How many times have you heard someone say, “that’s fraud!”? The word “fraud” tends to be thrown around in conversation, in online blogs and publications, on the radio, on television, and pretty much everywhere else you look. It’s a popular buzzword that is rarely used properly.
While there’s no immediate harm in using a word improperly, not actually knowing what a word means can have some disappointing consequences when it comes to legal matters. Is the case that you have in mind really a fraud-based case? Let’s take a closer look at this word and its real legal meaning.
The Dictionary Definition
The Cambridge Dictionary defines “fraud’ as “someone who deceives people by saying that they are someone or something that they are not”
And More Defining
But here’s where things get tricky. You now have to define the word “deceives,” and figure out if what you’re dealing with is really a deception.
More often than not, you’ve signed a piece of paper or have been told via email or phone call or other methods that the thing you think is fraud was going to happen - it’s called “small print,” and many times people are unaware of what they have agreed to.
There are also many cases where no real fraud has happened. What occurred might not be just and it might be morally or ethically wrong, but it is not legally considered fraud. How can you tell?
If you think that you have a case and that real fraud has occurred, it is best to consult with an attorney -- just don’t be surprised if the fraud you thought was committed is actually not fraud at all (but, hey, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have a case!).
If you believe that you were the victim of fraud, please feel free to reach out to us. We offer a complimentary strategy session for victims of fraud.