fraud 
/ˈfrɑ:d/ noun
plural frauds /ˈfrɑ:d/ noun 1 : the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person [noncount] ▪ He was found guilty of bank fraud. ▪ credit card fraud [count] ▪ He was the victim of an elaborate fraud. — see also wire fraud 2 [count] a : a person who pretends to be what he or she is not in order to trick people
▪ He claimed he was a licensed psychologist, but he turned out to be a fraud.
b : a copy of something that is meant to look like the real thing in order to trick people
▪ The UFO picture was proved to be a fraud.
▪ He claimed he was a licensed psychologist, but he turned out to be a fraud.
b : a copy of something that is meant to look like the real thing in order to trick people
▪ The UFO picture was proved to be a fraud.
