Scam
/skæm/noun
A dishonest scheme or fraudulent trick.
Did you know?The word is first recorded in American English in the 1960s, and its exact origin is uncertain, but it quickly became the perfect label for deception in a world of hustles, cons, and hidden manipulation.
Etymological Timeline
1960s
English
scam
“A fraudulent scheme or swindle”
20th Century
English slang
scam
“A trick, fraud, or swindle”
Uncertain
Unknown
scam
“Origin unclear; possibly from criminal slang or an alteration of earlier words meaning to cheat or swindle”
Modern English
English
scam
“A dishonest scheme used to take money or exploit people”