Translation guide
A scam is a dishonest scheme to trick someone out of money or personal information. In Japanese, the most common and direct word is 詐欺 (sagi). However, the way you talk about scams depends on the context: whether it's a general fraud, a specific type like a phishing email, or a common phone scam targeting the elderly. This guide covers the most useful expressions for an English speaker.
To refer to a scam in a broad sense, such as a fraudulent business, investment scheme, or any act of deception for financial gain.
The standard, all-purpose word for 'scam' or 'fraud'. It can be used for anything from online scams to corporate fraud. Often combined with other words to specify the type.
That's a scam.
A slightly colloquial term for a swindle or con, often implying a clever trick. Less formal than 詐欺.
Literally 'deception'. Often used in compounds like 騙し取る (to swindle out of). More about the act of tricking than the scheme itself.
To name a particular kind of scam, such as phishing, phone scams, or investment fraud.
To express the action of scamming or cheating someone out of money.
The most common verb meaning 'to deceive' or 'to trick'. Can be used for scamming in a financial sense.
To call something a scam in a casual, conversational way, similar to 'rip-off' or 'con'.
The direct katakana loanword スキャム is not commonly used in Japanese. Stick to 詐欺 or other native terms.
詐欺 is the standard, formal term for fraud. 騙し is more about the act of deception and can sound less serious or more colloquial. For most situations, 詐欺 is the safer choice.
Please be careful not to fall victim to a scam.
That story is a scam.
それはただの騙しだ。
That's just a scam.
Phishing scam. The English word 'phishing' is used as-is, combined with 詐欺.
Beware of phishing scam emails.
A common phone scam in Japan where victims are tricked into transferring money to a bank account. Often targets the elderly.
Bank transfer scams are on the rise.
Investment scam or fraud.
That company was sued for investment fraud.
Romance scam, where a fraudster feigns romantic interest to gain money.
Don't fall for a romance scam.
A type of phone scam where the caller pretends to be a relative in distress, often saying 'It's me, it's me!' (オレオレ).
Watch out for the 'it's me' scam.
He scammed me out of my money.
Literally 'to commit fraud'. A more formal or legalistic way to say 'to scam'.
They were arrested for scamming people.
To swindle or defraud someone out of something. Emphasizes taking money or goods through deception.
I was scammed out of my savings by a con artist.
A colloquial term for something fake, a sham, or a rip-off. Often used for products or deals that are not genuine.
This product is a scam.
As above, a swindle or con. Can be used as a noun.
That sales pitch was a scam.
That's a scam.
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