# Fraud

URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/corruptionary/fraud
Type: Corruptionary
Published: 2019-12-23
Updated: 2020-04-25

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### Defintion

To cheat. The offence of intentionally deceiving someone in order to gain an unfair or illegal advantage (financial, political or otherwise). Countries consider such offences to be criminal or a violation of civil law.

### Why it matters

Governments, companies and civil society organisations must have efficient internal reporting channels and follow-up mechanisms to detect fraud, corruption and gross mismanagement inside an organisation.