if you get something under false pretences, you get it by tricking people
He obtained money by false pretences.
Thesaurus: words used to describe dishonest people and behavioursynonym
Main entry: false
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by/under/on false preˈtences idiom
by pretending to be sth that you are not, in order to gain some advantage for yourself
•
She was accused of obtaining money under false pretences.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.