scam

Pronunciation: /skæm/ (American English)

Origin: Early 20th century, probably from British slang 'scamp' (rogue or cheater)

Part of Speech: noun, verb

Meanings:

1. (noun) A dishonest scheme; a fraud
2. (verb) To deceive or defraud with a scam

Example Sentences:

1. The email promising millions of dollars was actually a scam.
2. Be careful not to get scammed when buying products online.
3. The con artist scammed hundreds of people out of their life savings.

Related Words:

• Nouns: swindle, fraud, con, hoax
• Verbs: defraud, swindle, con, dupe
• Adjectives: fraudulent, deceptive, dishonest

Synonyms:

• con game, racket, rip-off, swindle

Memorization Trick: Remember "SCAM" as an acronym for "Scheme Cheating Ambitious Money-grabbers." This helps recall that a scam is a dishonest scheme designed to cheat people out of their money.

Additional Notes: The word "scam" is commonly used in the context of internet fraud, telephone fraud, and various other forms of deception aimed at obtaining money or personal information illegally.