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Fraud involves using a lie, deception, falsehood, or dishonesty in an attempt to gain a benefit. The states and the federal governments have identified some types of fraud as criminal--typical fraud crimes are explained below.
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Federal law defines fraud as any intentional deception or misrepresentation used to benefit yourself or someone else. The federal government, through its prosecutors in the United States Attorneys' Office, penalizes various kinds of fraud specifically identified under federal laws.
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Insurance Fraud Laws and Penalties
Insurance fraud occurs when people deceive an insurance company in order to collect money to which they are not entitled.
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The unemployment insurance benefits program, commonly referred to as UI, is designed to provide people with an income when they are unable to find work, have been laid off, or are out of work because of factors out of their control. Each state has its own unemployment insurance benefits program that
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The crime of wire fraud occurs when someone voluntarily and intentionally uses an interstate communications device (such as a telephone) as a part of any scheme to defraud another of property, or anything else of value. Wire fraud is a federal crime with serious potential consequences. (18 United States Code section 1343)
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Mortgage fraud is often a complicated crime that can involve both mortgage lenders and borrowers. It's estimated, for example, that about 10 percent of the nation's mortgage applications contain either mistaken or intentional omissions.
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It's estimated that as much as 10 percent of all the money spent on health care every year is paid out on fraudulent claims. Health care fraud is a crime in which someone uses lies, deceptions, or falsehoods when filing a health care claim in an effort to make a profit or to gain some type of benefit.
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Securities Fraud: Sentencing and Penalties
The term “security” is a broad term that includes numerous types of investments, such as municipal bonds, corporate stocks, bank notes, investment contracts, and more.
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Anyone who uses the U.S. mail in an attempt to engage in fraud runs the risk of being prosecuted under the federal mail fraud law. One of the most frequently prosecuted federal laws, mail fraud is often charged by federal prosecutors because it can apply in so many situations, and because it applies to anyone who uses the mail.
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Insurance fraud is commonly associated with fraud committed by people, it may also be committed by the insurance companies themselves.
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Contrary to the common idiom, crime often pays. It can pay so much, in fact, that people with illegally acquired funds often develop complicated plans to make it appear as if the money originated from a legal source.
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When people or organizations have more debts than they can manage, they sometimes file for bankruptcy in a federal bankruptcy court. When you file for bankruptcy, your creditors can no longer on their own try to sue you or collect your property to satisfy unpaid debts.
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Using fraudulent or illegal means to avoid paying taxes is generally referred to as tax fraud or tax evasion.
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Laws on State Sales Tax Crimes
State sales tax crimes can occur with a business either fails to pay state sales tax or someone collects states sales taxes from customers without subsequently paying the tax to the state. In most areas both state as well as local taxes...
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Is it illegal to post-date a check, so that it will be honored when I have enough funds in the bank?
Question: I own a small business and owed money to a vendor. He was pressing for payment so I wrote a check and dated it four days out when I knew I would enough...
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What are the consequences when a recipient cashes a post-dated check early?
Both state and federal law contain provisions that address the cashing or depositing of postdated checks before the date appearing on the check. The laws can vary from one state to the next, but several states have postdated check laws identical to postdated check provisions in federal law. State Law
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Is Using a Fake ID Card Identity Theft?
Using a fake ID is a crime. How serious that crime is depends on where you commit it.
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Can I be charged with using counterfeit money if I didn't know it was fake?
A retailer, merchant, or individual may be defrauded by unknowingly accepting counterfeit currency. The person who uses counterfeit cash to purchase goods or services may be arrested and charged with a crime or crimes. But what if the person who has offered the false money claims to have not known that the money was counterfeit? Has the person actually committed a crime?
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As the world becomes increasingly digitized, more people are using the personal information of others to commit crimes such as identity theft. Identity theft is a crime that occurs when someone uses a victim’s personal information to pose as the victim in order to obtain goods, services, or anything else of value.
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If someone gives me permission to sign their name, have I committed forgery?
Signing another's name with permission is not forgery, but be sure that you sign in a way that reveals the permission.
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Florida has extensive laws against forgery and counterfeiting – creating or possessing documents that have been altered in some significant way. Most forgery crimes in Florida are punishable by time in prison.
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In Texas, the crime of forgery consists of making, altering, or using any falsified written item with the intent to defraud or harm another. Written items include any document but also coins, badges, credit cards and seals. Under Texas law, to forge means to: