Tampa Bank Fraud Lawyer
Many people claim that if they could get away with any crime, they would rob a bank. Robbing a bank, however, involves violence, which would be hard for some people. So they settle for the next best thing: bank fraud.
Bank fraud differs from bank robbery because bank fraud does not necessarily involve violence. Bank fraud refers to any illegal act that involves the use of deception to obtain money from a financial institution. Like other fraud offenses, bank fraud involves the use of a scheme to obtain something of value.
Bank fraud is punished severely under federal law. A person convicted of this crime may be fined up to $1 million or face up to 30 years in prison. Avoid these penalties with help from a Tampa bank fraud lawyer from Scriven Law, P.A.
Types of Bank Fraud
There are many ways in which a person may illegally obtain funds from financial institutions. Here are some common examples:
- Check fraud. This involves altering or forging checks, stealing blank checks, or creating counterfeit checks to withdraw funds from a victim’s account.
- Credit card fraud. This involves stealing credit card information or creating counterfeit cards to make unauthorized purchases or withdraw cash advances.
- Identity theft. Those engaged in this type of fraud obtain personal information such as Social Security numbers, birth dates, and account numbers to open fraudulent accounts or access existing ones.
- Phishing and spoofing. This is when people send emails or create websites that mimic legitimate financial institutions, tricking victims into providing sensitive information like usernames, passwords, and account details.
- ATM skimming. This is when a person attaches devices to ATM machines to capture card information, enabling them to create counterfeit cards or withdraw funds from victims’ accounts.
- Wire fraud. A person may use tactics, such as impersonation or false information, to initiate unauthorized wire transfers from victims’ accounts.
- Loan fraud. Individuals or businesses provide false information or documents to obtain loans from financial institutions, often with no intention of repayment.
- Insider fraud. Employees of financial institutions misuse their access and authority to conduct fraudulent activities, such as embezzlement or unauthorized transactions.
- Mobile banking fraud. This involves using vulnerabilities in mobile banking apps or devices to gain unauthorized access to accounts, conduct transactions, or steal sensitive information.
- Investment fraud. Fraudulent investment schemes promise high returns but ultimately result in financial losses for investors, often through Ponzi schemes.
- This involves falsifying signatures, documents, or other instruments to deceive financial institutions or individuals for personal gain.
- Money laundering. This involves using financial institutions to disguise the origins of illegally obtained funds by transferring them through a series of complex transactions.
Contact Scriven Law Today
One main defense of bank fraud is lack of knowledge or intent. An example would be mistakenly believing that a fraudulent check was genuine.
A Tampa bank fraud lawyer from Scriven Law, P.A. can provide you with other defenses to this crime. Contact us today to learn more. To schedule a consultation, fill out the online form or call 813-226-8522.
