fraud
n. C / Un. the crime of tricking someone to get money or an advantage. It can also describe a person who pretends to be someone they are not.
n. the intentional use of deceit, trickery, or perversion of truth to induce another to part with something of value or surrender a legal right. Also refers to a person who falsely claims a particular identity or set of skills.
He was arrested for credit card fraud.
The company fell victim to a complex fraud involving fake invoices sent by a former employee.
While the legal definition of fraud requires proof of intent to deceive, the public often uses the term more broadly to describe any perceived lack of authenticity in a person's character.
From Middle English fraude (recorded since 1345), from Old French fraude, a borrowing from Latin fraus (“deceit, injury, offence”).
Uncountable when referring to the general concept of criminal deception; countable when referring to a specific instance or a person.
He committed a fraud of $500He committed $500 worth of fraudWhen discussing the total amount or the act in general, the word is typically uncountable; 'a fraud' usually refers to a person or a specific scheme.