lost to fraud

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lost to fraud" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to money, goods, or services that have been taken by fraud. For example: "The company lost thousands of dollars to fraud last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The FTC says "millions of dollars" were lost to fraud.

The Economist

More money is lost due to error in the benefits system than is lost to fraud.

The Guardian - Opinion

Of the grants that had been audited, Dr. Dybul said, only 0.5 percent had been lost to fraud.

The New York Times

And every year vast sums of this money are lost to fraud, corruption, overcharging, and under-delivery by private contractors.

The Guardian

Although the basic idea made sense, money was lost to fraud, the government was accused of incompetence and the whole policy became toxic.

The Guardian

Responding to the report, Schools Chancellor Harold O. Levy noted that "not one dollar was lost to fraud, theft or waste".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

9 human-written examples

NO ONE knows quite how much value-added tax (VAT) the European Union loses to fraud.

The Economist

He cited one case where a customer in South America was hit with a malware attack that cost the bank as much as they had expected to lose to fraud in a whole year.

Forbes

Last year, some $200 million lost to online fraud was reported to the Federal Trade Commission.

The New York Times

"A staggering £16bn is still lost to tax fraud every year.

The Guardian

More than £5m was lost to ticket fraud in 2015, up 55% on the previous year, according to figures released this weekend by the Local Government Association.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about financial discrepancies, use "lost to fraud" to clearly indicate that the loss was due to deceptive or illegal activities, rather than simple errors or mismanagement.

Common error

Avoid using "lost to fraud" when the loss is due to unintentional errors or system failures. "Lost to fraud" specifically implies intentional deception or illegal activity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lost to fraud" primarily functions as a post-modifier, specifying the reason for a loss. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is correct and usable in written English. This is often seen with nouns like "money", "funds", or "assets".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Formal & Business

4%

Science

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lost to fraud" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe financial losses resulting from deceptive or illegal activities. Ludwig AI validates this, confirming its usability in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, its purpose is to clearly state the cause of a loss, distinguishing it from errors or mismanagement. To ensure accurate communication, use "lost to fraud" when intentional deception is involved, and consider alternatives like "defrauded" or "embezzled" for specific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defrauded

Implies a direct act of depriving someone of something through fraud; shorter and more direct.

embezzled

Specifically refers to the misappropriation of funds or assets by someone in a position of trust.

swindled out of

Suggests being tricked or deceived into losing something, often money.

bilked

An informal term for cheating someone out of money.

subject to fraud

Focuses on the vulnerability or exposure to fraudulent activities.

fraudulently obtained

Highlights the illegal means by which something was acquired.

scammed

A colloquial term for being deceived or cheated, usually out of money.

victimized by fraud

Emphasizes the harm caused by fraudulent activities.

pecuniary loss due to deceit

More formal phrasing describing financial harm resulting from deception.

financial predation

Implies a predatory and exploitative form of fraud.

FAQs

How can I use "lost to fraud" in a sentence?

You can use "lost to fraud" to describe money or assets that have been taken through deceptive or illegal means. For example, "The company reported millions "lost to fraud" last year".

What's a more formal way to say "lost to fraud"?

A more formal alternative to "lost to fraud" could be "defrauded" or "fraudulently obtained", depending on the specific context. For instance, "The funds were "fraudulently obtained" through a complex scheme".

Is it appropriate to use "lost to fraud" in a business context?

Yes, "lost to fraud" is appropriate in business contexts when discussing financial losses resulting from fraudulent activities. It clearly indicates the nature of the loss and can be used in reports, audits, and legal documents.

What's the difference between "lost to fraud" and "embezzled"?

"Lost to fraud" is a general term referring to losses caused by deceptive practices. "Embezzled", on the other hand, specifically refers to the misappropriation of funds by someone in a position of trust. So, embezzlement is a type of fraud, but "lost to fraud" is a broader category.