defraudação

Deffraudação is the act of obtaining illicit advantage or causing material loss to others through deceit. In legal terms, it involves presenting false information, concealing relevant facts, or using artful guile to induce a victim to act in a way that benefits the offender or a third party. The victim may be led to surrender money, goods, or services as a result of the deception.

Common elements of defraudação include intent to deceive (dolo), the use of fraud or misrepresentation, and the victim’s reliance on the falsehood that leads to an illicit gain for the offender. The causal link between the deceit and the loss is essential for qualifying the act as defraudação. Cases can involve business fraud, forged documents, or scams conducted through digital channels.

Modalities frequently seen include estelionato, fraud with electronic methods, falsification of documents, misuse of identification, and various online scams. The precise form and severity of defraudação depend on the jurisdiction, with laws addressing crimes against public faith, consumer protection, financial transactions, and civil liability for damages.

Penalties for defraudação vary by country and legal system, and may include imprisonment and fines, as well as civil reparations to the victims. In many Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions, defraudação is treated as a criminal offense with potential aggravating factors such as the scale of the fraud, vulnerability of the victim, or use of technological means. The terminology and penalties are jurisdiction-specific, but the core concept remains the illicit appropriation of others’ resources through deceit.