Maybe it’s an example of “fake it ‘till you make it” that crossed the line into fraud? For example, when puffing up one’s CV, one could probably get away with

Maybe it’s an example of “fake it ‘till you make it” that crossed the line into fraud? For example, when puffing up one’s CV, one could probably get away with making an actual accomplishment seem more important than it is. However, if they were to make up the accomplishment whole-cloth, the that would cross a line.