defraud
Steal through deception
To defraud is to obtain money or property through deception or trickery.
The word typically appears in legal or financial contexts: He was convicted of defrauding investors of millions.
You can defraud a person, company, or institution—anyone from whom something of value can be taken by dishonest means.
Deceive or victim
- trickDeliberate deception
- hoodwinkTrick into false belief
- bamboozleDeceive through cunning
- beguileCharm into deception
deceive · mislead · fool · gull · hoax · delude · sucker · snooker
Wool still on sheep
- bilkDefraud of payment
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- griftSwindle or petty fraud
flimflam · rook · mulct · chisel · cozen · gyp · hornswoggle · finagle
Steal funds in custody
- misappropriateWrongly take another's assets
- falsifyDistort the truth
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
- counterfeitFraudulent imitation
cook the books · launder · skim · peculate · insider trading · Ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · tax evasion
Faker claiming false expertise
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
- scammerOne who defrauds others
grifter · cheat · mountebank · huckster · shark · confidence man · flimflam man · snake oil salesman
Deception through clever manipulation
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
- guileSly, strategic dishonesty
machination · conniving · scheming · plotting · manipulation · stratagem · ruse · ploy
dupe
Deceive or victim
beguile · deceive · mislead · fool · gull · hoax · delude · sucker · snooker · take in
fleece
Wool still on sheep
grift · flimflam · rook · mulct · chisel · cozen · gyp · hornswoggle · finagle · gouge
embezzle
Steal funds in custody
- misappropriateWrongly take another's assets
- falsifyDistort the truth
- forgeFurnace for shaping metal
counterfeit · cook the books · launder · skim · peculate · insider trading · Ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · tax evasion · audit
charlatan
Faker claiming false expertise
- impostorOne feigning another's identity
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
scammer · grifter · cheat · mountebank · huckster · shark · confidence man · flimflam man · snake oil salesman · phony
chicanery
Deception through clever manipulation
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- artificeClever deceptive strategy
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
guile · machination · conniving · scheming · plotting · manipulation · stratagem · ruse · ploy · underhanded
mark
Visible impression or sign
patsy · prey · target · easy mark · gullible · trusting · unsuspecting · naive · vulnerable · consumer protection
defraudrepay
Return money owed
compensate · reimburse · make whole · contribute · provide