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13 Mar 2025

Fraud is an umbrella term for a number of crimes that involve illegally and fraudulently acquiring money, information, or other personal gain. If you’ve been accused of fraud or are part of an investigation surrounding fraud, you could have to face serious consequences, whether you’ve committed the crime or not.

A fraud accusation can damage your reputation, your career prospects, and you may have to pay a fine or even face prison depending on the severity of the fraud. The safest thing to do is to contact a fraud solicitor as soon as you suspect that you might be involved in a fraud investigation.

What is a Fraud Solicitor?

Simply put, a fraud solicitor is an attorney who specializes in any case involving fraud. This can include cases involving:

• Identity theft, where someone has misused the personal information of another person for financial or personal gain.
• Fraud by false representation, where someone has made false statements in order to benefit.
• Fraud by abuse of position, where someone has abused their power in some way to protect someone or a corporation.
• Fraud by failing to reveal information, where someone hasn’t revealed important and relevant information that they were legally obliged to disclose.
• Mortgage fraud, where someone has falsified information in order to obtain a mortgage that the mortgage provider would have otherwise rejected.
• Credit card fraud, where someone has falsified information so that they can get credit cards that they wouldn’t have been able to get otherwise.
• Disability or benefits fraud, where someone has falsified information so that they can get government assistance that they weren’t entitled to, such as a health problem they don’t actually have.
• Tax fraud, where someone fills out their taxes incorrectly so that they can claim grants or pay less tax than they should.
• Insurance fraud, where someone manufactures an insurance claim, either by exaggerating real losses to profit or by deliberately creating a situation where they can get an insurance payout.
• Corporate fraud, which is a blanket term involving fraud cases in a corporate setting that might involve insider trading or bribery.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the types of fraud cases that a fraud solicitor might handle, but it gives an idea of the variety of cases that there might be. Some of these cases are serious crimes, while others might incur a more minor punishment.

Some fraud solicitors help the victims of fraud, but fraud solicitors also specialize in representing people who have been accused of fraud. Fraud can be difficult to prove, and a solicitor can make sure that your interests are represented during the investigation and any court cases. 

When Do You Need a Fraud Solicitor?

If you’ve waited until you are about to go to court after being accused of a fraud case, you’ve officially waited too long. Some companies have a fraud solicitor ready to go, simply because the risk of being investigated for fraud is higher in their line of work. 

A fraud solicitor can also help prevent you from inadvertently committing fraud, especially when working along with an accountant who can help you fill out company taxes.

As a general rule, you should get in touch with a fraud solicitor as soon as you become aware of a fraud investigation involving you. Even if you’re not being directly accused of fraud right away, you might become mixed up with an investigation, and this could still damage your reputation and career prospects.

The solicitor will guide you through the whole investigation process and make sure that you’re treated fairly and legally by the investigators. They will also help you to say and do the right things so you don’t accidentally incriminate yourself or make your situation worse in any way.

What Happens in a Fraud Case?

A fraud case begins when someone reports fraudulent activity to the authorities. From there, police or a fraud investigator will start investigating the suspected fraud. This might involve gathering documents, interviewing witnesses, and checking bank records and emails. This is also the moment when you should contact a fraud lawyer, even if you’re not the direct subject of the investigation.

A fraud case can take time as the investigators gather and analyze evidence. You may be interviewed multiple times or not at all, and your records might be checked thoroughly. If the investigation interferes with your career or your life, your solicitor might be able to help you mitigate these issues.

If there’s enough evidence for the case to go forward, the fraud suspect will be charged with a crime. If this is you, you don’t need to panic. Your solicitor will help you navigate this process. As well as the criminal case, some fraud cases also involve civil action so the fraud victim can recover what they’ve lost. 

The burden of proof lies with the prosecution team, which means that formulating a defence involves creating reasonable doubt. Your solicitor will help with this, and they will also try to lessen any penalties if you are found guilty of fraud. 

Hiring a Fraud Solicitor

As mentioned above, the best time to hire a fraud solicitor is either before you’re involved in a fraud investigation or as soon as you know that you are going to be investigated for fraud. This is because the sooner you hire an attorney, the sooner they can start helping you.

For example, law enforcement will need a warrant for many sensitive documents, and your solicitor can make sure that they follow this procedure to the letter. They will ensure that your rights are protected during the investigation and the subsequent court case. 

Be honest with your fraud solicitor and follow their advice as they help you navigate this process. They will join you in any interviews during the investigation to give you advice, and they will also represent you in court.

Being accused of any crime, including fraud, can be incredibly stressful, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life or your career. Your solicitor can and will help you through this.