Columbia Bank Fraud Lawyer
Bank fraud is a serious offense in South Carolina, and a conviction can leave you facing serious fines and penalties as well as far-reaching social consequences. If you or someone you care about is facing a bank fraud charge, bringing your strongest defense is key, and an experienced Columbia bank fraud lawyer is standing by to help.
Bank Fraud Defined
Bank fraud refers to engaging in intentional deception or fraudulent acts that are designed to obtain assets, cash, or other valuables from a financial institution. There is a wide range of fraudulent practices that are intended to target banks. They generally, however, fall into categories that involve making false statements or misrepresentations or engaging in schemes that are intended to deceive the financial institution and to, thus, compromise the integrity of the banking systems it has in place – for the financial gain of the perpetrator or of someone else.
Common examples include all the following:
- Check fraud
- Accounting fraud
- Mortgage fraud
- Identity theft
- Credit card fraud
- Embezzlement
- Wire fraud
- Bank impersonation scams
Check Fraud
One of the most common forms of bank fraud is check fraud, which relates to writing bad checks or fake checks as a means of paying for goods or services. For the charge of check fraud to hold, however, the state must prove your intent to defraud or cheat the other party out of the money they were owed. Check fraud breaks down into the following three primary categories:
- Having insufficient funds in the account the check is written on
- Not having an account at the bank the check is associated with
- Using a false signature on the check
While few people use actual paper checks in today’s world of increasingly electronic transactions, the same check fraud basics apply.
The Charge You Face
The severity of the bank fraud charge you face will be determined by a range of factors that include the overall extent of the fraud, the kind of fraud perpetrated, and what your intention is determined to have been. For example, using a credit card with the intention of defrauding the associated bank is a Class F felony that carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years and fines of up to $10,000. Things only get more serious from here, and federal charges tend to carry even heftier penalties.
Social Consequences
Another important consideration when it comes to bank fraud charges is the harsh social consequences that you’ll experience. Criminal charges and convictions are a matter of public information, and as a result, you could be subject to all the following:
- Difficulty finding a job
- Difficulty renting a home or obtaining approval for a home loan
- A decline in your social standing
- Losses in relation to any professional licensure you hold
- Fewer opportunities in relation to furthering your education
An Experienced Columbia Bank Fraud Attorney Can Help
Jonathan Harvey at the Law Office of Jonathan M. Harvey – proudly serving Columbia, South Carolina – is a trusted bank fraud lawyer who welcomes the opportunity to employ the full force of his considerable experience and skill on your behalf. Learn more by contacting us online or by calling us today.