Federal Bank Fraud Lawyer

Federal Bank Fraud Attorney

Banks are highly regulated by federal authorities, with banking agencies consistently monitoring the banks and anyone doing business with the banks to ensure that no violations have occurred. When a fraudulent crime has happened within a bank, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will get involved. If you are convicted of bank fraud, you need the assistance of a federal bank fraud lawyer.

What Is Bank Fraud?

The United States Code understands bank fraud to happen when someone has purposefully committed or attempted to defraud a financial institution. It also includes anyone who has taken money, funds, credits, assets, or any other property that is owned by a bank by false representations or promises.

Some common examples of bank fraud include:

• Loan applications, particularly including false information
• Forged checks
• Not including necessary information on bank documents
• Electronic fraud
• Identity theft
• Illegally using ATM machines
• Credit card theft

When you’ve been arrested for a white-collar crime, such as bank fraud, you need a criminal defense attorney who understands the federally complex nature of the justice system. As these cases tend to be prosecuted at an extremely high amount, they are not cases that you want to handle on your own. The penalties for a conviction could be severe and are likely to be life-altering.

There are many other charges that an individual may be convicted of aside from federal bank fraud. Below are a few other types of fraudulent charges that are associated with bank fraud charges.

• Electronic Fraud

  Electronic fraud, also known as “wire” fraud, can include any type of fraud that has taken place digitally, such as over the internet or certain electronic devices. Federal investigators have special technology equipped for catching electronic fraud. Individuals convicted of this type of crime face jail time, fines, and liability for any damages.

• Credit Card Fraud

  This type of fraud refers to an individual using a credit card as fraudulent funding in order to pay for something. It may look like stealing a person’s credit card information and using it to pay for items. It may also look like buying and selling others’ credit card information. This type of fraud can be charged either in federal or state court.

• Mortgage/Real Estate Fraud

  Mortgage fraud typically involves several people, such as developers, loan officers, real estate agents, title agents, appraisers, accountants, and even attorneys. This kind of fraud requires a lot of thought and planning, as it is a complex task trying to defraud a lending institution, namely, banks. Many cases of mortgage fraud include individuals who illegally receive a mortgage loan and then use that loan for their own personal use.

  Other kinds of real estate fraud include occupancy fraud, income fraud, appraisal fraud, employment fraud, failing to reveal liabilities, and cash-back scams.

• Identity Theft

  Identity theft can be done in multiple ways but always involves taking someone else’s identity for personal gain, including fraud or theft. It typically means that one person takes another person’s personal information to apply for credit cards, open new bank accounts, take out car loans, personal bank loans, or mortgages. The information used for identity theft is an individual’s name, social security number, birth certificate, passport, or driver’s license.

  Identity theft can be charged as a federal offense. Usually, an individual charged with identity theft is facing other charges against them, such as credit card fraud or mortgage fraud. If you are charged with identity theft, consider hiring a criminal defense attorney to help you discover your legal options.

Defenses Against Federal Bank Fraud Charges

There are many strategies that can be used in defending bank fraud charges that lawyers use in your case. Some of these strategies involve:

• Lack of intent: In order to be charged with bank fraud, it must be apparent that the defendant’s actions proved intent of defrauding a bank. If there is no evidence of intent, the charges may be dropped.
• Lack of knowledge: A defendant can claim that they were unaware that what they did was illegal or fraudulent.
• Insufficient evidence: If there is no way for the prosecution to prove that the defendant committed the crime because of lack of evidence, charges against the defendant may be dismissed.

FAQs for Bank Fraud Lawyers

Q: What Is the Federal Law for Bank Fraud?

A: The federal law for bank fraud denotes that anyone who has willingly planned to defraud a bank or financial institution in order to illegally acquire money or other property may be charged heavy fines and incarceration. As a means of acquiring this money or property, the individual uses false information or a false identity.

Q: What Is a Federal Bank Fraud Charge?

A: A federal bank fraud charge involves someone knowingly committing or attempting to commit a crime by defrauding a bank or other financial institution. This can also mean that the individual has used false or stolen information to illegally acquire money, credit, assets, or other property owned by the institution. If convicted of federal bank fraud, the individual faces very heavy fines and decades in prison.

Q: What Is a Bank Fraud Conspiracy?

A: A bank fraud conspiracy involves at least two people who develop a plan to defraud a bank or financial institution. In order to prove that it was a conspiracy, the prosecutor must demonstrate that at least two people conspired a plan to commit a crime and that at least one of the conspirators took action towards committing the crime. Everyone involved in planning a bank fraud conspiracy can be convicted of the crime.

Q: What Is Federal Wire Fraud?

A: Federal wire fraud involves any type of fraud that takes place over electronic devices, either over state lines or overseas. This includes fraud committed over the internet, wire, radio, or television communications. Fraudulent information is sent via these electronic devices to illegally acquire money, assets, and property or even send threatening messages to others.

Consult With a Federal Bank Fraud Lawyer

Because banks are highly regulated by federal authorities, including constant monitoring of transactions, it is difficult to get away with fraudulent charges. If a crime has been committed within a financial institution, the Federal Bureau of Investigation will get involved. If you are convicted of bank fraud, consider hiring a federal bank fraud lawyer. Contact the Law Offices of Barry M. Wax for help with your case.