Abscam

Abscam, short for “Abdul-scam,” referring to Abdul Enterprises, Ltd., fake company used by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in a 1978–80 investigation of political corruption that resulted in the convictions of 1 U.S. senator, 6 U.S. representatives, and assorted local officials. Posing as wealthy Arabs or their representatives, FBI agents secretly videotaped meetings at which they paid tens of thousands of dollars to the politicians in return for promises of social immigration legislation, government contracts, and other favors.