fraud
/frɔːd/ (bre, ipa) · /frɔːd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfrȯd/ (ame, mw)
fraud — noun
- fraudsingular
- fraudsplural
1. the crime of lying or hiding the truth in order to take money, property, or othe
the crime of lying or hiding the truth in order to take money, property, or other valuables from someone
Eliska was arrested for credit card fraud after using a fake identity to open accounts.
collocation: credit card fraud
The company owner faces tax fraud charges for hiding millions in profits from the government.
collocation: tax fraud
A new unit was created to investigate cases of benefit fraud in the housing system.
David lost his life savings to an online investment fraud that promised huge returns.
Banks now use special software to detect fraud before any money leaves the customer account.
- deception
a broader term that covers any act of making someone believe something false, not necessarily illegal or for financial gain
- scam
a specific dishonest plan or scheme, often targeting individuals; more informal than fraud
- trickery
the use of tricks to deceive; often less serious and not always a crime
- honesty
the quality of being truthful and not deceiving others
文法句型
fraud (uncountable for the general crime)
a fraud (countable for a specific scheme)
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the general crime ('convicted of fraud'), but countable for a specific scheme ('it was a massive fraud'). Frequently used in compounds naming types of fraud: credit card fraud, tax fraud, benefit fraud, wire fraud.
常見錯誤
2. a person who intentionally claims to have skills, knowledge, or a social status
a person who intentionally claims to have skills, knowledge, or a social status that is not actually theirs, in order to gain money or the trust of others
The man pretending to be a doctor was exposed as a fraud before treating patients.
Amani warned her neighbor the man claiming to be a bank inspector was a fraud.
collocation: a fraud (countable for a deceptive person)
Meera discovered her new boyfriend had lied about his career — he was a fraud.
Rafael took the painting to an expert, who confirmed the seller was a complete fraud.
The magazine revealed the author had copied parts of her novel and was a fraud.
- impostor
more specific — someone who pretends to be another person; fraud is broader and can mean anyone who lies about their abilities or status
- fake
more informal; can refer to either a person or an object
- charlatan
someone who pretends to have special knowledge or skill, especially in medicine or finance; more formal and literary
- genuine person
someone who is exactly who they claim to be
文法句型
a fraud (countable for a deceptive person)
用法筆記
Always a countable noun. Frequently appears as the object of exposure verbs: expose someone as a fraud, unmask a fraud, reveal someone to be a fraud.
常見錯誤
3. something that disappoints people because it does not deliver the high quality,
something that disappoints people because it does not deliver the high quality, usefulness, or benefit that was promised
Customers complained the expensive skin cream was a fraud — it did nothing to remove wrinkles.
The so-called miracle machine that supposedly saved electricity was a fraud, according to consumer reports.
collocation: a fraud (countable for a disappointing thing)
Olivia called the travel guide a fraud — her hotel room looked nothing like the photos.
The charity was accused of being a fraud when donations funded staff salaries not aid.
Experts say many so-called memory-boosting supplements are a fraud and a waste of money.
- rip-off
more informal; something that costs too much for what it offers
- fake
something that is not genuine or original; slightly narrower in meaning
- disappointment
softer and more general; does not imply deliberate misleading
- the real thing
something that genuinely delivers what it promises
文法句型
a fraud (countable for a disappointing thing)
用法筆記
Often used in reviews, consumer reports, and opinion writing. Frequently preceded by 'a complete' or 'a total' to emphasize the degree of disappointment. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense does not involve a crime — it expresses strong disappointment about a product, service, or claim.