Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
protection-racket
noun
/prəˈtɛkʃən ˈrækɪt/
Definition
A fraudulent scheme in which a business or individual is forced to pay for protection against threats or violence, typically orchestrated by criminals.
Examples
- Many small businesses fell victim to a protection racket, feeling pressured to pay for services they didn’t want.
- The local gang was known for running a protection racket, intimidating store owners into compliance.
Meaning
The term refers to a practice where criminals offer to protect individuals or businesses from harm in exchange for money, although the threat of harm often comes from the same criminals.
Synonyms
- extortion scheme
- coercion
- protection scheme
