How does fraud differ from defamation?

Fraud involves deceit for gain, which is a fundamental aspect that sets it apart from defamation. When one engages in fraud, they deliberately misrepresent facts or use deceptive practices to achieve an unfair advantage, typically for financial gain. This can involve actions like offering false information about a product or service, creating forged documents, or engaging in identity theft.

Defamation, on the other hand, refers to the act of making false statements about a person or entity that can harm their reputation. While defamation can involve deceit, it is primarily concerned with the communication of falsehoods, rather than the intention to gain something through deceitful behavior.

Understanding this key distinction highlights the different legal implications of each term; fraud is fundamentally about deception and gaining something unjustly, while defamation pertains to causing reputational harm through false assertions.