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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of scams
For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Even worse, many of those scams targeted older individuals and are getting even more money from them than in years past.
—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
26 June 2026
Generally, men and women are equally victimized by scammers, said Amy Nofziger, senior director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network, a free resource for consumers to learn about scams and report them.
—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
26 June 2026
About half of people whose household experienced scams last year reported losing between $125 and $2,000, according to Gallup.
—
Amelia Thomson-Deveaux,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
With five more World Cup matches set for Hard Rock Stadium, including one on Wednesday, Airbnb is cautioning soccer fans traveling to Miami about a surge in online booking scams.
—
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
Text message scams are increasingly rife.
—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
As with many other types of scams, World Cup fraudsters will try to capitalize on surging demand to pressure people into paying for non-existent tickets.
—
ABC News,
17 June 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
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Even worse, many of those scams targeted older individuals and are getting even more money from them than in years past.
—
Alan Henry,
PC Magazine,
26 June 2026
Generally, men and women are equally victimized by scammers, said Amy Nofziger, senior director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network, a free resource for consumers to learn about scams and report them.
—
Sarah Agostino,
CNBC,
26 June 2026
About half of people whose household experienced scams last year reported losing between $125 and $2,000, according to Gallup.
—
Amelia Thomson-Deveaux,
Chicago Tribune,
25 June 2026
With five more World Cup matches set for Hard Rock Stadium, including one on Wednesday, Airbnb is cautioning soccer fans traveling to Miami about a surge in online booking scams.
—
Amaia Gavica,
Miami Herald,
22 June 2026
Text message scams are increasingly rife.
—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
As with many other types of scams, World Cup fraudsters will try to capitalize on surging demand to pressure people into paying for non-existent tickets.
—
ABC News,
17 June 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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Lan, 69, built a sprawling real estate empire of luxury homes and commercial properties before she was accused of one of the biggest frauds in global history.
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Bankman-Fried was convicted of masterminding one of the largest financial frauds in history stemming from the collapse of the crypto-exchange FTX.
Noun
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In a case pending in federal court in Oakland, California, three Facebook users allege that the company profits from online swindles at the expense of users.
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Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.
Noun
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The dishonest duo got rich from their deception, but in the age of AI slop, there is a certain charm to analogue hoaxes such as these.
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That is why this conversation is about far more than celebrity deepfakes or viral internet hoaxes.
Cite this Entry
“Scams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scams. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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