Legal Definitions - fraud

Fraud is a type of wrongdoing that can be both a civil and criminal offense. In civil cases, fraud can occur when someone intentionally or negligently misrepresents a fact to another person, causing harm. For example, if someone lies about the condition of a car they are selling, and the buyer relies on that lie and ends up with a broken car, that could be considered fraud.

In criminal cases, fraud takes specific forms, such as bankruptcy fraud, credit card fraud, or healthcare fraud. For instance, if someone uses someone else's credit card without permission, that could be considered credit card fraud.

It's important to note that opinions are usually not considered fraud, unless the person making the opinion claimed to have special knowledge or expertise on the subject and the listener relied on that opinion to their detriment.

If you suspect fraud, it's important to report it to the authorities.