Fraud & Dishonesty Offences

Fraud and dishonesty offences encompass a broad range of criminal activities that involve deception or misrepresentation for financial gain or other illicit purposes. Some common types of fraud and dishonesty offences include:

1. Obtaining property or financial advantage by deception: This occurs when an individual uses deception to obtain property unlawfully or to improve their own financial position. This could occur when a person uses another’s credit card without permission or transfers money into their own bank account unlawfully. Obtain property or financial advantage by deception charges can be heard by both the Magistrates’ Court and County Court of Victoria. This is largely dependant on the alleged value of the unlawful gains.
2. Perjury: Perjury allegations arise when a person knowingly makes a false statement on a sworn document such as a statutory declaration or affidavit. Perjury is a serious offence that carries a maximum term of 15 years imprisonment.  There are two types of perjury charge; statutory perjury and common law perjury. It is vital to speak with a criminal defence lawyer to assist you in understanding your charges.
3. Commonwealth Fraud: Commonwealth fraud can include deception of federal departments such as the Australian Tax Office and Services Australia. Commonwealth fraud can include lodging false tax returns, claiming Centrelink benefits which you are not entitled to or lodging false documentation with government offices.
4. Forgery: Forgery involves falsifying or altering documents, signatures, or other instruments with the intent to deceive or defraud others. This can include forging cheques, contracts, wills, or other legal documents. These charges can often overlap with perjury and obtain property by deception charges.
5. Insurance Fraud: Insurance fraud involves making false claims or providing misleading information to insurance companies to obtain benefits, reimbursements, or payouts to which the individual is not entitled. This can encompass health insurance fraud, car insurance fraud, or property insurance fraud.
6. Internet Fraud: Internet fraud encompasses a wide range of fraudulent activities conducted online, such as phishing scams, online shopping fraud, auction fraud, email scams, or identity theft through cybercrime tactics.
7. Money Laundering: Money laundering involves disguising the origins of illegally obtained funds by transferring them through legitimate financial channels to make them appear as if they come from a legitimate source.

These are just a few examples of the many types of fraud and dishonesty offences that exist. Law enforcement agencies and legal authorities work diligently to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in fraudulent activities to protect individuals, businesses, and the general public from financial harm and deception.

If you have been charged with any fraud or dishonesty offending, Geelong Lawyers can provide you with specialised legal advice and represent you in Court.