scam

Meanings

• noun

  an attempt to obtain money or valuables by deceit, often through the use of false promises or the impersonation of trustworthy authorities.

  - "He fell victim to a scam when he gave his credit card details to an email solicitor."
  - "The company was forced to pay a large fine after being accused of running a pyramid scam."

• noun

  a swindle or hoax.

  - "The ticket seller ran a ticket scam, selling duplicate tickets to unsuspecting tourists."
  - "The politician was exposed for running a campaign finance scam."

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Synonyms

con game , confidence trick , swindle , con

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with scam
jam , scamper , pan , vamp

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Variants

List of all variants of scam that leads to same result
scam , scams , scammed , scamming

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

The term 'scam' comes from the Italian word 'schiamare,' meaning 'to sham' or 'to feign.' It was first used in English in the late 1800s to refer to a dishonest scheme or trick.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The largest known scam in history is believed to be the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, which defrauded investors of an estimated $65 billion.

2. The word 'scam' is sometimes used as a verb to describe the act of attempting to defraud or swindle someone.

3. The term 'scam' is also used in computing to describe a type of software that pretends to be something useful but is actually malicious or harmful.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. fraud: Fraud is a type of scam that involves deceit, falsehoods, or misrepresentations to obtain something of value. Fraud can take many forms, including identity theft, insurance fraud, and securities fraud.

2. hoax: A hoax is a type of scam that involves the creation and dissemination of false information or documents with the intention of deceiving or tricking people. Hoaxes can take many forms, including pranks, political hoaxes, and scientific hoaxes.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'scam' has been used extensively in literature, music, and film to describe various forms of deception and dishonesty. In the novel 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the character Nick Carraway describes a 'scam' as a 'get-rich-quick' scheme. In music, the term 'scam' is sometimes used to describe a rapper's bragging or exaggerating their wealth or success.

How to Memorize "scam"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a person wearing a mask and trying to deceive others. Visualize the person making false promises and trying to trick people out of their money or valuables.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'scam' with the idea of deceit or dishonesty. Think of the word 'con' or 'swindle' when you see or hear the word 'scam'.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic by remembering the phrase 'Scheming and Cheating and Making a Scam' to help remember the definition of the term.

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Memorize "scam" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize scam is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

1. Highlighting:

   Whenever users encounters the saved word on a webpage, Dictozo highlights it, drawing the user's attention and reinforcing memorization.
2. Periodic Reminders:

   Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.