fraudfraud /frɔːd $ frɒːd/ ●●○ noun 
He’s been charged with tax fraud. electoral fraud She was found guilty of fraud.► see thesaurus at crime2[countable] someone or something that is not what they claim to be: I felt like a fraud. The police exposed the letter as a fraud.
WORD ORIGINfraud
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French fraude, from Latin fraus ‘deceiving’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Big losses due to theft and fraud forced the company to close.
- It was weeks before they realized that the young man who had charmed them all was a fraud.
- Landale is calling for more laws to protect consumers against fraud.
- Clearly, however, that does not mean that the City is riddled with fraud or that the regulatory system has failed.
- He would ultimately get indicted for fraud as a result.
- In each case the owner of the goods was induced by fraud to part with them to the rogue.
- The market and the opportunities for fraud keep growing.
- The vote fraud charges had aroused people.
THESAURUScrimes of stealing
noun [countable, uncountable] the crime of stealing from a bank, shop etc: · Over £100,000 was stolen in the robbery.· The gang carried out a string of daring robberies.
noun [countable, uncountable] the crime of breaking into someone’s home in order to steal things: · There have been several burglaries in our area.
noun [countable, uncountable] the crime of stealing something: · Car theft is a big problem.· thefts of credit cards
noun [uncountable] the crime of taking things from shops without paying for them: · They get money for drugs from shoplifting.
noun [countable, uncountable] the crime of getting money from people by tricking them: · He’s been charged with tax fraud.· credit card fraud
noun [uncountable] especially American English law the crime of stealing something: · He was found guilty of larceny.
noun [uncountable] the activity of tricking people into giving their personal details, bank numbers etc on the Internet, in order to steal money from them: · One in four computer users reports that they have been hit by phishing attempts.
Longman Language Activatorwhen people are dishonest in order to get money the crime of getting money dishonestly from a big organization, for example by giving false information or changing documents, especially over a long time: · Big losses due to theft and fraud forced the company to close.· Landale is calling for more laws to protect consumers against fraud.
informal a method, usually used by several people working together, who cheat someone by making them believe something that is not true: · I spent more than $4000 before I realized the whole thing was a scam.scam to do something: · She and her boyfriend were involved in a scam to get $5 million from the company.tax scam (=a way of dishonestly avoiding paying tax)
a well-planned and often complicated arrangement to cheat people: · Young was convicted for his participation in a $2 million stock swindle.· The whole property development proposal was a swindle. They never intended to build anything.
British a situation in which people are cheated, especially in small ways over a long period of time: · The firm realised some sort of fiddle was going on, but they had no idea how much they were losing.work a fiddle (=do a fiddle): · Managers don't really get paid much here, but most of them are working a few fiddles.
a method or process of persuading someone to buy something or to give you money by telling them lies: · A lot of people gave money to the charity collectors, not realising it was a con.con trick British: · She wanted me to visit a fortune-teller but I thought it was all a big con trick.
an illegal business that is used by criminals to make a large profit for themselves: · The FBI believe they have found the real criminals behind a big gambling racket.· The Mafia runs a highly sophisticated drugs racket.
WORD SETSabet, verbaccusation, nounaccuse, verbaffray, nounarson, nounassault, nounassault and battery, nounbackhander, nounbattery, nounbigamy, nounblack market, nounblack marketeer, nounbreak-in, nounbreaking and entering, nouncaper, nouncapital, adjectivecarjacking, nouncat burglar, nouncontract, nouncosh, nouncounterfeit, adjectivecounterfeit, verbcover, nouncrack, verbcriminal, adjectivecriminal, nouncriminal law, nouncriminal record, nouncriminology, nouncrook, nounculpable, adjectiveculprit, noundefamation, noundefraud, verbdelinquency, noundelinquent, adjectivedelinquent, noundesperado, noundisorderly, adjectivedrug baron, noundrug runner, nounDUI, nounembezzle, verbexpropriate, verbextort, verbeyewitness, nounfelon, nounfelony, nounfence, nounfiddle, nounfiddle, verbfiddler, nounfilch, verbfinger, verbfire-raising, nounfirst offender, nounflash, verbflasher, nounforge, verbforger, nounforgery, nounfoul play, nounframe, verbframe-up, nounfratricide, nounfraud, nounfreebooter, noungang, noungang-bang, noungang rape, noungangster, nounGBH, noungenocide, noungetaway, noungodfather, noungrand larceny, noungrass, noungrievous bodily harm, nounheist, nounhijack, verbhijack, nounhijacking, nounhit, nounhit-and-run, adjectivehit man, nounincriminate, verbindecent assault, nounindecent exposure, nouninfanticide, nounjob, nounjoyriding, nounjuvenile delinquent, nounkidnap, verblarceny, nounlibel, nounlibel, verblibellous, adjectivelow life, nounmafioso, nounmalpractice, nounmanslaughter, nounmassacre, nounmassacre, verbmatricide, nounmisappropriate, verbmisconduct, nounmisdeed, nounmisdemeanour, nounmobster, nounmoll, nounmug, verbmugshot, nounmurder, nounmurder, verbmurderer, nounmurderess, nounmuscleman, nounnark, nounnefarious, adjectiveneighbourhood watch, nounnick, verbno-go area, nounoffence, nounoffend, verboffender, nounold lag, nounorganized crime, nounoutlaw, nounparricide, nounpatricide, nounpetty larceny, nounPhotofit, nounpiracy, nounplant, verbpoach, verbpoacher, nounpossession, nounprivateer, nounprotection, nounprowl, verbprowler, nounpublic nuisance, nounpull, verbpunk, nounpurloin, verbraid, nounram-raiding, nounrape, verbrape, nounrapist, nounravish, verbreceiver, nounreceiving, nounrecidivist, nounregicide, nounring, nounringleader, nounriotous, adjectiverob, verbrobber, nounrobbery, nounroll, verbrustler, nounscheme, nounscheme, verbshady, adjectiveshoplift, verbshoplifting, nounslander, nounsmuggle, verbsnout, nounspeeding, nounstabbing, nounstalking, nounstatutory offence, nounstatutory rape, nounsteal, verbstoolpigeon, nounsupergrass, nounsuspect, nounswag, nountheft, nounthief, nounthievish, adjectivetorch, verbtraffic, nountrafficker, nountriad, noununder-the-counter, adjectiveunderworld, nounundesirable, nounvagrancy, nounvandal, nounvandalism, nounvandalize, verbvice, nounvigilante, nounvillainy, nounviolate, verbviolation, nounwanted, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He’s been charged with tax fraud. electoral fraudCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Mr Singh has strongly denied the allegations of sexual harassment. A controlled explosion was carried out by bomb squad officers.
1[countable, uncountable] the crime of deceiving people in order to gain something such as money or goodstax/insurance/credit card etc fraud He’s been charged with tax fraud. electoral fraud Mr Singh has strongly denied the allegations of sexual harassment. (=the illegal use of other people’s cards)· Many consumers are afraid of credit card fraud.
· The couple were accused of committing murder.
· He lost his job following a drugs conviction.
(=the crime of stealing another person's personal details in order to pretend to be that person)· Identity theft is becoming more and more common because of the Internet.
· Insurance fraud costs the industry millions of pounds each year.
A controlled explosion was carried out by bomb squad officers.· She was a witness in a murder trial.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Ferranti this week received the report it commissioned from accountants Coopers & Lybrand on the alleged fraud.· This was the third time in six months that the federal government had intervened in state politics to redress alleged fraud.· Ferranti expects to take delivery today of the report it commissioned from Coopers and Lybrand on the alleged fraud.
· We would wish to pursue further the criminal frauds committed by Robert Maxwell and others associated with the Daily Mirror.· After several years of investigations, the Boys Ranch was indicted on criminal Medicaid fraud and grand theft charges last April.
· Mr Berisha's Democratic party alleged widespread electoral fraud by the government and intimidation of polling station officials by the police.· Milosevic promised the students he would investigate their allegations and punish any officials found responsible for electoral fraud.· Widespread electoral fraud and intimidation already have been reported.· Mr Milosevic is fighting for his political survival after a vicious campaign tainted by intimidation and haunted by fears of electoral fraud.· For a start, they are likely to face charges of corruption and electoral fraud.· Several complaints of electoral irregularities and fraud were made.· The complicated ballot sheet was also relatively easily altered for the purposes of electoral fraud.
· Most losses were the result of financial fraud and the theft of proprietary information.· Over financial fraud, bounty fees, patient intimidation, fees for referrals, guerrilla marketing.· Criminal financial fraud on a vast scale has emerged as threat to the financial health of the community.· Britain has been notoriously ineffective in dealing with offences like financial fraud, market manipulation and insider dealing.
· Most of the suppliers accused in the sting operations have pleaded guilty to fraud charges.· It is accepted that the rule does not apply where the party seeking to rely on the document was guilty of fraud.· Mirretti had pleaded guilty to fraud, bribery, theft and conspiracy to obstruct a criminal investigation.· Mum has been a lot more cheerful since Quigley was declared bankrupt, insane and guilty of fraud.· Later he pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion in connection with defrauding Rose clients of nearly $ 400, 000.· A few weeks ago, Mr Tucker was found guilty of fraud.· Susan McDougal was found guilty of fraud and sentenced to two years in jail, a verdict she is appealing.
· Caserta, 56, pleaded guilty to one count each of mail fraud and conspiracy.· The suit accuses Boeing of a series of criminal acts, including racketeering and mail fraud.· He is charged with mail and insurance fraud and faces a total of 290 years in prison.· While serving a federal prison sentence for mail fraud and tax evasion, &.· Caserta and Bohrman are among those facing a criminal trial this month on mail and wire fraud charges.· She faces additional counts of mail fraud and conspiracy.
· There appears to have been a massive fraud, perpetuated under the very eyes of the trustees.· First and foremost is the potential for massive fraud.· Colorado-based Miniscribe filed for bankruptcy protection in January 1990 when it emerged that its senior management had carried out a massive fraud.· All three losing candidates appealed against the election results, alleging massive fraud by the government.· The opposition claimed that there had been massive vote fraud.
· The system is tailor-made for manipulation or even outright fraud.· Those who do not will remain awash in half-truths, outright deceptions and fraud.
· The amount of potential consumer fraud in San Francisco is mind-boggling.· First and foremost is the potential for massive fraud.
· Another point of contention: how serious voter fraud had been.· Under the Act of 1987 the privilege against self-incrimination does not apply to investigations of serious or complex fraud.· The plaintiffs seek to investigate what they consider to be a serious and complicated fraud.· Those are the innocent victims, who knew nothing of the serious fraud.
· Mr Berisha's Democratic party alleged widespread electoral fraud by the government and intimidation of polling station officials by the police.· Instead, analysts are warning the elections are likely to worsen matters. Widespread electoral fraud and intimidation already have been reported.· He also warned of widespread compensation fraud.· A researcher who claims widespread fraud involving military decorations says he warned Adm.
NOUN· Monday's developments came against the backdrop of fraud allegations.
· The charges included racketeering, conspiracy, bank fraud, securities fraud, misapplication of funds and interstate transportation of stolen property.
· Meanwhile credit card fraud rose by 40 %.· Trudeau pleaded guilty to credit-card fraud in 1991 and was sentenced to 24 months in jail.· Card Watch, the banking industry's plastic card fraud prevention campaign, issues top tips for travelling abroad.· Tesco has linked up to Equifax to combat card fraud at its filling station sites.· Voice over Card fraud loses the banks at least 165 million pounds a year.· Credit card fraud in Britain in 2000 jumped by almost 60 % to $ 450m.· Half were victims of credit card fraud while 41 percent were targets for shoplifters.· Read in studio A firm has come up with a new high-tech way to beat credit card fraud.
· Lo, 48, a real estate mortgage broker, faces a bail hearing Wednesday in the fraud case.· He said fraud cases cost too much and happened too late.· Voter fraud case A House investigation of alleged voter fraud in the election of Democratic Rep.· The aim was to report back with bold proposals for the more efficient and effective trial of long fraud cases.· The worst-affected region was the south-east with fraud cases for the six-year period totalling almost £1.21 billion.· Scales was the most imaginative of his inspectors; he had started in fingerprints and now specialised in fraud cases.
· The seven tax fraud charges were only the first of many corruption charges expected to be filed against Marcos and her children.· The vote fraud charges had aroused people.· Guppy, 28, of, Ladbroke Grove, London has denied fraud charges.· Most of the suppliers accused in the sting operations have pleaded guilty to fraud charges.· Five men go on trial next month on fraud charges relating to the bank.· Caserta and Bohrman are among those facing a criminal trial this month on mail and wire fraud charges.· Mr Rudi is awaiting a separate trial on fraud charges.
· Victims' concern over damage to their image results in many cases of computer fraud going unreported.
· Accusations of election fraud, from ballots cast for dead people to double-voting, are as old as democracy itself.· Corruption was never an issue. Election fraud never was an issue.
· First suggesting I was involved in some insurance fraud and then as good as saying Mom walked out on us!· He is charged with mail and insurance fraud and faces a total of 290 years in prison.· The allegation came on the third day of an insurance fraud trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.· It could potentially improve care, assist in medical research and help in detecting patterns of insurance fraud.· C was charged with arson connected with insurance fraud.· It wasn't like insurance fraud or software piracy, where I knew who knew exactly what I needed to know.
· She wasn't on the plane and West Mercia fraud squad have asked Interpol to investigate.· I picks up the phone and dialled a special number for the fraud squad.· If I can't get the information I want any other way I shall ask the fraud squad to make inquiries.· It is the first time the fraud squad has been directly accused of leaking the report.· Twenty years later saw the creation of provincial fraud squads.· In the metropolitan police there is only one fraud squad officer for every hundred officers.· When the receivers were called in, fraud squad officers seized eight tons of documents.· Although the authors were charged by the fraud squad, they were not prosecuted.
· The seven tax fraud charges were only the first of many corruption charges expected to be filed against Marcos and her children.· A deputy prime minister, Yulia Timoshenko, is facing criminal charges for tax fraud, smuggling and forgery.· Macari cleared of Swindon Town tax fraud, but Hiller and Farrar are convicted.
· The allegation came on the third day of an insurance fraud trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.· What is the source of the medical advice given in fraud trials?· But more alarmingly, a planned fraud trial was scrapped because Burke was deemed mentally unfit to appear in the dock.
· She said there is no evidence of concerted voter fraud in the stadium election.· Triggering the voter fraud inquiry was a complaint by former Rep.· Another point of contention: how serious voter fraud had been.· The finding documented apparent voter fraud, but the numbers were nowhere near enough to change the results of the election.· After his defeat by 984 votes, Dornan immediately claimed the election was marred by voter fraud, including voting by noncitizens.· California Secretary of State Bill Jones is probing complaints of voter fraud and improprieties in the election, according to informed sources.· Voter fraud case A House investigation of alleged voter fraud in the election of Democratic Rep.· Jenkins complained about alleged voter fraud in predominantly black New Orleans precincts, which made the difference in his narrow loss.
· Gould was eventually caught last year, and pleaded guilty to 51 counts of racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering.· Caserta, 56, pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and conspiracy.
VERB· Any other parties must be able to allege fraud or deceit.· Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed by homeowners across the country alleging mortgage loan fraud.· Mr Berisha's Democratic party alleged widespread electoral fraud by the government and intimidation of polling station officials by the police.· In the overall case, the four-year statute of limitations on alleged fraud, theft and financial elder abuse expires in February.· The opposition, alleging fraud, had refused to concede defeat in Guanajuato.· The suits are filed against companies and their officers when their stocks drop, and allege fraud for luring investors.· All three losing candidates appealed against the election results, alleging massive fraud by the government.· The lawsuit alleges a pattern of fraud by the company in the sale of life insurance.
· In September 1990 Mr. Kissane was arrested and charged with fraud arising out of activities when he was employed by Royal.· Mr Milosevic was arrested for fraud on April 1.· On Sept. 9 six of Der'i's close associates were arrested by fraud squad agents in connection with the allegations.
· It is often difficult to differentiate those who deliberately commit fraud from those who are confused in their claims.· As a result, too many private contractors fail to deliver what they promise-or worse, commit fraud.· Federal consumer agencies and those in an increasing number of states are taking action against those who commit online fraud.· The suit claimed that Pike committed fraud for failing to disclose his background and sought his removal from control of the venture.
· And there is no restriction on candidates, although telemarketing companies say they try to avoid using people convicted for fraud.· McDougal was convicted of Whitewater-related fraud charges last year, along with his former wife and the governor of Arkansas.· Jim Guy Tucker, were convicted on related fraud charges last May.· That one got him convicted of stock fraud and sent to Leavenworth penitentiary for seven years.· Three have been convicted on fraud or conspiracy charges, including the McDougals and former Arkansas Gov.
· Caserta, 56, pleaded guilty to one count each of mail fraud and conspiracy.
· There was a handful of claims for alleged failure to detect fraud on audit.· Entrepreneurial governments rely on information about the results of government spending-the cost and quality of government programs-to detect fraud and abuse.· Auditors are not responsible for detecting every item of fraud and error.· It could potentially improve care, assist in medical research and help in detecting patterns of insurance fraud.
· Together with Maxwell's sons and Robert Bunn, a finance director of Maxwell companies, he faces charges of fraud and theft.· He was due to face trial on federal fraud, racketeering and conspiracy counts later in 1992.
· That includes fraud against private health plans and against government programs such as Medicare.
· After several years of investigations, the Boys Ranch was indicted on criminal Medicaid fraud and grand theft charges last April.· He would ultimately get indicted for fraud as a result.
· Inspector Michael Stasko, who has a background of investigating fraud and police misconduct, joined him there.· Its chairman and company secretary are being questioned by police investigating allegations of fraud.· However, Lockett had nothing to do with the Boys Ranch, which was being investigated for Medicaid fraud.· More indictments are expected this year from a few grand juries that continue to investigate other public fraud schemes.· It follows two raids yesterday by police investigating a fraud at Oxford City Council.· Despite their responsibility for investigating lesser frauds, computer expertise is thin on the ground.· The police are now investigating a possible fraud.
· First suggesting I was involved in some insurance fraud and then as good as saying Mom walked out on us!· Wilson said the Justice Department believes it has now caught everyone involved in perpetrating the fraud.· It may, for example, involve liquidation fraud, where a company voluntarily goes into liquidation to avoid its responsibilities.· And highly-publicized scandals involving charity fraud have made potential givers wary.· They sued, claiming that the news story implied, to the ordinary reader, that they were involved in fraud.· The second difficulty involves the question of fraud.· The first 16 defendants are said to have been involved in the fraud or in receiving and laundering the money involved.
· It is the registration that must be obtained by fraud.· The entry would have been obtained by fraud in the presenting of a forged transfer for registration.· In such a case the entry on the register would not, it seems to me, have been obtained by fraud.· The registration would not have been obtained by fraud.· Where the decision has been obtained by fraud the limitation period may be extended by s32 of the Limitation Act 1980.
· The commonwealth, Dalzell believed, had perpetrated a fraud on the federal court; the commonwealth had swapped evidence.· Wilson said the Justice Department believes it has now caught everyone involved in perpetrating the fraud.
· Most of the suppliers accused in the sting operations have pleaded guilty to fraud charges.· Mirretti had pleaded guilty to fraud, bribery, theft and conspiracy to obstruct a criminal investigation.· Later he pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion in connection with defrauding Rose clients of nearly $ 400, 000.
· Social security officers can discriminate negatively because they are encouraged to be vigilant to prevent fraud and abuse.
· She was being pursued over £2,000 in a suspected social security fraud.
He’s been charged with tax fraud. electoral fraud She was found guilty of fraud.► see thesaurus at crime2[countable] someone or something that is not what they claim to be: I felt like a fraud. The police exposed the letter as a fraud.