Fraud Solicitors in Birmingham

High-value fraud, such as corporate fraud, investment fraud, pyramid schemes, cartels, corruption and bribery are considered serious fraud. This type of fraud usually involves complex investigations by a number of national and foreign (for cross-border cases) agencies. The penalty for serious fraud is up to 10 years in prison and fines proportionate to the crime (no upper limit).

Fraud covers a wide range of offences but some of the most common types our fraud solicitors in Birmingham advise clients on include:

• Credit Card Fraud – Any fraudulent activity, including cloning/skimming a card, using a stolen card, stealing and/or selling stolen cards  
• Investment Fraud – This includes some of the most common corporate fraud offences, including boiler room fraud, pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes and more
• HMRC Tax Investigations – When the HMRC suspects your business isn’t paying the correct amount of taxes, they can launch an official investigation without prior notice 
• Insurance Fraud – Covers allegations of fraudulent activity involving insurances of all types, life insurance, medical insurance, home insurance, car insurance, pet insurance and more
• Cartel and Fixed Pricing – This covers serious fraud offences such as organising price-fixing rings, cutting off access to suppliers and bid-rigging
• Bribery and Corruption – Accepting bribes, offering bribes and conspiracy to bribe someone for personal gain are all common types of fraud 

If you are found guilty of a serious fraud offence, you could be sentenced to pay unlimited fines and spend up to 10 years in prison. As penalties in a fraud case vary greatly, the court takes a number of factors into consideration when deciding on the appropriate punishment. 

The questions that will have an impact on sentencing include: 

• Was the crime premeditated or opportunistic?
• What were the damages inflicted upon the victim (financially and personally)?
• How long were you involved in the fraudulent activity in question?
• Have you made an attempt to conceal or destroy evidence?
• Has the money gained as a result of the fraud been used to finance drug trafficking, human trafficking or any other illegal activity? 

Conspiracy to Commit Fraud is one of the most commonly faced fraud-related charges. It’s often used as a gateway to open a fraud investigation and uncover evidence to support further fraud-related charges. 

Conspiracy to commit fraud is defined as one’s intentional participation in an agreement to commit fraud. The fraud doesn’t have to have taken place yet for you to be found guilty. All the prosecution has to prove is that you willingly and intentionally agreed to defraud someone. 

If you or your business are facing fraud or tax allegations, it is important that you seek legal advice as soon as possible. Having a fraud solicitor in Birmingham in your corner from the get-go means that your rights will be protected at every stage, helping you avoid self-incrimination and minimising the damage the case has on your reputation. 

As serious fraud is a very complex area of the law, especially when high-value cases and international fraud allegations are involved, you should always look for an experienced legal team with a proven track record of resolving similar cases. 

The legal costs of hiring a fraud solicitor depend largely on the complexity of the case and the length of the fraud proceedings (some cases can take months). To discuss the projected cost and other details of your case, speak to our Birmingham team on 0121 270 1988.