Do you know the origin of word scam?

The first scam in human history was religion.

Just my personal guess, but it was likely a shortened usage of the word scamp, which can mean a dishonest practice.

According to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th. ed., “1963 (origin unknown)” but sounds to me like a bit of hipster jargon.

Of my many sobriquets, escamotage, is a likely etymon.

Sober biscuit, espionage, and embryo? The devil you say!

My guess is that the term was first used among the con artists who perform scams.

Actually, although the term is speculated to have come from scamp, and originated in the 60s, it became common usage after 1980’s FBI sting ABSCAM.

Scamp comes from Old French eschamper just like escamotage and escamote.

Those carnies way back in 1963 who putatively neologised the word scam may have had a nonpareil knowledge of such matters.