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
If released, that information could be used for scams, identity theft, or further cyberattacks.
—
Tori Mason, CBS News, 8 May 2026
At the same time, these scams are not going away.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Thank you to all of you who reached out last week about scams in the book world.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Given the amount of misinformation on the internet about just about anything, the ability to distinguish accurate information from potentially harmful myths or scams is vital.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
All agencies that were consumer or civil rights enforcers are busy with their own scams.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Indonesia began implementing a new government regulation at the end of March banning children younger than 16 from accessing digital platforms that could expose them to addiction, pornography, online scams and cyberbullying.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Is there any real solution to the nightmare of online password management in an era of increasingly clever hacks, scams, and identity theft?
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 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
Tori Mason, CBS News, 8 May 2026
At the same time, these scams are not going away.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Thank you to all of you who reached out last week about scams in the book world.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 7 May 2026
Given the amount of misinformation on the internet about just about anything, the ability to distinguish accurate information from potentially harmful myths or scams is vital.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
All agencies that were consumer or civil rights enforcers are busy with their own scams.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Indonesia began implementing a new government regulation at the end of March banning children younger than 16 from accessing digital platforms that could expose them to addiction, pornography, online scams and cyberbullying.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
Is there any real solution to the nightmare of online password management in an era of increasingly clever hacks, scams, and identity theft?
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 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 Man Who Stole Portugal is inspired by the titular true crime book by Murray Teigh Bloom about Alves dos Reis, who pulled off one of the largest frauds in history against the Bank of Portugal in 1925.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
7 May 2026
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Four artworks recovered from the 1MDB scandal have gone on public view in Malaysia for the first time, offering a modest but pointed reminder of one of the largest financial frauds in modern history.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
6 May 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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Over a recent five-year span, 4% of Amber Alerts nationwide were determined to be hoaxes, where people intentionally misled law enforcement.—
Andrea Lucia,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Scams.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scams. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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