mulct
Extract money unfairly
Mulct is to extract money from someone through fine, fraud, or extortion: The company mulcted customers with hidden fees.
As a noun, a mulct is a fine or penalty.
The word carries connotations of unfairness—being mulcted suggests you were taken advantage of rather than legitimately charged.
Punishment for wrongdoing
- forfeitLose through violation
- levyCompulsory government charge
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- surchargeExtra fee added
fee · charge · toll · tariff · citation · ticket · violation · summons
Coercion through damaging threats
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- squeezeFirm bilateral compression
- coerceObtain by intimidation
pressure · threaten · strong-arm · arm-twist · bribery · kickback · protection · ransom
penalty
Punishment for wrongdoing
- forfeitLose through violation
- levyCompulsory government charge
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
surcharge · fee · charge · toll · tariff · citation · ticket · violation · summons · dues
defraud
Obtain through deceit
con · scam · swindle · dupe · hoodwink · bamboozle · trick · deceive · gouge · rook
blackmail
Coercion through damaging threats
- shakedownForceful extraction of payment
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
- squeezeFirm bilateral compression
coerce · pressure · threaten · strong-arm · arm-twist · bribery · kickback · protection · ransom · shake down