Other forms: frauds
Fraud is the crime of tricking people out of their money. Bank fraud, commit fraud, a fraud investigation.
It requires dishonesty and a gain, which is what separates it from a mistake or a bad bargain. Most of it is now committed remotely, and it is among the commonest crimes in Britain and among the least prosecuted. A fraud is also a person pretending to be what they are not. Note that the Latin means deceit.
1nounfraudThe crime of tricking people out of their money.
“He was sent to prison for fraud after taking money from elderly customers.”
2nounpretendingA person pretending to be what they are not.
“He claimed to be a doctor, but he turned out to be a fraud.”
Too few real examples of this word to estimate which sense is commonest.
fraud is a crime.
Also accepted in games: scam
Old French fraude comes from Latin fraus, deceit or injury.
Latin
fraus — deceit, injury, offence
Old French
fraude
Middle English
fraude
English, today
fraud
From Middle English fraude. (recorded since 1345), from Old French fraude, a borrowing from Latin fraus (“deceit, injury, offence”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA