Scam, deceive, and fraud are related terms that involve dishonesty and manipulation to gain an unfair advantage or trick someone for personal gain. While they share similarities, they have distinct characteristics and implications.

A scam refers to a fraudulent scheme or trickery used to deceive individuals or organizations for financial or personal gain. Scammers often employ various techniques, such as phishing emails, fake websites, or phone calls pretending to be from reputable institutions, to obtain sensitive information or money from unsuspecting victims.
For example:
A common scam involves receiving an email claiming to be from a bank, asking the recipient to provide their login credentials, which the scammer can then use to access the victim's bank account.

Deceive refers to the act of misleading or causing someone to believe something that is not true. Deception can be used for various purposes, not necessarily limited to financial gain. For instance:
In a business setting, a dishonest salesperson may deceive a potential client by making false promises about the product's capabilities to secure a deal.

Fraud is a broader term that encompasses both scams and deception. It involves intentional deception to gain an unfair advantage, typically for financial benefits or personal gain. Fraudulent activities can range from financial fraud, where individuals or companies misrepresent their financial information, to insurance fraud, where someone makes false claims to receive insurance payouts.

In summary, a scam is a specific type of fraudulent activity with the intent to deceive and gain money or information. Deceive refers to the act of misleading or causing someone to believe something false. Fraud is a more comprehensive term that includes both scams and deception, encompassing a broader range of dishonest practices. All three actions involve deceitful tactics and can have serious consequences for victims who fall prey to such schemes.