Final answer:
Fraud is best defined as the intentional misstatement of facts with the purpose of gaining an unfair or illegal advantage. This includes identity theft, cheating, plagiarism, and the misuse of statistical information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best definition of fraud among the options provided is option 3) the intentional misstatement of facts. Fraud is the deliberate deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain, or to deprive a victim of a legal right. It can involve various forms such as cheating to gain an unfair advantage, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts, and identity theft. Specifically, identity theft is a type of fraud that involves wrongfully acquiring and using someone else's personal information without their permission, which can lead to financial loss and damage to the victim's credit and reputation. Additionally, the misuse of statistical information to support false claims is a form of intellectual fraud that can lead to misinterpretation and the misuse of data.