Employment Schemes and Job Fraud

Frauds conducted through your employment aren’t necessarily new. Throughout the years, theft by deception on the job has included embezzling money from cash boxes or accounts, adding hours to one’s paycheck they didn’t earn, or wiring payments to preset fake accounts. Yet, while many of these job frauds have been outdated based on beefed up security, scammers have found highly technical ways to continue traditional job fraud while minimizing their liability and exposing you to criminal charges.

Internet Job Fraud and Employment Scams

Job fraud perpetrated through the Internet isn’t necessarily new; rather it’s merely a new take on old methods. One of the more common Internet job frauds involve utilizing money processing through the PayPal system; individuals receive payments from a company and are asked to process and resend the monies back, minus a commission for the person. Of course, this classic form of a pyramid scheme stems from stolen credit card accounts being charged thru PayPal, and the individual processing the funds now become criminally liable.

Theft by Deception: Collecting Resumes and Credit Reports for Identity Theft

Another theft by deception scheme making the rounds has been obtaining resume and credit reports from an individual and using the extensive identity information to abuse the credit of the victim. While the fraud is not necessarily used through your employment, it nevertheless is important to cover because your liability for charges made can be great if you don’t know what is going on. If you do not check your credit report on a regular basis, by the time these charges are discovered your credit will be damaged and you may be required to pay some of the liability.

Charges and Penalties for Running an Employment Scheme

In the first example, the online pyramid scheme of “payment forwarding”, your criminal liability can be extensive because you’ve facilitated in the process of a fraud. Although you may not be considered the principal, you can be held in the very least as an accomplice in fraud because you transferred the money and kept the “commission” amount as an illegal gain.

The second example doesn’t necessarily encompass fraud charges, but do often result in the lengthy process of rebuilding your credit and potentially facing civil charges for nonpayment of funds. If you don’t regularly check your credit report, your first notice of this fraud may be when you receive court papers for collection and delinquency. At that point, you’ll need to hire an attorney to help aid you in the process.

Help from a lawyer

Being charged with fraud by deception is a serious crime that can result in extensive fines, fees, and potential jail time. Pleading ignorance to your situation isn’t always enough to clear charges. By speaking with an experienced lawyer, you can understand your rights and how you can build a credible defense. Speaking to authorities before retaining a lawyer can result you in giving up potential defenses and legal rights. In the civil arena, speaking to a lawyer if your credit has been damaged due to job fraud is important in order to understand the necessary steps to clear your name, as well as ensure as little liability as possible.