Fraud

The obtaining of goods or money by deception. Scripture condemns this practice, requiring believers to be honest in their dealings with one another.

Fraud of all kinds is forbidden

Leviticus 19:11 See also Leviticus 19:13; Mark 10:19; 1 Corinthians 6:8

You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.

The importance of integrity in public life

2 Kings 12:15 See also Numbers 16:15; 1 Samuel 12:4; 2 Samuel 18:12; 1 Kings 13:8; 2 Kings 5:16

No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay the workmen, because they acted with integrity.

Kinds of fraud

Stealing

Exodus 20:15 parallel Deuteronomy 5:19 See also Deuteronomy 23:24; Ephesians 4:28; Titus 2:12; 1 Peter 4:15

You shall not steal.

Breach of trust

Leviticus 6:2; Ezekiel 16:17; Luke 16:12

Not repaying loans

Psalm 37:21

The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous are gracious and giving.

Not paying fair wages

See also Genesis 31:6–9; James 5:4

Using dishonest weights or scales

Leviticus 19:35–36; Proverbs 20:23 See also Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Hosea 12:7–8; Amos 8:5

You must not use dishonest measures of length, weight, or volume. You shall maintain honest scales and weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.

Charging excess taxes

Luke 19:8

Moving boundary stones

Proverbs 23:10 See also Deuteronomy 19:14, Deuteronomy 27:17

Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

Extortion

Habakkuk 2:6 See also Isaiah 10:2; Ezekiel 22:12; Amos 5:11; Matthew 18:28

Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’