Obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception was formerly a distinct statutory offense in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, criminalizing the act of dishonestly securing a financial benefit, such as avoiding a debt or securing better credit terms, through deception. It was repealed and folded into the broader offense of fraud by the Fraud Act 2006, though equivalent offenses modeled on the earlier English statute remain in force in some other common law jurisdictions.
Facts
Typical PenaltyImprisonment for a term not exceeding five years on conviction on indictment, under section 16(1) of the Theft Act 1968 as it stood at repeal. 1 Elements of OffenseA deception, having the same meaning as in section 15 of the Theft Act 1968; causation; and the obtaining of a pecuniary advantage as defined in section 16(2). 1 Jurisdiction VariationRepealed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the Fraud Act 2006, but an equivalent offence remains in Hong Kong under section 18 of the Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210). 1 Classification
Offense GradeMinor or Summary Offense 1 Connections
Has Offense Grade
Entity-backed identity for the offense-grade enum value this offense already carries, resolved to a crime concept by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The offense-grade fact itself stays on the offense unchanged.
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Europe, found in there.
Sources
1. Obtaining Pecuniary Advantage by Deception (Wikipedia)
Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obtaining_pecuniary_advantage_by_deception, lead paragraph
It was replaced with the more general offence of fraud by the Fraud Act 2006.
Statute, section 16(1) text at the time of repeal
(1) A person who by any deception dishonestly obtains for himself or another any pecuniary advantage shall on conviction on indictment be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.
England and Wales, Statute, elements of the actus reus
There must be a deception. This has the same meaning as for section 15 (according to section 16(3) of the Theft Act 1968).
Lead paragraph, footnote on other common law jurisdictions
For example, Hong Kong, see s.18 Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210)
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