Fraud

Fraud is the act of intentionally deceiving someone to gain an unfair or unlawful advantage, often involving financial gain. It encompasses a variety of deceptive practices, including misrepresentation, concealment of truth, or manipulation of information. Fraud can occur in numerous contexts, such as financial transactions, insurance claims, identity theft, and online scams. It is generally characterized by dishonesty and a breach of trust, with the perpetrator seeking to mislead another party, who incurs losses as a result. Legal systems worldwide recognize fraud as a crime and provide specific statutes and penalties to address various forms of fraudulent behavior.