Grift vs Scam - What's the difference?

As nouns the difference between grift and scam

is that grift is a confidence game or swindle while scam is fraudulent deal.

is that grift is to obtain illegally, as by con game while scam is to defraud or embezzle.

(en noun)

a confidence game or swindle.

as in "What's the Grift?" or "What are you trying to pull?"

* See also

(en verb)

To obtain illegally, as by con game.

To obtain money illegally.

(wikipedia scam) (en noun)

Fraudulent deal.

That marketing scheme looks like a scam to me .

* con game * confidence trick * See also

(scamm)

To defraud or embezzle.

They tried to scam her out of her savings.

* (verb)

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