What makes estafa a valid case?

Estafa, or fraud, is considered a valid case when there is a clear demonstration of deceitful conduct aimed at securing an unlawful gain at the expense of another party. Key elements include the presence of false representations, reliance on those representations by the victim, and resulting damages or losses incurred by the victim. Additionally, the perpetrator's intent to defraud must be established, making the act willful and malicious. If these criteria are met, it supports a valid claim of estafa.