Defrauding a hotel or restaurant proprietor falls under which category?

Defrauding a hotel or restaurant proprietor falls under the category of fraud because it involves the intentional deception of an individual or business for personal gain. Fraud encompasses a range of dishonest activities intended to secure an unfair or unlawful advantage. In this context, when someone tricks a hotel or restaurant into providing services or goods without the intention of paying—such as dining and skipping out on the bill, or falsifying a credit card payment—they are committing an act of fraud.

Fraud is characterized by the elements of misrepresentation, the intention to deceive, and the resulting harm or loss to the victim. Unlike theft, which typically involves taking someone else's property without consent, or robbery, which involves force or intimidation, the actions associated with defrauding a proprietor rely on deception rather than physical action. Therefore, this behavior is best classified under fraud.