Short answer
Yes. Scamming is a major sin that combines lying, cheating and taking people's money unjustly. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever cheats is not one of us. It is haram whoever the victim is, Muslim or not, a person, a company or a government, and the money must be given back.
Fraud and taking wealth by deceit are haram. Money gained this way never becomes the scammer's property: he must return it to the victims or their heirs, and if they cannot be found, give it to the poor on their behalf.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Allah forbids consuming people's wealth unjustly (4:29, 2:188) and curses those who short-change others (83:1 to 83:3). The Prophet ﷺ once put his hand into a heap of grain in the market, found it wet underneath, and said that whoever cheats is not from him.
All of these are haram:
- Phishing, fake shops, fake investments and crypto "pump and dump" schemes.
- Refund and chargeback fraud, false insurance claims, and benefit fraud.
- Selling fake or faulty goods as genuine, fake reviews and false advertising.
- Romance scams, tech support scams and impersonation.
Some people claim it is allowed to cheat non-Muslims, or to take from companies and governments in non-Muslim countries. This is wrong. A Muslim who lives in or visits another country does so under a covenant of safety (aman), and the Hanafi jurists state plainly that he may not betray those who trust him or take their property by deceit. Big companies and governments are owners like anyone else.
If you have scammed people, repentance has three parts: stop, regret it and resolve not to return, and give back what you took. Return it to each victim, even anonymously, or to their heirs. If you truly cannot trace them, give the amount to the poor on their behalf. The Prophet ﷺ said that wrongs not settled in this life are settled on the Day of Judgement from a person's good deeds. See Salat al-Tawbah and What should I do with haram money?
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:29
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ إِلَّآ أَن تَكُونَ تِجَٰرَةً عَن تَرَاضٍۢ مِّنكُمْ ۚ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًۭا ﴿٢٩﴾
O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.
Taking money by deceit is consuming wealth unjustly.
Quran, Surah Al-Mutaffifin 83:1
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَيْلٌۭ لِّلْمُطَفِّفِينَ ﴿١﴾
Woe to those who give less [than due],
Cheating people of their due is condemned.
Sahih Muslim 102
Sahih... من غش فليس مني ...
"Whoever cheats is not from me."
Cheating in trade puts a person outside the Prophet's way.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2449
Sahih... من كانت له مظلمة لأحد من عرضه أو شيء فليتحلله منه اليوم ...
"Whoever has wronged someone in his honour or anything else should settle it with him today."
Stolen or scammed money must be returned before the Day of Judgement.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Siyar, Bab al-Musta'min. A Muslim in another land under a promise of safety may not betray its people or take their property.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Ghasb. Wrongfully taken property must be returned to its owner or its value paid.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.