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Donation boxes are said to be a scam (5)

Minute Cryptic clue · October 22, 2026 · answer and full explanation
By Ahmed Hassan
Answer verified against the live puzzle

The Minute Cryptic clue “Donation boxes are said to be a scam” (5) was set for Thursday, October 22, 2026. Below is the answer — blurred until you tap — followed by the definition, the wordplay and why the letters land where they do.

Minute Cryptic · October 22, 2026

Donation boxes are said to be a scam

(5)

The answer isGRIFT

No spoilers — the answer stays blurred until you tap.

Letters 5Device HomophoneSet by Rusty Lee (community)Par 2Solvers 16,234

The clue, colour-coded

Donation boxes are said to be a scam
DefinitionWordplay / fodderLinking words

How this clue works

The definition

a scam

Our definition here is 'a scam', and our answer will be another word for that.

The wordplay

Donation + are

This clue's fodder is 'Donation' and 'are'. We'll need to find substitutes for both of these and use them to construct our answer, as guided by the clue's indicators.

The answer

GRIFT

The clue reads “Donation boxes are said to be a scam” (5). The definition part — “a scam” — points straight at GRIFT, and the rest of the clue builds it with homophone wordplay.

Minute Cryptic publishes a short walkthrough for this clue — watch Rusty Lee’s own explanation →

This clue’s puzzle day

This clue was the Minute Cryptic for Thursday, October 22, 2026. Open the October 22, 2026 puzzle page for that day’s write-up, or browse the full Minute Cryptic archive.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the answer to “Donation boxes are said to be a scam”?
The answer is GRIFT (5 letters). Tap the reveal button above to see it in the answer card.
How do I read a cryptic clue like this?
Every cryptic clue has two halves: a straight definition (at the start or the end) and a piece of wordplay that builds the same word letter by letter. Find the definition first, count the letters from the enumeration, then work out which trick the rest of the clue is playing.
Is there a new Minute Cryptic every day?
Yes — one cryptic clue a day at minutecryptic.com, plus community-set clues. We publish each day’s answer and breakdown here shortly after it goes live.