fraud
Calculated dishonest scheme
Fraud is deliberate deception for unfair or unlawful gain—lying to get money, property, or advantage.
Insurance fraud, tax fraud, wire fraud.
A fraud is also a person who pretends to be something they're not: He claimed to be a doctor but was a complete fraud.
The adjective fraudulent describes deceptive acts or the people who commit them.
Dishonest money-making scheme
- conArgument against
- swindleDeception for financial gain
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- racketUproar, scam, or paddle
grift · confidence trick · shell game · Ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · bait and switch · phishing · identity theft
Deliberate misleading of others
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
counterfeiting · duplicity · chicanery · subterfuge · pretense · guile · artifice · manipulation
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- misappropriationWrongful taking of entrusted assets
- peculationTheft of entrusted assets
- defalcationMisappropriation of entrusted funds
- money launderingDisguising criminal proceeds' origins
tax evasion · skimming · siphoning · cooking the books · insider trading · kickback · creative accounting · expense padding
Person who deceives for money
- imposterOne feigning identity
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
- scammerOne who defrauds others
grifter · hoaxer · faker · cheat · deceiver · mountebank · quack · phony
Criminal courtroom dishonesty
- false testimonyLying while legally sworn
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
conviction · felony · misdemeanor · statute · white-collar crime · criminal charges · trial · evidence tampering
scam
Dishonest money-making scheme
racket · grift · confidence trick · shell game · Ponzi scheme · pyramid scheme · bait and switch · phishing · identity theft · catfishing
deceit
Deliberate misleading of others
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- falsificationDeliberate alteration of truth
fabrication · counterfeiting · duplicity · chicanery · subterfuge · pretense · guile · artifice · manipulation · dishonesty
embezzlement
Fraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- misappropriationWrongful taking of entrusted assets
- peculationTheft of entrusted assets
- defalcationMisappropriation of entrusted funds
money laundering · tax evasion · skimming · siphoning · cooking the books · insider trading · kickback · creative accounting · expense padding
swindler
Person who deceives for money
- imposterOne feigning identity
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
- con artistProfessional fraud perpetrator
scammer · grifter · hoaxer · faker · cheat · deceiver · mountebank · quack · phony · pretender
perjury
Criminal courtroom dishonesty
- false testimonyLying while legally sworn
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- indictmentFormal charge from jury
prosecution · conviction · felony · misdemeanor · statute · white-collar crime · criminal charges · trial · evidence tampering · witness tampering
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- deceptionlie, lies, lying, fake, cheat
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- Business Failuresbankruptcy, mismanagement, embezzlement, overexpansion, debt
- cheaterscheat, cheater, con artist, swindler, deceiver
- deceiversliar, liars, deceiver, fake, fakes
fraudhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
truthfulness · sincerity · candor · forthrightness · transparency
fraudexpert
Highly skilled practitioner
master · genuine article · professional · virtuoso · authority
fraudjustice
Fair treatment under law
fairness · fair dealing · righteousness · lawfulness · ethical conduct
- tax fraudIllegal underpayment of duties
- credit card fraudIllegal use of another's account
- identity fraudFalsely claiming another's credentials
- benefit fraudIllegally obtaining public assistance
- feeling like a fraud
- voter fraudIllegal interference with elections
defraud, fraudster, fraudulent, frauds, fraudulence, defrauded, defrauder, defrauding, fraudsters