Legal Definitions - fraus

fraus is a Latin term that refers to deceit, fraud, or cheating. In a legal context, it signifies an intentional act of misrepresentation or concealment designed to mislead another person or entity, often for personal gain or to cause harm. It implies a deliberate intent to deceive.

Here are some examples illustrating fraus:

• Imagine a situation where a contractor bids on a construction project, knowing they intend to use substandard materials that do not meet the agreed-upon specifications, but they assure the client that only high-quality materials will be used. This deliberate misrepresentation of their intentions and the quality of work, aimed at securing the contract under false pretenses, would be considered fraus.

  This illustrates fraus because the contractor engaged in intentional deceit by promising one thing while planning another, thereby cheating the client out of the expected quality.

• Consider an individual who creates a fake online charity page, soliciting donations for a non-existent cause, and then keeps all the money for personal use. The act of setting up a deceptive platform and making false appeals to trick people into donating their money is a clear instance of fraus.

  Here, fraus is demonstrated by the individual's deliberate act of cheating through misrepresentation of a charitable cause to unlawfully obtain funds from unsuspecting donors.

• Suppose a car seller intentionally rolls back the odometer of a used car to make it appear as though it has fewer miles than it actually does, thereby increasing its perceived value and selling price. This deliberate alteration of information to mislead a buyer and gain a financial advantage is an act of fraus.

  This example shows fraus through the seller's intentional deceit and cheating by falsifying vehicle information to defraud the buyer for financial gain.