Scam: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to a scheme or trick designed to cheat people, often used informally.

• He fell for an online scam and lost a lot of money
• The email was obviously a scam

Use in legal or formal contexts to describe a deliberate act of deceit intended to result in financial or personal gain.

• He was charged with bank fraud
• Insurance fraud is a serious crime

Use when describing a fraudulent scheme or act, especially one involving clever tricks or lies, can be used both formally and informally.

• They were swindled out of their life savings
• The swindle was cleverly executed

Use when describing the act of deceiving someone, often in a more general sense and can be used formally.

• Her deception was eventually uncovered
• The magician's performance relied heavily on deception