Which term describes the act of deceiving or misrepresentation for financial gain?

The term that describes the act of deceiving or misrepresentation for financial gain is fraud. Fraud involves intentionally misleading someone for the purpose of obtaining money, property, or services unlawfully. It is characterized by the deceitful nature of the act and typically involves a violation of trust, where one party manipulates the circumstances to benefit at the expense of another.

In contrast, while a scam can also involve deceiving people, it may not always have the formal structure or legal implications tied to fraud. Deception is a broader term and refers to the act of misleading someone, but it does not specifically connote financial gain. Dishonesty encompasses various forms of untruthfulness but lacks the specific focus and legal ramifications that fraud entails. Thus, fraud is the most precise term that addresses the act of deceit for financial benefit, making it the correct answer in this context.