How is Fraud Different from Other Types of Theft?

Theft is a broad term. It refers to the unlawful taking of money or anything with monetary value from a victim or a group of victims. To make it easier to define specific charges, the law breaks theft down into multiple categories. One broad subcategory of theft is fraud.

Fraud is defined as the unlawful taking of money or something with monetary value, which can include tangible items or an individual’s personal information that can be used to access his or her money, through the use of deception. Unlike other types of theft, such as shoplifting or robbery, a victim of fraud actually gives the offender his or her money or information under the guise of a service, product, or opportunity. Because fraud is such a broad category, many different actions can be charged as fraud. If you have been charged with fraud, take the time to educate yourself about the particular charge you are facing and start working with an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as you can. When you are facing any type of criminal charge, it is in your best interest to be proactive and start developing your case’s defense as quickly as possible.

Types of Fraud Charge

Fraud is generally considered to be a white collar crime because in many cases, it requires a special privilege to access the victim’s money. It can also rely on inside knowledge of a computer or financial system and in many cases, fraud can go undetected for years. The primary separating factor between white collar crimes and other crimes is that in most cases, an individual must be in a privileged position to commit a white collar crime.

Examples of fraud include:

• Identity theft;
• Bankruptcy fraud;
• Tax fraud;
• The sale of a fraudulent item or service;
• Securities fraud;
• Credit card fraud; and
• Insurance fraud.

Fraud victims can be individuals, like consumers lured into making purchases based on fraudulent claims. They can also be companies, such as insurance providers who suffer when policyholders or service providers make fraudulent claims.

If you are Charged with Fraud

If you have been charged with fraud, work with an experienced lawyer to determine your defense options. The plaintiff might not have sufficient evidence to prove that you committed an act of fraud. Another scenario is that you are an innocent party who was entrapped into committing fraud by another party or that you did not intend to defraud your alleged victim.

Work with an Experienced Miami Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with any type of fraud, you need to work with an experienced criminal defense lawyer to defend your case. Our team of experienced Miami criminal defense lawyers at Ratzan & Faccidomo, LLC is here to help you with your case by determining an effective defense strategy based on your unique circumstances. Contact our firm today to set up your initial legal consultation with a member of our team.