as in cheats
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
Internet scammers who never seem to run out of swindles
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Recent Examples of scammers
Investigators have not released information on the scammers, and nearly two years later no arrests have been made in the case.
—
Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Amazon Prime customers are the latest group of consumers to be targeted by scammers, cybersecurity experts say.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Once the immediate paperwork is underway, these practical steps help close the gaps scammers look for.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Experts say the rise of AI has dramatically lowered the barrier to fraud, allowing scammers to create convincing websites, clone official logos, and even replicate QR codes from legitimate sources.
—Maria Salette Ontiveros, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Not surprisingly, scammers are eager to use the strong demand for seats to target consumers, according to lawmakers.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
As with any market, more money means more scammers, and fakes abound — this past fall Sotheby’s cancelled two memorabilia auctions over authenticity concerns.
—Julie Brener Davich, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
This is the police’ The Boston Police Department is warning people that calls in which scammers impersonate police in order to demand money are on the rise.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Online dating has become increasingly popular, and many scammers are using that to their advantage by creating romantic schemes to steal financial and personal information from victims.
—Barbara White, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Amazon Prime customers are the latest group of consumers to be targeted by scammers, cybersecurity experts say.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 8 Feb. 2026
Once the immediate paperwork is underway, these practical steps help close the gaps scammers look for.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026
Experts say the rise of AI has dramatically lowered the barrier to fraud, allowing scammers to create convincing websites, clone official logos, and even replicate QR codes from legitimate sources.
—Maria Salette Ontiveros, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
Not surprisingly, scammers are eager to use the strong demand for seats to target consumers, according to lawmakers.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
As with any market, more money means more scammers, and fakes abound — this past fall Sotheby’s cancelled two memorabilia auctions over authenticity concerns.
—Julie Brener Davich, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
This is the police’ The Boston Police Department is warning people that calls in which scammers impersonate police in order to demand money are on the rise.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Online dating has become increasingly popular, and many scammers are using that to their advantage by creating romantic schemes to steal financial and personal information from victims.
—Barbara White, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scammers
Noun
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The world is full of bad actors—cheats, liars, tyrants, sickos—who are, ultimately, mere human beings; at least, this was how rationality would have it.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
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Others might feel the author cheats here, leaving it up to the reader to decide.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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But my collection intentionally ignored the fraudulent exploits of billionaire heirs, tax dodgers and corporate magnates — defense contracts, government lobbying, bank accounts in Switzerland, shell companies in Panama, citizenship of Antigua and political asylum in London.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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How many people are attacked by sharks each year?—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
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The most sensitive sharks to the device were in the order Carcharhiniformes, which includes oceanic white-tip sharks and blue sharks.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This scam, according to Kent, could be proliferated with the use of AI, which can allow swindlers to enroll in many different college programs at once.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Good afternoon and welcome to Con Con, the convention for swindlers, mountebanks, and the people who love them.—
Henry Alford,
New Yorker,
1 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Scammers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scammers. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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