Spanish word

estafar

Pronunciation

IPA/estaˈfaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbswindle

Example

No te fíes; pueden estafar a la gente con ofertas falsas.

Don't trust them; they can swindle people with fake offers.

Illustration for estafar (swindle)

More examples

Cuidado con correos que piden datos personales; te pueden estafar por internet.

Be careful with emails that ask for personal information; they can scam you over the internet.

Core concept

A person tricking another into handing over money or valuables.

Common phrases

  • estafar a alguien

    scam someone

  • estafar por internet

    scam over the internet

  • estafar con ofertas falsas

    scam with fake offers

Similar words

timar: Tricks victims into giving money through clever ruses, manipulative promises, or schemes.
engañar: Deceives others with lies or false impressions to make them believe or act incorrectly.
embaucar: Persuades someone by smooth talk or flattery and then takes advantage of their trust.

Definition in Spanish

Engañar a alguien con mentiras, promesas falsas o trampas para quedarse con su dinero, bienes o ventajas.

Word origin

It comes from the noun estafa 'fraud', a Romance formation meaning to deceive and take someone's goods.

Usage tips

  • Used for scams and fraud in legal or news contexts, while engañar covers casual lies or small tricks.

Related words

Word lists with this word