# What is the ONE word that screams “scam” to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 13, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343 "2025-05-13T20:14:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mortimus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Mortimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mortimus)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/21 "2025-05-13T21:59:43Z")
The word “professional”, particularly as the part of the name of any product. The bigger the typeface, the less likely professionals actually use the product. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/22 "2025-05-13T22:31:55Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Kindly I’m an IT guy. I came here to post just that. ANY e-mail that has the word “Kindly” in the first sentence is a scam, and a non-native English speaker. “Please kindly buy me gift cards” “Kindly do the purchasing”. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/23 "2025-05-13T22:34:27Z")
“Premium”. “Pre-Purchase” for games. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/24 "2025-05-13T22:55:04Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Yeah, “giftcards” Yeah, as in never Cash on Delivery… ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/25 "2025-05-13T22:55:31Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > ANY e-mail that has the word “Kindly” in the first sentence is a scam, and a non-native English speaker. That’s a good point. I see this in foreign scam/spam/phishing attempts frequently as well. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/26 "2025-05-13T23:19:03Z")
Homeopathy is homeopathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/27 "2025-05-13T23:23:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Homeopathy What I find more scammy is when homeopathic things hide that they are homeopathic. I know people who are aware that homeopathy is garbage yet had no idea that Zicam was homeopathic and took it, believing it was great for colds. ---
**Author:** ![Historical\_Vagabond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/historical_vagabond/32/18705_2.png) [@Historical\_Vagabond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Historical_Vagabond)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/28 "2025-05-13T23:51:00Z")
I was going to say the same: “kindly” is scam language ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/29 "2025-05-14T00:01:04Z")
Wellness. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/30 "2025-05-14T00:25:52Z")
Don’t tell me you had to read all the way down to the word “modality” to figure out the email was a scam. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/31 "2025-05-14T00:44:31Z")
Crystals. Herbs. Healing. “Herbs charged with healing crystals” for a triple threat. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/32 "2025-05-14T01:08:39Z")
> [@Historical\_Vagabond](#): > > I was going to say the same: “kindly” is scam language Also, in @Mangetout’s example, “Urgently proceed” plus pretty much any use of _urgent_. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/33 "2025-05-14T01:51:47Z")
“Kindly” is my second place entry. “_ **Dear** _” is my first vote. Tripler ‘Dear’ = immediate delete. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/34 "2025-05-14T03:12:15Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > “Kindly” is my second place entry. “_ **Dear** _” is my first vote. Beloved. Or any email from Mrs. \_\_\_\_\_. The only person I’ve _ever_ heard introduce themselves as Mrs. So-&-so was a bride at a wedding, & that was because it was literally minutes old & she was being playful, as in, “Hi, nice to meet you, I’m Mrs, NewLastName”. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/35 "2025-05-14T03:17:54Z")
Warrantee ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/36 "2025-05-14T03:18:52Z")
Unless it is a bill or a receipt just about anything with a $ sign in it. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/37 "2025-05-14T03:55:58Z")
> [@Sylvanz](#): > > Toxins And “chemicals”. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/38 "2025-05-14T04:06:31Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > “Kindly” is my second place entry. “_ **Dear** _” is my first vote. No, I like “kindly”. It was nicely used by an excellent lawyer in the one and only civil suit I’ve ever launched. It was basically in the context of “kindly do these things or we’re going to sue your ass to kingdom come”. It worked really well. My word of choice is “free”. Hey, we’re a big profit-oriented corporation, but we’re giving you this stuff for “free” just because we love you. Take it, there’s no strings attached. We love you! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/39 "2025-05-14T04:13:25Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > No, I like “kindly”. Where it stands out is someone claiming to be an American govt official or bank CEO/CFO or such yet using a word associated with former British colonies. Muricans’ would use “please”. ETA: Of course, the utter insanity of the scam itself should be a dead giveaway. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343/40 "2025-05-14T04:21:18Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@wolfpup](#): > > > > No, I like “kindly”. > > Where it stands out is someone claiming to be an American govt official or bank CEO/CFO or such yet using a word associated with former British colonies. > Muricans’ would use “please”. I think there’s a substantial distinction in meaning. “Please” has become a completely meaningless euphemism, whereas “kindly” still carries the aura of “I’m asking nicely and don’t want to be unnecessarily belligerent”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-one-word-that-screams-scam-to-you/1018343.md?page=3)