what is stealing money from the government called

Stealing money from the government is generally called embezzlement or theft of government funds , depending on the situation. In U.S. legal usage, embezzlement is used when the money was entrusted to someone who then misused or took it.

Common terms

• Embezzlement : taking money you were trusted to handle.
• Theft of government funds : stealing money that belongs to the government.
• Misuse of public funds : using government money for unauthorized purposes.

Simple example

If a government employee diverts public money into a personal account, that is usually described as embezzlement. If someone fraudulently takes money directly from the government, it may be charged as theft of government funds.

Legal nuance

The exact label depends on who took the money, how they got access to it, and which law applies.