Fraud is defined as a deception deliberately practiced to secure unfair or unlawful gain. It has also been defined as the intentional misrepresentation of truth for the purpose of obtaining something of value by inducing another to rely upon false information.
Regardless of definition, the key elements of fraud are these: intent, the misrepresentation or untruth, reliance on misrepresentation or untruth, and something of value obtained as a result.
There is a fine line between fraud and abuse and, at least regarding insurance fraud, abuse may be considered fraud in some instances.
Abuse is defined as hurting or injuring by maltreatment and applies to wrongful or unreasonable treatment by word or action.