State is in time frame (9)
I believe the answer is:
victimise
'frame' is the definition.
(I know that frame is a more specific form of the action cozen)
'state is in time' is the wordplay.
'state' becomes 'vic' (abbreviation for Victoria, Australian state).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'is' placed into 'time' is 'timise'.
'vic'+'timise'='VICTIMISE'
(Other definitions for victimise that I've seen before include "Punish unjustly" , "Bully" , "Single out unfairly" .)