Fraud crimes in Arizona can refer to a wide range of illegal conduct, but they all have one thing in common: acquiring personal benefit by deception. These fraudulent acts can occur as a result of the use of incorrect or misleading information, false assertions, or the purposeful misappropriation of property or finances. Theft crimes, white collar crimes, and fraud schemes are all examples of fraud offences. A fraud offence can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the amount earned.
Fraud crimes are rigorously investigated and prosecuted because they can involve big sums of money, banks, financial organizations, or government bodies. Fraud crimes can occur in a variety of situations and environments, most commonly at work or when someone has access to finances. They can also be the result of theft, such as credit card fraud or identity theft. A retail employee stealing a cash sale is an example of a fraud offence. They can also be massive, intricate operations that take years to develop, such as pyramid or Ponzi scams. Regardless of the sort of fraud perpetrated, the state of Arizona handles fraud offences sternly and severely.
The Legal Definition of Fraud
Fraud charges can be either civil or criminal. Civil fraud refers to incidents involving ill faith; sanctions in these situations are meant to chastise the perpetrator and return the victim to the personal or financial position he or she was in prior to the fraudulent activity. A criminal fraud allegation, on the other hand, presumes the fraud perpetrator’s intent.
The particular definition of fraud varies between federal and state laws, but a fraud allegation must include many fundamental elements. A fraud allegation must generally prove the following:
(1) a misrepresentation of a fact;
(2) by a person or entity who knows or thinks the fact to be untrue;
(3) to a person or entity who rightfully relies on the misrepresentation; and
(4) injury or loss resulting from this reliance.
In most states, each of these components must be established separately in order for an incident to be considered fraudulent.
Embezzlement- Arizona Fraud Crimes
Embezzlement occurs when someone who is entrusted with another’s property, particularly money or access to it, utilizes it for their own personal gain knowingly and without consent. The majority of kinds of embezzlement are classed as white-collar crimes. Depending on the amount stolen, embezzlement can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. When an employee or authorized professional, such as an accountant or bookkeeper, steals money from an account to which they have access, this is a frequent kind of embezzlement. This might happen if they write checks to bogus merchants and deposit the checks into their personal account. Or having checks written out to legitimate vendors but at exorbitant prices in exchange for a cut of the extra profit. Embezzlement is not just limited to the corporate realm. Another type of fraud is a church treasurer taking or diverting money from the congregation to their personal bank account.
Have you been arrested for fraudulent schemes? Is your loved one facing fraud schemes charges? It is vital that you hire an experienced and aggressive criminal defense attorney, one who knows how to effectively represent someone charged with this serious offense. Call Oliverson Law DUI & Criminal Defense at (480) 582-3637 today to get started with a free, confidential consultation. We are available 24/7.