who has been living with Parkinson’s for more than 30 years, has been the subject of death hoaxes over the years.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scams. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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