A fraud case is an allegation that someone has committed some type of deception for financial gain. Examples of fraud are wire fraud, credit card fraud, check fraud, mortgage fraud and more. Fraud cases are often complex and require a skilled attorney to successfully defend.
A good first step in a fraud investigation is to review any suspicious activity that has been reported. A fraud detection and prevention system can help flag and prioritize alerts, so these are more likely to be investigated before a fraudster has the chance to commit a crime.
Next, interview any witnesses who may be able to provide context. For example, if there was a whistleblower or a suspect’s manager, they may be able to give you information that corroborates or contradicts the allegations. Other potential witnesses include the accused person’s colleagues, friends, or family members. Experts such as forensic accountants can also provide valuable insight into a case.
Financial records are key to proving fraud, so carefully examine any documents that may be at the center of an allegation. A skilled defense lawyer can look for errors or discrepancies in these documents, such as forged signatures, inaccurate dates, or mismatched data. They can also question the validity of a witness’ testimony or other evidence.
When pursuing a fraud case, you need to be able to prove that the defendant materially misrepresented a fact, they knew it was false, and they did so with intent to get you to act on that false representation. You also need to demonstrate that you suffered damage as a result of that misrepresentation.