scam

[Audiendus]

Scam (noun & verb)

1. (noun) A fraudulent commercial scheme, a confidence trick, a swindle.

2. (verb, transitive) To swindle.

[First known use 1963, as US slang. Origin uncertain; possibly from British slang scamp, a swindler.]

"These chain letters are just a scam to get money out of people."

"There are many ruthless characters trying to scam vulnerable folk with promises of a quick profit."

[LukeJavan8]

Good word. Possibly from "scamp". I like those British
words: scamp, rapscallion, gamin, urchin, etc. So
Oliver Twisty!