The term “fraud” is used to describe immoral actions such as cheating, stealing, or lying. However, the formal definition is the “wrongful or criminal deception intended to achieve financial or personal gain”. The punishments for fraud in Texas can be severe, and the consequences usually depend on the type of fraud. Here’s what you need to know about the most common types of fraud and where you can get help if you’ve been arrested for committing this crime.
Identity Theft
When an individual\’s personal identifying details are stolen, such as their name, age, or Social Security number, it is known as identity theft or fraud. This information is usually stolen for misuse by others to falsely use their accounts to purchase products or services. Identity theft can also be used to access personal information that can help the thief commit a crime.
Consumer Fraud
This type of fraud includes any situation where unfair, false, or illegitimate business practices result in an individual suffering a personal or financial loss.
Insurance Fraud
Insurance fraud works in two ways. In some cases it means an insurance policy holder illegally claims more payments than what they were entitled to under their policy. In other cases, it means the insurance company deliberately denies or underpays benefits that are due to the policy holder or customer.
Pension Fraud
Pension fraud involves the use of misinformation and deceit when making claims for a pension. A person must illegally take or provide pension funds to be guilty of pension fraud.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is defined as the stealing or misappropriation of funds that belong to a person’s employer. These funds are put into the individual’s personal possession for their own use. For example, if you entrust your money for a specific purpose to someone, and they take some or all of it for themselves, they’ve embezzled.
Mail Fraud
Mail fraud is when someone intentionally deprives someone else of their mailed or wire-communicated property or services.
Credit Card Fraud
Credit card fraud falls under the category of identity theft, but specifically involves using the person’s banking information to fund their transactions of products or services. Without using their own money, the thief will purchase items, or they will withdraw cash from the debit card without authorization.
Telemarketing Fraud
This type of fraud refers to any kind of offense in which a criminal or scamming business communicates using the telephone to misinform, steal (money or identity), or harm a person. Claiming to be an agent of a company that you do not work for in order to gain access to someone’s accounts or have them send you money is considered telemarketing fraud.
Tax Evasion & Fraud
Tax evasion is when a person purposefully underpays their taxes or falsifies documents, so they owe less tax. Corporations and individuals can commit tax evasion and the punishments can be severe. Tax fraud is the process of deliberately evading tax laws or failing to file a tax return to avoid the taxes they owe to the IRS.
Money Laundering
Fans of the AMC television series Breaking Bad will understand this term clearly—money laundering is when “dirty” money gained illegally or from crimes is “cleaned” by filtering it through a seemingly innocent business or organization. These illegally obtained assets can also be filtered through foreign banks or “shell companies.” They obscure the ill-gained assets, making them appear lawful and legitimate.
Bank Fraud
This type of fraud involves illegally gaining assets, property, or funds that are held or owned by a financial institution or bank. It also involves obtaining funds from people who deposit their money in these institutions by posing as a bank officer.
Bribery
Bribery is when someone gives money to a government agency, public service, or organization to persuade them to provide favorable treatment or to influence them to do something that they would otherwise refuse to do. In this case, both the giver and the receiver commit fraud—it is a crime to take a bribe and to offer one.
Adoption Fraud
Illegally attempting to adopt a child or give up a child for adoption is known as adoption fraud. Bribes and dishonesty are usually the methods used to complete these transactions.
Let PCS Bail Bonds Help You
Depending on the type of fraud you or your loved one has committed, the consequence is likely arrest and jail time to begin. What happens after that is entirely up to the court. In these situations, choosing the right bail bondman in Texas can make all the difference in where your loved one spends their time before trial. For many people, seeking a bail bond in Texas is their way to keep their life as normal as possible as they await the decision. With the service of a trustworthy bail bondsman, the rights of you or your loved one will be protected.
PCS Bail Bonds can help you if you need to post bail or need advice about your situation. We provide 24-hour bail bonds for all kinds of charges including theft, drug possession, fraud, embezzlement, assault, and more. Our experienced agents can help you obtain a bond in a fraction of the time it would take with other bail bond agencies.
We have professional memberships in several renowned associations including the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, Tarrant County Bar Association, and Professional Bondsmen of Tarrant County. We serve clients in Fort Worth, Texas and other municipalities in Tarrant County. We process our clients’ requests quickly and efficiently. Our bail bond agents are always on-call and we can be down to the jail in under 30 minutes.
Contact us now by phone at 817-335-1655, at our e-mail, visit in-person, or fill out our bail bond request form. You can be confident that you’re working with experts who are dedicated to helping you.