Phrasal Verbs about Crime and Scam

Post author:Harry
Post last modified:09/07/2021
Post category:Phrasal Verbs
Reading time:8 mins read

Here you will learn phrasal verbs about crime and scam.

We have already reviewed crime and punishment vocabulary, English idioms related to crime and also popular collocations with crime. Don’t forget to check out these posts as they will help you expand your vocabulary about crime.

Harry

Harry is a native English teacher with over 10 years of experience both online and in face-to-face lessons. With his extensive experience in business, he specialises in Business English lessons but happily teaches ESL students with any English learning needs.

Phrasal Verbs about Crime and Scam

Hi there. This is Harry. And welcome back to my English learning podcast where I try to help you to get better in English speaking, writing and pronunciation. So what do I have for you now? In this particular podcast episode, we’re going to take a look at some phrasal verbs about crime and scam.

First of all, what is a scam?

A scam is when somebody tries to get money from you without giving you anything in return. Somebody tries to steal your money by some deception.

For example, offering you some product online. You pay the money but you never get the product, or it doesn’t even exist. So it’s referred to as a scam.

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to prey on/upon

Meaning: to take advantage of somebody, to take advantage of the neediest in society

Example:

The scammers preyed on the need of the German government to purchase protective masks for their population. Thankfully, they didn’t get away with the money.

to prey on the lonely
to prey on elderly people

Example:

Scammers who preyed on the elderly were jailed for 6 years.

Phrasal Verbs about Crime and Scam

to rip off

Meaning: to charge someone significantly more than the value of the product that you’re offering or selling

Example:

The face value of the tickets was 50 euro, and we got them for 300 euro. We’ve been completely ripped off, they don’t have that value.

I paid my money, but the service was terrible. I have been ripped off.

We can also use it as a noun – A RIP-OFF

Wow, that was a ripoff.

to fall for something

Meaning: to be conned, to be tricked into believing something false

Example:

She felt so guilty and foolish that she fell for their tricks and transferred money to them.

Don’t fall for that trick. A lot of people have been caught out.

Of course, we can also use it in a nice way

to fall for someone

Meaning: to be very attracted to someone

Phrasal Verbs about Crime and Scam

to take in

to be taken in by someone

Meaning: to persuade someone against their judgement to part with their money

Example:

I was almost taken in by that scam last week. Just finally, at the last minute, there was something I had a good feeling that told me I shouldn’t. So I deleted it.

take in meaning - video lesson

to hand over

Meaning: to give something to somebody, usually cash or personal details

Example:

The man handed over cash after he was confronted by a mugger.

to get away with something

Meaning: to escape, to avoid punishment

Example:

Scammers managed to get away with millions of euro, using a very sophisticated scam.

We cannot let them get away with this. We have to stop them.

to watch out

Meaning: to keep your eyes open for possible dangers, to stay vigilant

Example:

Watch out for people trying to be your bank or pretending to be your bank. Never, ever give your bank details.

And then finally, when we’re dealing with scams

to find out

Meaning: to discover some facts or information

Example:

Six months later he found out that he was scammed, but he was too embarrassed to complain to the police.

So let me give you those phrasal verbs about crime and scam again.

to prey on or prey upon
to rip off
to fall for something
to take in or to be taken in by
to hand over
to get away with something
to watch out (for)
to find out

So these are all phrasal verbs about crime and scam. Hopefully, you haven’t been or never will be a victim of those. Just keep your eyes and open and be very, very careful.

As always, if you want to contact me, you can do so on englishlessonviaskype.com. Very, very happy to hear from you. Join again soon.