scammer

noun

scam·​mer ˈska-mər 

plural scammers

: one who perpetrates a scam : a person who commits or participates in a fraudulent scheme or operation

insurance/credit card scammers

The company will not call you to ask for your Social Security or account number, but nefarious scammers might.

—Ellen Marks

Now that most people are alert to suspicious e-mails and phony phone calls, text messages are the new frontier for scammers out to con you.

—Consumer Reports

Synonyms

• bilk
• bilker
• cheat
• cheater
• chiseler
• chiseller
• confidence man
• cozener
• defrauder
• dodger
• fakir
• finagler
• fraudster [chiefly British]
• hoaxer
• scamster
• shark
• sharper
• sharpie
• sharpy
• skinner
• swindler
• tricker
• trickster

Examples of scammer in a Sentence

Internet scammers who never seem to run out of swindles

Recent Examples on the Web

Verify the caller's identity Following a basic routine that includes using a safe word is a good first line of defense against scammers. —Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 17 Dec. 2024

Undisclosed texts with questionable tracking information and clickable links should be avoided in order to prevent scammers from gaining personal information. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024

Once the scammer makes contact, the target is usually directed to the Meeten website to download the malicious software. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2024

The man, prosecutors said, invested $170,000 but became suspicious when the scammers sought $348,000 for overseas taxes related to his investment. —Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

scammer

noun

scam·​mer

ˈskam-ər

: someone who perpetuates a scam : a person who commits or participates in a fraudulent scheme or operation