FRAUD. If a company comissions you to provide your services knowing it has no funds to pay you, is that fraud?

If you are contracted to work for a company that subsequently doesn't pay you because it claims it has no funds, is that fraud? Is fraud a criminal or civil offence. If the company then declares itself in administration, but simultaneously starts three other similar based businesses what come back do you have/what legal recourse can be taken? If it can be shown that the company knew it wasn't going to be able to pay you when it commissioned you, is that 'illegal'?