Racket (crime)

A racket is a service that is fraudulently offered to solve a problem, such as for a problem that does not actually exist, that will not be put into effect, or that would not otherwise exist if the racket did not exist. Conducting a racket is racketeering. Particularly, the potential problem may be caused by the same party that offers to solve it, although that fact may be concealed, with the specific intent to engender continual patronage for this party. The most common example of a racket is the "protection racket", the racket itself promised to protect the target business or person from dangerous individuals in the neighborhood, the racket then either collects their money or causes the damages to the business until the owner pays. Basically, the racket is the problem and solution all in one and is used as a method of extortion.