Embezzlement is defined as which?

Embezzlement is defined as which?

• A. Theft by a customer
• B. Theft by an employee typically in the course of duties
• C. Theft by a landlord
• D. Theft by a vendor

Answer: (B)

Embezzlement is the theft of funds or property by someone who has been entrusted with it, such as an employee in the course of duties. The key element is the breach of trust: the person is authorized to handle the asset but misappropriates it for personal use. That’s why this option fits best—it describes theft carried out by someone who has a fiduciary or supervisory role over the assets. The other scenarios involve someone who does not hold the property through a trusted position (a customer, landlord, or vendor), so they’re not embezzlement but simply theft from the owner by an outsider. In practice, embezzlement includes cases like a bookkeeper diverting company funds or a cashier skimming cash.

Embezzlement is the theft of funds or property by someone who has been entrusted with it, such as an employee in the course of duties. The key element is the breach of trust: the person is authorized to handle the asset but misappropriates it for personal use. That’s why this option fits best—it describes theft carried out by someone who has a fiduciary or supervisory role over the assets. The other scenarios involve someone who does not hold the property through a trusted position (a customer, landlord, or vendor), so they’re not embezzlement but simply theft from the owner by an outsider. In practice, embezzlement includes cases like a bookkeeper diverting company funds or a cashier skimming cash.