How to say "scam" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 詐欺さぎnounThe default word for a scam or fraud in the sense of cheating people out of money or goods. Use it for schemes, con artists, and victims: calling a scheme a 詐欺 is the natural way to label it.
- 詐欺るさぎるgodan verb, transitive verbThe verb form, covering 'to scam, defraud, swindle'—that is, the action itself rather than the scheme. It is less common and slangy; many speakers prefer verb phrases built on 詐欺 instead, so treat it as a casual option.
- 人騙しひとだましnounA less common noun for deception or scamming in the sense of tricking people, rather than a specific financial scheme. It is rarely the word you reach for to name a scam; 詐欺 is the usual choice.
- 人たらしひとたらしnounA less common noun meaning a scam or con trick, again with the nuance of deceiving people rather than a formal fraud. Seldom the word you want; 詐欺 covers typical scam situations far more naturally.
For the ordinary crime of swindling someone out of money, use 詐欺; the verb 「詐欺る」 is slangier; 「人騙し」 and 「人たらし」 are less common nouns for tricking people.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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