Fraudsters: meaning, definitions and examples

A 'scammer' is often used to describe someone who engages in deceptive practices, usually online or through phone calls, to trick individuals into giving them money or personal information. This term is frequently used in casual conversations.

• She received an email from a scammer asking for her bank details.
• Don't answer that call; it's a scammer trying to steal your information.

A 'swindler' is someone who uses deception to deprive others of money or property. This term is often associated with a sense of cunning and is frequently used in literary or formal contexts.

• The swindler tricked several people into investing in a non-existent business.
• He is known as a notorious swindler in the art world.

A 'con artist' is often used to describe someone who uses deception to trick people, usually in more elaborate schemes. This term can be used in everyday situations to describe someone who employs clever tactics to manipulate others.

• Watch out for that con artist, he can fool you into giving him your money.
• She fell victim to a con artist who promised her a fake investment opportunity.