Scam meaning in English
Learn how to use Scam correctly with Gymglish.
Test and improve your English. Start your free trial today.
TEST YOUR ENGLISH
Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot
More than 8 million learners worldwide
Definition
to scam (somebody): to deceive, to trick, to defraud, to cheat (somebody), especially to take their money
a scam: a fraud, a deceit, a cheating out of money
Examples
- "The second part of the scam, and the part which is helping it to spread at such frightening speeds, is the attachment."
- "Jean : I don't know what "scammed" is."
- "These people use the legitimate letterhead of real corporations to scam other people."
- "Today we'll be investigating scams and schemes, and talking about how to avoid them."
- "Kevin : Look, Jean, I have no idea who this Vladimir person is, but I can tell you one thing for sure: You are being scammed."
Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks below with terms from the dialogue.
Each term is used only once.
To pay someone in a high position to use their influence is to them.
People who inspect and impose taxes on imported goods are called agents.
The photo which Jean shows Kevin is a , which means it is counterfeit, false or a forgery.
A plan or scheme to cheat someone out of money is called a .
To steal money or valuables from someone is to them.
Each term is used only once.
To pay someone in a high position to use their influence is to them.
People who inspect and impose taxes on imported goods are called agents.
The photo which Jean shows Kevin is a , which means it is counterfeit, false or a forgery.
A plan or scheme to cheat someone out of money is called a .
To steal money or valuables from someone is to them.
Fill in the blanks below with terms from the dialogue.
Each term is used only once.
To pay someone in a high position to use their influence is to bribe 1 them.
People who inspect and impose taxes on imported goods are called customs 2 agents.
The photo which Jean shows Kevin is a fake 3, which means it is counterfeit, false or a forgery.
A plan or scheme to cheat someone out of money is called a scam 4.
To steal money or valuables from someone is to rob 5 them.
Each term is used only once.
To pay someone in a high position to use their influence is to bribe 1 them.
People who inspect and impose taxes on imported goods are called customs 2 agents.
The photo which Jean shows Kevin is a fake 3, which means it is counterfeit, false or a forgery.
A plan or scheme to cheat someone out of money is called a scam 4.
To steal money or valuables from someone is to rob 5 them.
1 bribe: To "bribe (someone)" is to pay them money to exert their influence or provide a service. Officials with important positions are generally bribed, such as policemen or judges. For example: The defendant bribed the judge in order to receive a lighter sentence. In this conversation, Kevin suggests that Vlad has bribed the airport officials to allow Jean to enter the country illegally.
2 customs: In the context of import, export and travel, "customs" refers to the inspection and taxation of certain goods or merchandise. Customs agents or officers are the people responsible for inspecting these goods. When traveling internationally, it is generally required to pass through (or to clear) customs.
3 fake: A "fake (passport)" is a passport which has been illegally copied. It is a false document. The term "fake" can be used both as a noun (as it is in this conversation) or a verb, as in the sentence "I faked sickness to avoid going to work".
4 scam: A "scam" is a fraudulent business plan or scheme designed to cheat or obtain money from an unsuspecting person. To "scam" is the act of tricking or fooling a person out of their money or valuables. Jean is being "scammed" by Vladimir who is offering him a large amount of money, but in reality it is Vladimir who hopes to make money from Jean. Example: I was scammed out of 300 dollars by someone promising to make me rich.
5 rob: To "rob" refers to the act of stealing money and valuables, often by force, whereas a "scam" is a scheme planned in advance.
Exercise 2
"S" words! Fill in the blanks with the appropriate terms from the list below. Not all the words are used, and none is used more than once!
scam | scheme | short | shady | spirit | shortage | smart
There is a of food in many parts of the world, while people in rich countries have too much to eat.
I don't trust this email: I think it's part of an online .
Arthur is a very boy: he's top of his class! Unfortunately, this has also made him arrogant.
The local council is introducing a to encourage mothers to use reusable nappies for their babies.
scam | scheme | short | shady | spirit | shortage | smart
There is a of food in many parts of the world, while people in rich countries have too much to eat.
I don't trust this email: I think it's part of an online .
Arthur is a very boy: he's top of his class! Unfortunately, this has also made him arrogant.
The local council is introducing a to encourage mothers to use reusable nappies for their babies.
"S" words! Fill in the blanks with the appropriate terms from the list below. Not all the words are used, and none is used more than once!
scam | scheme | short | shady | spirit | shortage | smart
There is a shortage 1 of food in many parts of the world, while people in rich countries have too much to eat.
I don't trust this email: I think it's part of an online scam 2.
Arthur is a very smart 3 boy: he's top of his class! Unfortunately, this has also made him arrogant.
The local council is introducing a scheme 4 to encourage mothers to use reusable nappies for their babies.
scam | scheme | short | shady | spirit | shortage | smart
There is a shortage 1 of food in many parts of the world, while people in rich countries have too much to eat.
I don't trust this email: I think it's part of an online scam 2.
Arthur is a very smart 3 boy: he's top of his class! Unfortunately, this has also made him arrogant.
The local council is introducing a scheme 4 to encourage mothers to use reusable nappies for their babies.
1 shortage: "Shortage" is the right answer here. A "shortage" is a "lack" or "need" of something: we use this term when there is not enough of something. Here's another example: "We predict that there will be water shortages in the UK this summer".
2 scam: "Scam" is the correct answer. A "scam" is a fraudulent business scheme, which usually breaks the law to get money from people. If you receive an email from someone claiming to want to transfer money into your bank account, and saying that they need your bank details to do it, then this is probably a scam. Note that there is a related verb "to scam (someone)". Example: "My grandmother lost her life's savings to a scam: I hate people who scam little old ladies".
3 smart: "Smart" is the term we were looking for. In this context, "smart" means "clever" or "intelligent. Here's another example: "It would be smart to book your Euroscar tickets now, rather than waiting until the last minute". Note that in a different context, "smart" describes someone with a "chic", "neat", or "classy" appearance: 'You should wear smart clothes for the meeting with the Prime Minister".
4 scheme: "Scheme" is the right answer here. A "scheme" is a "project" or "plan". Unlike "scam", the noun "scheme" does not necessarily refer to something fraudulent. Another example: "I'm joining a scheme to rehabilitate young criminals".
Exercise 3
According to this advertisement, Global Investment Adventures is ; and it is NOT a .
According to this advertisement, Global Investment Adventures is an easy way to earn money 1; and it is NOT a scam 2.
1 an easy way to earn money: This choice is correct. In the advertisement, we read that GIA offers "the chance to earn your fortune, without working your butt off". To "earn one's fortune" is to acquire lots of money. To "work one's butt off" is to work very hard. GIA, therefore, allows you to earn lots of money easily and with very little work!
1 a cheap holiday opportunity: This is not the best choice here. GIA claims to be a way to earn money, which you might want to spend on a holiday, but this scheme does not sell or offer inexpensive holidays.
1 a new project looking for testers: This is not the best choice here. According to the advertisement, GA is "the most successful money-making enterprise in the history of the internet". If it was new and looking for "testers" or "guinea-pigs", it could not make this claim.
2 scam: "Scam" is the right choice here. As we discovered in the Good Day USA tutorial, a "scam" is a fraudulent business operation, which usually breaks the law to get money from people. For example, a fake company may be set up, and it may ask for your credit card details in advance! We read in the article that GIA is not "A pyramid selling scheme. An MLM. A typical "get rich quick scheme"."
2 dream come true: This is not the best choice here. According to the advertisement, GIA represents "The American dream become reality for ordinary people like you": meaning that it IS in fact offering a dream come true!
2 scheme involving working from home: This is not the best choice here. We read in the advertisement that GIA allows you to "without leaving the comfort of your own home". This means that you stay in your house or apartment while you acquire this money: GIA IS in fact a scheme where you work from home.
Exercise 4
Complete the story using the terms listed below. Be careful: verbs may need to be conjugated.
fraud | perpetrators | to launch | to spread | motive | scam
My name is Dick Lacey, and I'm a private investigator. Every day I try to catch the of crime. I've recently an investigation into a man suspected of . He's been accused of tricking little old ladies into giving him their life savings. So far, all I know is that he wants to be rich: his is money. This man's has been very effective so far, but I'm determined to stop this racket if it's the last thing I do!
fraud | perpetrators | to launch | to spread | motive | scam
My name is Dick Lacey, and I'm a private investigator. Every day I try to catch the of crime. I've recently an investigation into a man suspected of . He's been accused of tricking little old ladies into giving him their life savings. So far, all I know is that he wants to be rich: his is money. This man's has been very effective so far, but I'm determined to stop this racket if it's the last thing I do!
Complete the story using the terms listed below. Be careful: verbs may need to be conjugated.
fraud | perpetrators | to launch | to spread | motive | scam
My name is Dick Lacey, and I'm a private investigator. Every day I try to catch the perpetrators 1 of crime. I've recently launched 2 an investigation into a man suspected of fraud 3. He's been accused of tricking little old ladies into giving him their life savings. So far, all I know is that he wants to be rich: his motive 4 is money. This man's scam 5 has been very effective so far, but I'm determined to stop this racket if it's the last thing I do!
fraud | perpetrators | to launch | to spread | motive | scam
My name is Dick Lacey, and I'm a private investigator. Every day I try to catch the perpetrators 1 of crime. I've recently launched 2 an investigation into a man suspected of fraud 3. He's been accused of tricking little old ladies into giving him their life savings. So far, all I know is that he wants to be rich: his motive 4 is money. This man's scam 5 has been very effective so far, but I'm determined to stop this racket if it's the last thing I do!
1 perpetrators: "Perpetrators" is the term we were looking for here. The "perpetrator (of a crime)" is the person who "commits" or "does" this action. The related verb "to perpetrate" has a negative connotation, often involving crime. Here's another example: "Richard was the perpetrator of the biggest bank robbery of all time".
2 launched: "Launched" is the right choice. To "launch (an investigation)" is to "start" or "begin" it. Similarly, "to launch (a product)" is to release it onto the market. Another example: "The Delavigne Corporation plans to launch two new perfumes this summer".
3 fraud: "Fraud" is the correct answer. "Fraud" is an illegal activity involving deceiving or tricking someone in order to gain something: usually money. Here's another example: "My boss has been found guilty of fraud: he'd been falsifying the company accounts for years!".
4 motive: "Motive" is the best choice here. Someone's "motive" is their reason for doing something, or their "motivation". "Motive" is often used in a criminal context: "The police know that I had a motive and opportunity to kill my uncle: I need you to be my alibi!".
5 scam: "Scam" is the term we were looking for here. A "scam" is a fraudulent business plan or scheme designed to cheat or obtain money from an unsuspecting person. The related verb to "scam" is the act of tricking or fooling a person out of their money or valuables. Here's another example: "I'm the victim of an online scam: a kid in Ohio took all my money!"
Exercise 5
Which of the following terms share a similar meaning with "a job" in this context?
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
Which of the following terms share a similar meaning with "a job" in this context?
There may be more than one correct answer!
There may be more than one correct answer!
A "task" is synonymous with "job" in this context. Both terms describe an action which must be performed.
A "session" refers to a period of time in which an action is performed, whereas a "job" refers to the action or task itself.
A "scam" is a clever yet dishonest way of making money. Example: "I lost thousands of dollars in an insurance scam!". "Scam" is not a synonym of "job" in this context.
A "chore" is synonymous with "job" in this context. Both terms describe an action which must be performed.
Still unsure of the best way to use 'Scam'? Improve your English thanks to our online English lessons. We offer a free test as well as a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Test your English with Gymglish today and get a free level assessment
Absolutely free - no strings attached.
