What is the legal definition of "fraud" in the California Penal Code?

The legal definition of "fraud" in the California Penal Code encompasses the concept of willfully deceiving someone for personal gain. This definition highlights the intentional aspect of fraud, where an individual knowingly misrepresents the truth or conceals information to manipulate another person into parting with their property or money. The key components here are the willfulness of the deception and the motive of personal gain, which are critical elements of fraudulent behavior.

While other options may related concepts, they do not fully encapsulate the legal understanding of fraud as specified in the Penal Code. For instance, obtaining property by threats describes extortion rather than fraud, and false representation of a fact is a component of fraud but doesn't address the willful deceit and personal gain aspect. Unauthorized access to someone’s financial information involves privacy violations but does not necessarily include the element of deception that characterizes fraud. Thus, the definition focusing on willful deception for personal gain accurately reflects the legal interpretation of fraud under California law.