The Anti-Corruption Plain Language Guide - Transparency ...

Fraud
Definition
To cheat. The act of intentionally deceiving someone in order to gain an unfair or illegal
advantage (financial, political or otherwise). Countries consider such offences to be criminal
or a violation of civil law. 36
Example in practice
During the 2004 Ukrainian presidential elections, reports of alleged fraud from electionrigging
(e.g. ballot box stuffing and voter intimidation) led to the annulment of the winning
candidate’s victory and a run-off in which independent monitors declared the opposition
leader Viktor Yushchenko the winner.
Relevant links
—— National Democratic Institute: Election Monitoring.
www.ndi.org/globalp/elections/programselc/manuals.asp
—— UK Electoral Commission.
www.electoralcommission.org.uk/
—— UK Serious Fraud Office.
www.sfo.gov.uk/
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TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL PLAIN LANGUAGE GUIDE - JULY 2009