Carroll County Fraud Lawyer
Fraud is a very serious crime in the state of Maryland. Depending on the exact type of fraud and its severity, a conviction for fraud could result in imprisonment of up to 15 years. While the most common types of fraud involve bad checks and credit card fraud – it is important to speak with a Carroll County fraud lawyer if you or anyone you know has been charged with fraud. Contact a skilled criminal attorney as soon as you are made aware of the charges against you.
Fraud Related to Credit Cards and Checks.
While Maryland law breaks fraud down into specific crimes, the crime of fraud is generally defined as lying or deceiving someone about important facts in order to induce someone to rely on those misrepresentations in a way that enriches yourself but harms the other party.
What Does it Mean to Write a Bad Check?
It is illegal for anyone to write a check that is drawing on funds where there is no account, the account has been closed, there are no funds in the account, or there are insufficient funds in the account to cover the check. While the exact penalties vary on a number of factors, the punishment for writing bad checks under Maryland fraud law mostly depends on the amount of the check.
As a Carroll County fraud lawyer knows, someone may only face a misdemeanor charge if they are accused of writing bad checks under $500. However, that charge still involves imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine of up to $100, or both. If the bad check was valued at over $500 then the person has committed a felony which could be punished by imprisonment of up to 15 years, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
Defining Credit Card Fraud
Credit card fraud is considered obtaining another’s credit card by fraudulent misrepresentation. The Maryland Criminal Code states that someone may not knowingly make a false statement about his or her identity in order to procure a credit card. Violation of this law is a misdemeanor that could result in imprisonment of up to 18 months, a fine up to $500, or both.
This type of fraud is classified as anyone taking another person’s credit card away from them without their knowledge or consent. It is also considered illegal to buy or sell credit cards. A violation of any of these Maryland fraud laws is a misdemeanor and could result in imprisonment of up 18 months, a fine of up to $500, or both.
What Does it Mean to Create a Fake or Counterfeit Credit Card?
It is a crime to falsely make or falsely emboss a credit card – essentially, you cannot alter a credit card in a way that makes it usable by anyone other than the authorized user. The statute also criminalizes knowingly transferring or possessing a counterfeit credit card. The crime of creating a fake or counterfeit credit card in Maryland is a felony that can result in imprisonment of up to 15 years, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.
How a Carroll County Fraud Attorney Can Help
Fraud is a very serious crime, and a conviction could result in jail time, regardless of whether the crime was a misdemeanor or a felony. If you or a loved one have been accused of credit card fraud or writing bad checks in Maryland, then you should contact a Carroll County fraud lawyer as soon as possible to learn about your options.