A scheme is a plan. Although there are different types of schemes, usually when the word "scheme" is chosen, the plan is to do something that involves cheating or unfairly taking advantage of other people.
A ponzi scheme involves convincing people that they can make a lot of money quickly and easily.
A mail order scheme involves fooling people into buying something worthless through the mail.
Many schemes nowadays involve the theft of a person’s credit card number and then using that number to make unauthorized purchases.
Identity theft is a scheme that can ruin a person’s credit and reputation.
Con artists come up with schemes to cheat people who are elderly or unable to make good decisions.
Deep fakes are newly created schemes that make fake videos look very real.
Schemes often require the use of a computer or a mobile device such as a cell phone.
You can also use the word "scheme" when talking about a plan that is helpful and not harmful.
City planners in the U.S. are devising schemes for reducing congestion in large cities.
Educators are working on schemes that address the proper use of technology in classrooms.
Scientists need to come up with some kind of scheme that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
A rhyme scheme shows how words in poems rhyme in a particular pattern.
