Difference between revisions of "Fraud"
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==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
Revision as of 23:09, 25 February 2013
Etymology
Middle English fraude, from Anglo-French, from Latin fraud-, fraus
- Date: 14th century
Definitions
- 1 a : deceit, trickery; specifically : intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right
- b : an act of deceiving or misrepresenting : trick
- 2 a : a person who is not what he or she pretends to be : impostor; also : one who defrauds : cheat
- b : one that is not what it seems or is represented to be
Description
In the broadest sense, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent.
The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation. Defrauding people or entities of money or valuables is a common purpose of fraud, but there have also been fraudulent "discoveries", e.g. in science, to gain prestige rather than immediate monetary gain.
A hoax also involves deception, but without the intention of gain, or of damaging or depriving the victim; the intention is often humorous.
