criminal deception

Unlawful false pretense

Criminal deception is deliberate dishonesty that constitutes a crime—fraud, forgery, identity theft, or obtaining goods through false pretenses.

The phrase appears in legal contexts where the deception itself, not just its consequences, is prosecutable: He was charged with criminal deception after using a fake ID to open credit accounts.

catfishingDeceiving via false identity
perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
briberyCorrupt payment for influence

gaslighting · grooming · identity theft · con artist · confidence game · long con · blackmail · extortion · corporate fraud · coercion · bait-and-switch · advance fee scam · pyramid schemes · impersonation · false advertising · securities fraud · predatory lending · counterfeiting

Opposites

honesty and truthfulness

criminal deceptionhonesty

Truthfulness, sincerity

truthfulness · candor · transparency · sincerity · forthrightness

legality and ethics

criminal deceptionethical conduct

Morally principled behavior

fair dealing · compliance · lawfulness · integrity · rectitude

intent and culpability

criminal deceptionhonest mistake

Unintended error without deception

Family

criminal, criminally, criminality, crime, crimes, criminate, incriminate, incrimination, decriminalize

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Negative · Rated PG