false pretence
Lying to deceive
False pretence (also spelled false pretense) is a misrepresentation of facts made to deceive someone, typically to obtain money, property, or some other benefit.
The term appears most often in legal contexts, where obtaining goods or services by false pretences constitutes fraud.
He was charged with obtaining money under false pretences.
More casually, if you gain entry or acceptance somewhere under false pretences, you've misled people about who you are or what you want.
- charlatanryFraudulent claim to skill
- wolf in sheep's clothingConcealed threat appearing innocent
- impersonationPretending to be another
- stolen valorFalse claims of service
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
scam · con game · shell game · deception · smoke and mirrors · hoax · trickery · bait and switch · dupery · con artist · duplicity · cunning · guile · misrepresentation · fraud · manipulation · forgery · swindle
false pretencefull disclosure
Withholding no information
transparency · truthfulness · honesty · candor · candour
false pretenceauthenticity
Quality of being genuine
genuineness · sincerity · true self · good faith · honest intent
false, falsely, falseness, falsity, falsify, falsification, falsified, falsifier, pretence