Fraud Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of FRAUD

1

:

the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person

[noncount]

• He was found guilty of bank fraud.
• credit card fraud

[count]

• He was the victim of an elaborate fraud.

— see also wire fraud

2

[count]

a

:

a person who pretends to be what he or she is not in order to trick people

• He claimed he was a licensed psychologist, but he turned out to be a fraud.

b

:

a copy of something that is meant to look like the real thing in order to trick people

• The UFO picture was proved to be a fraud.