Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary

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Fraud: Intentionally deceiving someone and causing that person to suffer a loss. Fraud includes lies and half-truths, such as selling a car that is a lemon and claiming "she runs like a dream." Or, failing to point out a mistake in a contract, such as a survey that shows ten acres of land being purchased and not 20 as originally understood. Fraud can be the basis of a civil lawsuit for damages and for prosecution as a crime.