Orange County Fraud Defense Lawyers
WHITE COLLAR CRIME CHARGES
Fraud
All white collar crimes have one common factor: fraud. There are many different types of fraud within the term's scope, all with the same underlying purpose of personal gain or advantage through deceit. Fraud is an intentional deception committed for personal profit, gain or other advantage at the expense of another. Fraud schemes are not victimless and, as such, they are prosecuted aggressively on both state and federal levels. Lack of physical harm in a fraud crime does not mean the prosecution with "take it easy."
Types of Fraud
Fraud is a very broad category. There are many different crimes that may be considered fraud, though some are prosecuted more seriously than others, including:
- Advance-Fee Fraud
- Bankruptcy Fraud
- Bait and Switch
- Benefits Fraud
- Forgery
- Embezzlement
- Mortgage Fraud
- Counterfeiting
- 419 Fraud
- Charlatanism
- Insurance Fraud
- Health Fraud
- Identity Theft
- Investment Fraud
- Credit Card Fraud
- Securities Fraud
- Tax Fraud
FBI Common Fraud Investigations
The most common fraud scams investigated by the Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) include:
- Telemarketing Fraud – Sending money or providing financial information to unknown callers who then use that information to commit fraud.
- "419" Fraud, or Nigerian Letter – Sending a letter from Nigeria claiming to be a government official and offering the opportunity to share a percentage of millions of dollars that must be transferred out of Nigeria illegally and asking for financial information for the transfer.
- Identity Theft – Stealing and/or assuming the identity of another to commit fraud or any other crime.
- Advance Fee Schemes – Falsely offering an item or service of greater value to be given after an initial collection of money, collecting the money, then giving little to nothing in return.
- Healthcare and/or Health Insurance Fraud – Unnecessary medical equipment or medical treatments that are billed to insurance companies or Medicare, or billing insurance companies for services never rendered.
- Strawman/Redemption/Bond Fraud – Claiming that the U.S. Treasury Department controls a bank account for every U.S. citizen that may be accessed by submitting certain paperwork.
- Ponzi Schemes – Promising high dividends or financial returns unavailable through traditional investments, then paying initial investors with the money invested by others.
Most fraud crimes that the FBI investigates relate to investment fraud. Ponzi schemes are only one type of investment fraud. Others that are commonly prosecuted are letter of credit fraud, prime bank note fraud, pyramid schemes and pump and market manipulation, also referred to as pump and dump fraud.
Fraud Penalties
Fraud crimes may be charged as misdemeanors or felonies, may be prosecuted at both the state and/or federal level, may carry a short jail sentence or a lengthy prison sentence, may impose fines into the thousands of dollars, may require restitution payments to victims, and may even include community service or other alternative sentencing programs. If you are convicted of a fraud crime in California, not only will you potentially lose your freedom for years, but also suffer the financial burden of fines and/or restitution.
Aggressively Protecting Your Legal Rights
The only way to properly fight a fraud accusation in California is to consult with an experienced attorney. At The Law Offices of Jeremy N. Goldman, our skilled fraud defense lawyers in Orange County understand how fraud crimes are prosecuted and can build a strong defense on your behalf. Oftentimes, fraud cases are based on misleading evidence or false accusations and it is our job to ensure that such cases are dismissed. If you have been charged with fraud, call us today to learn more about your legal rights and options at (800) 349-1619.
