Bilk (verb)

1. To cheat or defraud someone, especially by not paying a debt or fulfilling a financial obligation.
2. To evade or avoid (a responsibility or duty).

Origin:

Late 18th century: of unknown origin.

Examples:

1. He bilked investors out of millions of dollars.
2. The company bilked customers by overcharging for their services.
3. He was accused of bilking the government out of taxes.
4. The contractor bilked the homeowners by not finishing the work.
5. The businessman bilked his clients by not delivering the goods.