Word
scam
US/ˈskæm/
UK/skˈæm/
Definitions
01a fraudulent scheme
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a dishonest trick or plan used to steal money from someone.
n. a fraudulent business scheme or deceptive operation intended to defraud individuals of money or assets.
“The email was a scam designed to steal my bank account details.”
“The authorities warned citizens about a sophisticated phone scam where callers impersonate tax officials to demand immediate payment via gift cards.”
02to trick someone
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
v. to trick someone so you can take their money or property.
v. to defraud a person or organisation through a deceptive scheme; functions as a transitive verb taking the victim as the object.
“He tried to scam me by selling a fake ticket to the concert.”
“The rogue contractor scammed several elderly homeowners out of their savings by claiming their roofs required urgent, non-existent repairs.”
Real-World Examples
“Microsoft said this was the fastest-growing scam technique aimed at people's emails, with 18.7m cases recorded in March of this year.” “Finally, it's important to share scams online so that others don't fall victim to the same ones.” “You should also check if there are any scam warnings in the search results.” Etymology
US American carnival slang of uncertain origin. Possibly from scamp (“swindler, cheater”) or Irish cam (“crooked”). Also possibly from Danish skam; if so, it would be a doublet of shame and sham. First use appears c. 1963 in the periodical Time. The word became common use among the US drug culture when in early 1980, after Operation ABSCAM, an FBI sting operation directed at public officials, became public.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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