A scam is a dishonest trick designed to steal someone's money or personal information. Unlike simple stealing, a scam works by deception: the scammer pretends to offer something valuable (a prize, a great deal, help with a problem) but really just wants to take your money or data.

Common scams include fake emails claiming you've won a contest you never entered, phone calls from someone pretending to be from your bank, or websites selling products that never arrive. A scammer might promise to sell you concert tickets that don't exist, or create a fake charity after a disaster to pocket donations meant for victims.

Scams prey on people's hopes, fears, or trust. A scammer might rush you (“This deal expires in five minutes!”) or play on your emotions (“Your grandson is in trouble and needs money immediately!”). They count on you acting quickly without thinking carefully.

The word can also be used more casually to describe anything that feels like a ripoff. If you pay five dollars for a tiny cookie, you might call it a scam, even though it's not actually illegal, just a bad deal.

As a verb, to scam means to trick someone in this way. Someone might scam people online by pretending to sell something they don't have.

People can protect themselves from scams by being skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true, not sharing passwords or personal information with strangers, and taking time to verify things before acting. Real organizations usually won't pressure you to decide instantly or demand payment through unusual methods like gift cards.