What defines the act of obtaining something via deception?

The act of obtaining something through deception is defined as fraud. Fraud involves intentional misrepresentation or deceit to manipulate someone into relinquishing their property or rights. This can occur in various forms, such as scams, false advertising, or forgery, where one party exploits another's trust or ignorance to gain an unwanted advantage or benefit.

In contrast, the other choices represent different forms of unlawful activity. Robbery involves taking property from a person by force or intimidation, while burglary refers to entering a building unlawfully with the intent to commit a crime, typically theft, while theft, in general, involves taking someone's property without their consent but does not necessarily require deception. Fraud is specifically distinct due to its emphasis on deceit as a means of obtaining goods or services.