What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
estafa
Example
El acusado fue arrestado por estafa y fraude. [estafa: noun]
Example
La víctima fue estafada por un vendedor deshonesto. [estafada: past participle]
scam
Example
The company was shut down for running a scam operation. [scam: noun]
Example
He fell victim to an online scam and lost all his savings. [scam: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scam is more commonly used than estafa in everyday language, especially in English-speaking countries. However, estafa is still widely used in legal contexts and in Latin America.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between estafa and scam?
Estafa may have a more formal connotation than scam, which is often used in casual and informal contexts. However, both words can be used in various formality levels depending on the context and audience.
