How to Say "fraud" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “fraud” is “fraude” — use this term for illegal deception, especially in financial or electoral contexts.
fraude
FROW-dehˈfɾau̯.ðe
Examples
La policía investiga un presunto fraude electoral.
The police are investigating alleged electoral fraud.
El contador cometió fraude fiscal y ahora está en la cárcel.
The accountant committed tax fraud and is now in jail.
Recibimos una alerta sobre un posible fraude con tarjetas de crédito.
We received an alert about potential credit card fraud.
Gender Check
'Fraude' is a masculine noun, even though it ends in '-e'. Always use 'el' or 'un': 'el fraude'.
Using the wrong article
Mistake: “La fraude es un delito.”
Correction: El fraude es un delito. ('Fraude' is masculine, so it requires 'el.')
estafa
es-TAH-fahesˈta.fa
Examples
La policía está investigando una estafa por internet que afectó a muchos ancianos.
The police are investigating an internet scam that affected many elderly people.
Fui víctima de una estafa telefónica y perdí cien euros.
I was the victim of a telephone scam and lost one hundred euros.
El banco advierte a sus clientes sobre posibles estafas con tarjetas de crédito.
The bank warns its clients about possible credit card fraud.
Gender Reminder
Even though 'estafa' ends in 'a,' remember that it is a feminine noun, so you must use 'la estafa' or 'una estafa'.
Confusing the Noun and the Person
Mistake: “Usar 'la estafa' para referirse a la persona que comete el crimen.”
Correction: The crime is 'la estafa' (the scam/fraud). The person who commits the crime is 'el/la estafador/a' (the scammer/swindler).
engaño
Examples
Todo el plan fue un engaño para robar la información.
The entire plan was a trick to steal the information.
estafador
es-tah-fah-DORestafaˈðoɾ
Examples
El estafador me llamó diciendo que era del banco.
The scammer called me saying he was from the bank.
La policía busca a un estafador que engañó a varios ancianos.
The police are looking for a swindler who tricked several elderly people.
Ese hombre es un estafador profesional; no creas nada de lo que dice.
That man is a professional con artist; don't believe anything he says.
The '-dor' ending
In Spanish, adding '-dor' to a verb root (from 'estafar' - to swindle) describes the person who does that action, much like adding '-er' in English (swindle -> swindler).
Gender matching
This entry is for the masculine form. If you are talking about a woman, simply change the ending to '-dora' (la estafadora).
Confusing with 'mentiroso'
Mistake: “Calling someone an 'estafador' just for telling a small lie.”
Correction: Use 'mentiroso' for a liar. Use 'estafador' only when there is a trick intended to take money or property.
trampa
tram-paˈtɾampa
Examples
Hacer trampa en el examen es inaceptable.
Cheating on the exam is unacceptable.
¡Me hiciste trampa! El juego no funciona así.
You tricked me! The game doesn't work that way.
La oferta era una trampa para que firmáramos el contrato.
The offer was a trick (a setup) to make us sign the contract.
Using the Verb 'Hacer'
To express the action 'to cheat' in Spanish, we usually use the verb 'hacer' (to make/do): 'hacer trampa'. You almost never use the verb 'cheatear'.
Mixing up the Noun and Verb
Mistake: “Yo trampo.”
Correction: Yo hago trampa. ('Trampa' is the noun, 'hacer' is the verb needed for the action.)
impostor
eem-pohs-TOHRim.posˈtoɾ
Examples
El impostor se hizo pasar por un cirujano famoso.
The impostor pretended to be a famous surgeon.
Nadie sospechaba que el nuevo vecino era un impostor.
No one suspected that the new neighbor was an impostor.
La policía finalmente atrapó al impostor en el aeropuerto.
The police finally caught the impostor at the airport.
The 'Personal A'
When you are doing something to an impostor (like seeing or catching them), you must put 'a' before the word: 'Vi a un impostor'.
Gendered Endings
This version (impostor) is for a man. If you are talking about a woman, you must use 'impostora' and change the words around it to match.
Confusing with 'Mentiroso'
Mistake: “Calling someone an 'impostor' just because they lied about their age.”
Correction: Use 'mentiroso' for a liar. An 'impostor' specifically steals an identity or a specific role they don't have.
charlatán
Examples
Ese supuesto médico resultó ser un charlatán sin título.
That supposed doctor turned out to be a quack without a degree.
Distinguishing 'fraude', 'estafa', and 'engaño'
Related Translations
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