FALSE PRETENSES

“false pretenses. The crime of knowingly obtaining title to another’s personal property by misrepresenting a fact with the intent to defraud. • Although unknown to English common law, false pretenses became a misdemeanor under a statute old enough to make it common law in the United States.

Modern American statutes make it either a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the property’s value. — Also termed obtaining property by false pretenses; fraudulent pretenses. Cf. larceny by trick under LARCENY; EMBEZZLEMENT.”