Dallas Fraud Attorney

A Dallas fraud attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve for any damages you have suffered from fraud. Most of the time, we think of fraud transactions as something done by someone else. But what if you are the one accused of committing fraud• You may think it unlikely, but it could happen. In this scenario, a Dallas fraud attorney is essential to build a good defense. But what are some common types of fraud charges• Where can you find a fraud Attorney in Dallas• If you run a business or if you deal with financial transactions regularly, this article is for you. What Is The Fraud Statute In Texas• A fraud statute is a legal definition that describes the specific types of behavior that are considered fraudulent. There are several different fraud statutes in Texas. These statutes are in place to help protect consumers from those who will take advantage of them through misleading transactions. Some examples of punishable actions under the Texas fraud statutes include making misleading claims or misrepresenting information related to products or services. Additionally, a person may be committing fraud if they lie about their financial situation to trick people into lending them money. Specifically, Texas categorizes fraud into different types: securities fraud, financial institution fraud, government program fraud, and health care fraud. It is important that you provide the complete details of your case to your Dallas fraud attorney to establish a good defense. Dallas Fraud Attorney – Types Of Frauds In Texas Texas fraud statutes cover a wide range of fraudulent behavior. If you are facing a fraud charge, it helps if you reveal all the details to your Dallas fraud attorney. It will help establish the technicalities surrounding your case. Below are some examples of each type. Check Fraud Check fraud occurs when someone uses a fraudulent check to obtain goods or services or pay for goods or services. Additionally, fraud occurs when someone pays with a bad check, never to have it honored by the bank. Texas fraud statute classifies check fraud as a Class C misdemeanor and punishable by a $500 fine. However, it can fall into a third-degree felony if the check amount is over $20,000. This offense is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Forgery Texas defines forgery as using false documents, signatures, marks, etc., as defrauding another person or entity. An example of this is signing someone else’s name to a check without their permission and then trying to cash the forged check. Texas penalizes perpetrators of forgery by convicting them of a state jail felony, which is punishable by up to two years in jail. It also carries a fine of up to $10,000. Government Program Fraud Government program fraud occurs when someone misuses Government funds from programs such as Medicaid or Medicare for their gain. The consequences for committing Government program fraud can include many years behind bars if convicted on charges of a first-degree felony. Such an offense is punishable by anywhere from five to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Health Care Fraud Health care fraud occurs when someone tries to defraud a Medicaid program or any other type of health insurance program. this type of fraud in Texas can take different forms. It includes billing for non-existent transactions, billing for more expensive services than what is factual, or providing unnecessary services to patients to increase profits. Health care fraud is a severe offense, and in Texas, it qualifies as a first-degree felony. It is punishable by up to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Identity Theft Identity theft occurs when someone steals another person’s personal information. It includes stealing social security numbers and credit card numbers to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft in Texas classifies as a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine. However, this could change if the offender commits identity theft against an older adult or a disabled person. In that case, the offense can classify as a state jail felony. It is punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. Insurance Fraud Insurance fraud occurs when someone tries to cheat an insurance company to obtain a benefit. It includes faking an injury to get medical care or filing multiple claims for the same loss. Insurance fraud in Texas classifies as a first-degree felony. It is punishable by up to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Intellectual Property Theft Intellectual property theft occurs when someone illegally uses another person’s intellectual property. It includes using their copyrighted artistic work or brand-name product for financial gain. Texas penalizes theft of intellectual property as a state jail felony. It is punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. Mortgage Fraud Mortgage fraud occurs when someone tries to trick a financial institution in connection with a mortgage loan. It includes falsifying information on a mortgage application or appraisal. Mortgage fraud categorizes as a third-degree felony in Texas. It is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Other Fraud Charges While the list above enumerates some of the most common types of fraud, other kinds of fraud are punishable by law in Texas. A Dallas Fraud Attorney can help negotiate to lower penalties on most fraud cases. Ponzi Scheme A Ponzi scheme is a type of investment fraud where someone promises investors high returns for their investment. However, they use the new investor’s money to pay off the old investors instead. Ponzi schemes classify as a first-degree felony in Texas. It is punishable by up to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Securities Fraud Securities fraud occurs when someone tries to defraud investors by making false claims about investments, such as stocks or bonds. Fraud statutes in Texas treat securities fraud as a second-degree felony. It is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Tax Fraud Tax fraud occurs when someone tries to evade taxes or conceal income. This type of fraud classifies as a state jail felony in Texas, punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. Telemarketing Fraud Telemarketing fraud occurs when someone uses telemarketing to commit fraud. It includes making false claims about a product or service or soliciting money for a fake charity. Texas prosecutes telemarketing fraud as a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine. However, the offense can classify as a Class B misdemeanor if the victim is 65 years of age or older. It is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Unemployment Fraud Unemployment fraud occurs when someone tries to defraud the unemployment insurance system. This can include collecting unemployment benefits while working or lying about your work history to qualify for benefits. Unemployment fraud is usually prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. Vehicle Fraud Vehicle fraud occurs when someone commits fraud in connection with the sale of a vehicle. It includes selling a stolen vehicle or selling a car with an undisclosed defect. Vehicle fraud classifies as a Class B misdemeanor in Texas. It is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. Welfare Fraud Welfare fraud occurs when someone tries to defraud the welfare system. It includes lying about your income to qualify for benefits or using someone else’s identity to collect benefits. Welfare fraud classifies as a Class A misdemeanor in Texas. It is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. However, it classifies as a state jail felony if the amount involved is $500 or more. It is punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. Workers’ Compensation Fraud Workers’ compensation fraud occurs when someone commits fraud connected with a workers’ compensation claim. It includes lying about your injury or exaggerating the extent of your injuries. This kind of fraud classifies as a Class A misdemeanor. It is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000. Additionally, if the amount involved is $1,500 or more, the offense can classify as a state jail felony. It is punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. In Texas, the penalties for committing fraud can vary depending on how much money was lost or stolen. Another factor is whether it was a crime against an elderly or someone who is disabled. Typically, first-time offenders may be sentenced to serve up to two years in prison and pay a fine of up to $10,000. Repeat offenders may face harsher penalties such as longer prison sentences and higher fines. Dallas Fraud Attorney – Defending Against Fraud Charges In Texas Immediately seek legal advice when accused of fraud in Texas. A Dallas fraud attorney can help build an effective defense strategy and represent your interests throughout the legal process. In some cases, a fraud accusation involves relatively small amounts of money or a business rather than an individual. In that case, it may be possible to negotiate a plea agreement that reduces charges and penalties. Your Dallas fraud attorney can also provide another recourse such as pursuing alternative forms of resolution. It includes mediation or arbitration, instead of going through the traditional court system. If you are facing serious fraud charges and want to level the field for a favorable chance, contact a knowledgeable Dallas fraud attorney today for assistance. The Medlin Law Firm is dedicated to helping clients facing fraud charges in Texas. They have a successful track record of getting charges reduced or dismissed. Contact them today for a free consultation to learn more about how Medlin Law can help you.