defraud v : deprive of by deceit; "He swindled me out of my inheritance"; "She defrauded the customers who trusted her"; "the cashier gypped me when he gave me too little change" [syn: victimize, swindle, rook, goldbrick, nobble, diddle, bunco, scam, mulct, gyp, con]

Defraud \De*fraud"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defrauded; p. pr. & vb. n. Defrauding.] [L. defraudare; de- + fraudare to cheat, fr. fraus, fraudis, fraud: cf. OF. defrauder. See Fraud.] To deprive of some right, interest, or property, by a deceitful device; to withhold from wrongfully; to injure by embezzlement; to cheat; to overreach; as, to defraud a servant, or a creditor, or the state; -- with of before the thing taken or withheld. We have defrauded no man. --2 Cor. vii. 2. Churches seem injured and defrauded of their rights. --Hooker.

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According to the Collins English Dictionary 10th Edition fraud can be defined as: "deceit, trickery, sharp practice, or breach of confidence, perpetrated for profit or to gain some unfair or dishonest advantage". In the broadest sense, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation. Defrauding people or entities of money or valuables is a common purpose of fraud, but there have also been fraudulent "discoveries", e.g. in science, to gain prestige rather than immediate monetary gain.

A hoax also involves deception, but without the intention of gain, or of damaging or depriving the victim; the intention is often humorous.

• Prosecutors investigating whether officials helped Michael McLaughlin defraud the government at Chelsea Housing
  Federal prosecutors have launched an investigation into whether federal officials or others helped former Chelsea housing chief Michael McLaughlin defraud the government, repeatedly telling him in advance about “surprise” apartment inspections so that his agency could pass with flying colors even though the buildings were poorly maintained.         Read more on this news related to 'Defraud'
• Sharon banker convicted of NH business fraud scheme
  A former bank vice president from Sharon has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in New Hampshire. James Bender, 48, a former senior vice president of trade finance for Sovereign Bank, was accused of conspiring to defraud several Latin American customers of Goss International Americas Corp., a Durham manufacturer of commercial printing presses. Read more on this news related to 'Defraud'
• Ex-Indianapolis councilman faces fraud sentencing
  Paul Bateman, a former Indianapolis City-County Council member, faces sentencing on charges of using a charitable foundation to defraud an investor out of $1.7 million.   Read more on this news related to 'Defraud'