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
Limiting what appears on data broker websites can reduce the details scammers use to personalize attacks.
—
Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Consumer protection groups and law enforcement say scammers are counting on that.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Ultimately, the scammers appear to use their initial contractor targets as unsuspecting mules for the malware payload.
—Jessica Klein, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2026
According to officials, scammers are calling individuals and pretending to be deputies from the Sheriff's Office.
—Cbs Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
But the frequency with which these scams are occurring — spurred by the ease of making and disseminating AI music — suggests scammers aren’t exactly deterred by paltry royalty payouts.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
With Gmail attacks ongoing, as well as warnings being issued as Google users are impacted by new security threats, users of Android smartphones are increasingly in the crosshairs of hackers and scammers alike.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Chinese nationals were killed in a shootout at one compound used by scammers on the border with Myanmar, Chinese and Myanmar state media reported.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The Federal Trade Commission's Office of the Inspector General details that scammers often employ four common tactics to keep people on a call.
—Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 30 Dec. 2024
Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Consumer protection groups and law enforcement say scammers are counting on that.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Ultimately, the scammers appear to use their initial contractor targets as unsuspecting mules for the malware payload.
—Jessica Klein, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2026
According to officials, scammers are calling individuals and pretending to be deputies from the Sheriff's Office.
—Cbs Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
But the frequency with which these scams are occurring — spurred by the ease of making and disseminating AI music — suggests scammers aren’t exactly deterred by paltry royalty payouts.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 25 Mar. 2026
With Gmail attacks ongoing, as well as warnings being issued as Google users are impacted by new security threats, users of Android smartphones are increasingly in the crosshairs of hackers and scammers alike.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Chinese nationals were killed in a shootout at one compound used by scammers on the border with Myanmar, Chinese and Myanmar state media reported.
—Hannah Beech, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
The Federal Trade Commission's Office of the Inspector General details that scammers often employ four common tactics to keep people on a call.
—Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 30 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scammers
Noun
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Iran lies, cheats, blusters and bullies.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2026
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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
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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The plot follows a coastal town decimated by a Category 5 hurricane, where the resulting storm surge brings with it a terrifying influx of hungry sharks.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
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Scientists analyzed serum samples of tiger sharks, blacktip sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, Atlantic nurse sharks and lemon sharks.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 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 5 Apr. 2026.
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