• MelonYellow@lemmy.ca
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    28 days ago

    Unrelated, but what’s the difference between grift vs. scam? Internet search seems to give me the same definitions.

    Is it just that grifts are personal, while scams are impersonal (like phone/internet scams)?

    • CosmoNova@lemmy.world
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      27 days ago

      That’s a good question actually. Could it be it’s a “lie vs. untruth” situation where grift is just a nicer word for what’s obviously a huge scam? In that case we should probably use “scammer” a lot more than “grifter”.

    • Broadfern@lemmy.world
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      27 days ago

      When I think of a scam, I think a one-off, obviously amateur attempt. An email with awful grammar saying the government will fine me a bajillion dollars if I don’t download a file is a scam. A scam will also leave you alone.

      A grift is done by career slimeballs. Used car salesmen, big C-suites and corrupt politicians are grifters. It’s more offensive and more aggressive. You can’t escape a grift.

      • MelonYellow@lemmy.ca
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        27 days ago

        Hmm, yeah that’s helpful! So maybe if I think of grifting as more of a lifestyle, as in done by con artists.