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A high-quality storybook illustration showing one simple character being tricked into giving a large gold coin to a second character who is concealing a small, worthless brown pebble in their other hand.

estafa

es-TAH-fah

nounfB1
scam?General term for deception,fraud?Legal/financial context
Also:swindle?Act of cheating someone out of money,hoax?A trick or deception

📝 In Action

La policía está investigando una estafa por internet que afectó a muchos ancianos.

B1

The police are investigating an internet scam that affected many elderly people.

Fui víctima de una estafa telefónica y perdí cien euros.

A2

I was the victim of a telephone scam and lost one hundred euros.

El banco advierte a sus clientes sobre posibles estafas con tarjetas de crédito.

B2

The bank warns its clients about possible credit card fraud.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • fraude (fraud)
  • engaño (deception)
  • timo (swindle (informal))

Common Collocations

  • ser víctima de una estafa – to be the victim of a scam
  • denunciar una estafa – to report a fraud
  • estafa piramidal – pyramid scheme

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Reminder

Even though 'estafa' ends in 'a,' remember that it is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la estafa' or 'una estafa'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing the Noun and the Person

Mistake: "Usar 'la estafa' para referirse a la persona que comete el crimen."

Correction: The crime is 'la estafa' (the scam/fraud). The person who commits the crime is 'el/la estafador/a' (the scammer/swindler).

⭐ Usage Tips

Using the Verb

The related verb is 'estafar,' which means 'to scam' or 'to defraud.' Example: 'Él estafó a mucha gente' (He swindled a lot of people).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: estafa

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the word 'estafa'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

estafar(to scam / to defraud) - verb
estafador/a(scammer / swindler) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'estafa' and 'engaño'?

'Estafa' specifically refers to a deception, usually complex, where the main goal is to steal money or property. 'Engaño' is a much broader term for any kind of lie or deception, regardless of whether money is involved.

How do I describe the person who commits an 'estafa'?

You call them an 'estafador' (masculine) or 'estafadora' (feminine). This refers to the swindler or fraudster.