ICO's themselves aren't scams. it is actually a new, modern interesting way of investing your income and it is similar to IPO (as we all know).
The thing is, and it's widely known, that people think that ICO's are scam or a fraud because of the companies that scam people, companies that make people invest in their ICO (sometimes non-existing) and then run off with their money.

I see how this might confuse and scare people, they might even start to think that all the crypto world is a scam, but it needs to be clarified and realized that investment (every investment) needs some research, understanding and at least some basic knowledge. So, ICO's are definitely not a Scam but it still needs cautiousness and carefulness!!