A deceptive, dishonest, or fraudulent undertaking: The police arrested the two who were operating a scam and convincing others to give them money.

The Ponzi scam was an investment swindle in which some early investors were paid off with money put up by later people in order to encourage more and bigger risks.

To get something; such as, money by deceiving individuals: The Ponzi scheme was designed to scam or rip off money from thousands of people.

1. To depart, to leave, to go away quickly: The delinquents had to scram or bolt off before the police arrived.
2. To command or to tell someone, or an animal, to leave or to get out of a place: Vernon's mother told him to scram or clear out after she caught him eating cookies instead of carrot sticks.