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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scams
In a world of AI deepfakes and terrifyingly realistic scams, using the same three passwords and hoping for the best is basically an open invitation for trouble.
—
Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
If the tool spots patterns common to scams—like suspicious job offers from new contacts—it'll prompt users to submit the chat for review, then encourage them to report or block the account.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Kurt's key takeaways Tax scams change every year, but the pattern stays the same.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Ticket scams Supposedly, there could be dozens of people who own a ticket to the same seat.
—Dave Lieber
mar. 11, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
True cost of online scams Total scam losses for top categories reach $95 billion when adjusted for underreporting.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
The nature of cybersecurity means tech companies are largely responding to scams, rather than getting ahead of them.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
The scams proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when casinos, many already engaged in the gray-area activity of online gambling, no longer had in-person customers and turned to online scams on an industrial scale.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 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
Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
If the tool spots patterns common to scams—like suspicious job offers from new contacts—it'll prompt users to submit the chat for review, then encourage them to report or block the account.
—Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Kurt's key takeaways Tax scams change every year, but the pattern stays the same.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Ticket scams Supposedly, there could be dozens of people who own a ticket to the same seat.
—Dave Lieber
mar. 11, Dallas Morning News, 11 Mar. 2026
True cost of online scams Total scam losses for top categories reach $95 billion when adjusted for underreporting.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
The nature of cybersecurity means tech companies are largely responding to scams, rather than getting ahead of them.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 11 Mar. 2026
The scams proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when casinos, many already engaged in the gray-area activity of online gambling, no longer had in-person customers and turned to online scams on an industrial scale.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 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
-
Once recruited, victims were allegedly forced to conduct romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment schemes and other online frauds targeting victims abroad.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The frauds have grown nearly in lockstep with the growth of the industry.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
From online hoaxes about wildfires in Los Angeles and Hawaii to Russian and extremist propaganda during Hurricane Helene, information manipulation is warping responses to climate change and extreme weather.—
Michael Chertoff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The Los Angeles Times reported that similar threats in multiple states, including Georgia, were traced to Russian domains and labeled politically disruptive hoaxes.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
18 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scams. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
