Q&A: Fraud
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Fraud
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Do you have a definition for the concept of “fraud”? I tried to define it myself, but I discovered that it isn’t clear.
It seems to me that “fraud” is not just lying, since not every time I lie am I accused of fraud.
Likewise, a financial matter or personal gain also doesn’t really satisfy the definition of fraud.
What do you think?
Thanks in advance
Answer
I understand that you’re asking about the term in Hebrew, not as a halakhic term. It seems to me that fraud is a lie that has consequences involving harm to another person. In addition, it is also something planned in advance, a scheme. Usually it’s also not something minor.
Fraud is the intentional causing/creation of a fact that is not true within the other person’s perception of the world, and exploiting the other person’s mistaken perception of reality for some kind of gain.
Deception.