When cash is stolen via deception rather than physical force, which term best describes this action?

The action of stealing cash through deception rather than physical force is best described as fraud. This term encompasses a variety of deceitful practices used to gain advantage or to unlawfully obtain money or property from another person. In cases of fraud, the criminal typically misleads the victim through false representations or promises, which allows them to unlawfully acquire funds without the victim's knowledge or consent.

In contrast, burglary refers to the unlawful entry into a building with the intention of committing a crime, typically theft. Embezzlement involves a person in a position of trust wrongfully taking or misappropriating funds entrusted to them, often in a business context. Robbery, on the other hand, is characterized by taking property from a person through threat or physical force. Since the scenario specifies deception rather than force, fraud is the most appropriate term to describe the action.