Fraud: what is it exactly and how to steer clear of committing it unknowingly

As a definition of fraud, we can consider it to be a way of using trickery to gain a dishonest advantage over another person. This advantage is more than often financial and has a plethora of other descriptive words which can be used to describe the act, such as con, swindle, scam, hoax, cheat, ploy, ruse… the list goes on. Whatever you choose to call it, fraud is an offence and is punishable in a court of law, so before you find yourself calling in the services of a fraud defence solicitor, make sure you know how to avoid committing it unknowingly.

One of the most common types of fraud committed by innocent people is benefit fraud. With the current UK benefits system being fairly complicated and there being lots of different tax credits, disability premiums, allowances and payments being claimed, it can be all too easy to forget to tell a department about a change in circumstances which may affect the amount you receive. The best way to avoid benefits fraud is to contact the tax credits office if you think anything might have changed and ensure you are honest about the amount of income you are receiving.

Britons are well known for exaggerating on insurance claims, with a recent Telegraph newspaper survey uncovering the average claim to be £3,000 more than it was actually worth. Whilst it can be tempting to make a ‘quick buck’, this is actually a high-risk area as insurance companies have dedicated teams of investigators on the lookout for false claims. Penalties can be high, so ensure you are being honest in your claim and only asking for what you are owed.

There are many other types of fraud that are punishable by law and the sentencing is usually dependent on the type of fraud and amounts of money involved. Whilst ‘accidental’ fraud may carry a less harsh penalty, you are entirely responsible for your own affairs so you stand as much chance as anyone else of receiving a custodial sentence. If you find yourself accused of any type of fraud, the best course of action is to contact a fraud defence solicitor immediately for advice on what to do.