Fraud Solicitors

Fraud is defined as an intentional deception which damages another individual and/or is for personal gain. Fraud is a crime and is also considered a violation of civil law. Fraud is generally associated with money however there are numerous other types of fraud such as fraudulent discoveries or claims.

Types of fraud:

• Advance-fee fraud:Large sums of money are advanced in a confidence trick; the victim hopes he will receive significantly more money in return 
• Bait and switch: Most commonly used in retail where  a customer is drawn in to a sale only to discover the goods are more costlier.
• Bankruptcy fraud/Insolvency: When a person or an organisation claims bankruptcy, despite having money owed to repay its debt to its creditors.
• Benefit fraud: A type of fraud where welfare payments are paid illegally to individuals by the United Kingdom welfare state.
• Counterfeiting: A type of fraud that involves illegally manufacturing something; often the forgery of currency
• Confidence tricks: A way of defrauding a victim through gaining their trust and confidence; they exploit human traits and characteristics.
• Embezzlement: A type of fraud where one dishonestly takes money or assets that have been entrusted to them.
• False advertising: Fraud that simply uses misleading statements or pictures to advertise products or services.
• False billing: Distributing fake invoices that don’t necessarily need paying
• False insurance claims: Fake insurance claims that are filed to defraud insurance company.
• Forgery: Forgery is adapting, making, altering or imitating documents with the intention of deceiving the victim.
• Franchise fraud: A pyramid scheme designed where the individuals at the top receive all of the profit.
• Health fraud: Can also be referred to as quackery; the selling of fake medicines from someone who claims to have medical skill.
• Identity theft: A type of fraud where the criminal assumes the identity of the victim, generally to access resources such as credit and other benefits that are available to the victim.
• Insurance fraud: Any act that will obtain payment illegally from an insurer.
• Investment frauds (Ponzi/Pyramid schemes): A practice that induces investors to purchase based on inaccurate even false information.
• Marriage fraud: The act of obtaining immigration through illegal marriage.
• Religious fraud: Fraudulent acts carried out in the name of religion.
• Serious Fraud: (or complex fraud) this level of fraud is determined by the Serious Fraud Office.
• Tax Fraud: The manipulation of tax law for advantage; generally this is done through not reporting revenue or avoiding the tax man altogether.