As unbelievable as it may be that you will ever be accused of fraud, it is even more shocking and destabilizing when it happens. Whether or not you know of any reason or situation that may have lead to the accusations, they must be taken with the utmost seriousness.
Charges of fraud will fall under either “Fraud Under $5,000” or “Fraud Over $5,000”, depending on the monetary value of the fraud that occurred. Over or under, fraud is a criminal offence that could result in you serving jail time and having a criminal record, which can make it difficult to find work, get a mortgage or travel outside the country.
Fraud occurs when there is a breach of trust or misrepresentation of facts that results in financial gain for the perpetrator. Frauds can involve employment or government benefits, credit and debit card transactions, real estate transactions and financial investments.
In Canada, fraud over $5,000 is punishable by a maximum term of 14 years in prison.
4 Things to do When You’re Accused of Fraud
Considering the implications for your freedom, prompt action is the key to defending yourself against fraud charges.
- Hire a Criminal Defence Lawyer – This is number one for a reason. The longer you wait to hire a legal representative who specializes in fraud cases, the more chances there are of taking an irreversible misstep that could change the course of your life.
- Do Not Admit Guilt or Fault – Just because allegations were made, it doesn’t mean they are based on real facts. Fraud charges and allegations are regularly made due to a misunderstanding or miscommunication of what are otherwise not fraudulent facts.
- Get Complete Information About the Charges Against You – The details are important. Ask for everything in writing. If the charges are brought against you by your employer and their representative asks to talk to you about the charges, ask that a representative from the human resources department be present.
- Write Everything Down – Once you have a clear idea of the charges, start writing down your version/interpretation of the relevant facts. Take detailed notes of every meeting you have relating to the charges.
If you’ve been accused of fraud, don’t wait. Get in touch with our winning team of Criminal Defence Lawyers so we can start fighting for you.
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