Guidance and support
Being accused of a fraud offence of any sort can be an incredibly stressful experience that can not only impact a person’s personal life but also have implications that affect them in a professional context.
This is why it is vital you know when to call upon a fraud solicitor to help guide you through these difficult times and make sure your legal rights are respected and upheld throughout any legal proceedings as the case progresses.
Get yourself covered
Often in cases involving fraud, criminal or quasi-criminal activity, arrests and raids can occur when a person least expects it; this not only stresses out the accused but also leaves a massive amount of strain on any other household member, family or friends.
If you have been called in for questioning or arrested on criminal charges, you have to get the proper legal guidance and support as quickly as you can.
You are legally entitled to have a solicitor present with you throughout any questioning, either within the station or at your home, and it is always advised that you do so in order to protect your rights and avoid accidentally implicating yourself.
It is vital that you get the correct legal representation for the crime that you are being accused of. That way, you can rest assured that the solicitor by your side knows everything there is to know about the legal process of such offences and what should or should not happen.
What sort of crimes are considered fraud?
As you can probably imagine, fraud is a massive and complex area of law that covers everything from HMRC and tax investigations to money laundering and investment fraud.
Typically, all fraud-related crimes are those that involve giving false statements, misrepresentation or deceitful conduct in order to obtain some form of financial reward.
In the UK, fraud laws are governed by the Fraud Act 2006, which is legal legislation that details the three main types of fraud, as recognised by the court. These include ‘fraud by false representation’, which is when someone dishonestly makes a false representation in order to gain financial profit themselves or expose someone else to a potential financial loss.
The Fraud Act 2006 also cites ‘fraud by failing to disclose information’, which is when a person fails to disclose information to a party they are legally obliged to do so. Another is ‘fraud by abuse of position’, which is when a person knowingly abuses a position they hold in which there is an expectation to safeguard a person’s financial interests.
Representation at the station
If you are being accused of any type of fraud offence and asked to come down to the police station for questioning, then you are entitled to have a fraud solicitor present with you at all times. This solicitor can help you answer any questions you may be asked as well as speak on your behalf and make sure that you understand the process that is happening and the reasons behind it.
