What fraudulent act involves unlawfully appropriating property by someone entrusted with it?

Embezzlement is defined as the fraudulent act of unlawfully appropriating property or funds that have been entrusted to a person’s care. This often occurs in a professional or fiduciary relationship, where an individual has been given access to someone else's assets or finances with the expectation that they will be managed appropriately. The key aspect that distinguishes embezzlement from other forms of theft is the trust that is inherent in the relationship between the embezzler and the victim. For example, an employee who siphons money from a company’s accounts for personal use is committing embezzlement, as they were entrusted with those assets.

In contrast, robbery entails taking property from a person by force or threat of force, which does not involve the element of trust. Theft usually refers to the broader act of taking someone else’s property with the intent to permanently deprive them of it, but does not necessarily involve a fiduciary relationship. Fraud is a broader term that encompasses various deceptive practices but does not specifically pertain to the unlawful appropriation of entrusted property. Thus, embezzlement accurately captures the essence of the act described in the question.