Unconscious fraud is fraud committed by somebody who does not consciously realise that they are deceiving others. Examples could be a hypnotised person or perhaps a medium in a trance, neither of whom would consciously realise that they are engaging in acts which make others believe - such as that a 'spirit' has moved an object. Difference between conscious and unconscious fraud It is extremely essential to distinguish between conscious and unconscious fraud as one easily coheres with the other. Fraudulent money procured by the acts of automatism when the victim is in a state of trance falls under the heading of unconscious fraud. Automatism can be practised on a victim in varying degrees. In more pronounced cases, the victim is entirely unaware of what he/she is doing and has entered a state of complete trance. In such an instance, he/she can be pardoned. However, in a minimal or lesser degree of trance, the victim may be initially conscious or partly conscious and gradually enters a state of complete trance. In the latter case, he can be partly accused for the fraud committed. On the other end, when a person is conscious and not under a state of hypnotism or any other medium of trance, the fraud he/she commits is termed as conscious. It is punishable by the law. Types of unconscious fraud Through self practised clairvoyance Devious clairvoyants can extract information from their customers through muscle reading or by 'judicious enquiry' of the client's past and present. This information can then be used for fraudulent means. As the client would be unaware of this fraud committed in his name, it can be put under unconscious fraud. Through automatism Automatism has precisely been defined as,"An involuntary act such as sleepwalking that has been performed in a state of unconsciousness. The subject does not act voluntarily and is not fully aware of his or her actions". Hypnotism: Under hypnosis, a person is said to have elevated concentration on a particular thought or event barring the sources of distraction. Due to this, a person can be compelled to perform an act of desire. Therefore, hypnotism can enable a person to commit a fraud he or she is unaware of. Somnambulism (sleepwalking): Occurs when the person carries out all the routine activities like cooking, getting up from bed walking and so on and so forth in a state of sleep.= In such a