fraud

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fraud / frôd/ • n. wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain: he was convicted of fraud| prosecutions for social security frauds. ∎  a person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities: mediums exposed as tricksters and frauds.DERIVATIVES: fraud·ster n.ORIGIN: Middle English: from Old French fraude, from Latin fraus, fraud- ‘deceit, injury.’

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