Fraud Charges and other white collar crime

Fraud is considered a serious crime in Australia and the penalties can be severe. Known as ‘white collar crime’, Fraud charges can often result in lengthy jail sentences. If you have been charged with Fraud it is important that you get expert legal advice as soon as possible.

We have over 25 years experience representing people charged with fraud and other white collar offences.

We provide legal advice to clients on the North Shore, including North Sydney, the Northern Beaches and all other areas across Sydney. We can help you defend fraud charges and represent you in Court.

Call us for help 24 hours on (02) 9955 2298, or 0400 44 64 24 (after hours emergency service) for expert legal advice and legal representation in Court. Your first telephone consultation is free.

Fraud Offences and White Collar Crime

Fraud offences (aka White Collar Crime) carry high maximum penalties but they can often be successfully defended. At the very least, in almost all cases it is possible to negotiate with the Police or the prosecuting authority to have charges withdrawn.

• Fraud offences
• Identity crime offences
• Forgery Offences
• Money Laundering
• Taxation offences
• Company Law offences
• Environmental offences
• Bribery
• Centrelink Fraud
• Insider Trading

Common fraud offences include Obtain Benefit by Deception; and Obtain money by False or Misleading Statement s.192E of the Crimes Act 1900.

The matters which determine the seriousness of fraud offences are:

• The amount of money involved;
• The Length of time over which the offences are committed;
• The motive;
• The degree of planning;
• Whether there is a breach of trust.

Other offences related to Fraud in the Act include:

• 192F Intention to defraud by destroying or concealing accounting records;
• 192H Intention to deceive members or creditors by false or misleading statement of officer of organisation;

Other sections of the Act relevant to Fraud are sections:

• 192B Deception
• 192C Obtaining property belonging to another
• 192D Obtaining financial advantage or causing financial disadvantage

Offences committed against the Australia Tax Office are often prosecuted under the Criminal Code (Commonwealth) or the Anti Money-Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act 2006.

Defending White Collar Crime requires a very close and rigorous examination of the prosecution Brief of Evidence. The Brief of Evidence commonly includes Banker’s Affidavits and reports by Accountants, as well as the Statement of the investigating Police, ASIC or ATO officers, It often happens that rigorous examination of these documents can reveal substantial gaps in the prosecution case or expose technical defences which can be exploited.

If you cannot or do not wish to defend the charges against you, and if your case proceeds to a sentencing hearing we can assess all mitigating circumstances that may be available to you, such as gambling problems and debt problems, alcohol and depression and we can obtain reports from psychologists and other experts for use in Court so you get the most lenient sentence possible.

At all times we will vigorously pursue your interests whether that involves appearing for you in Court to defend the charges or appearing for you in a Sentence Hearing, or negotiating with the Police, the DPP, the Australian Taxation Office, Australian Customs or ASIC.

North Shore Criminal Law is regularly instructed to defend clients in fraud-related prosecutions, particularly complex fraud matters.

William Vahl of North Shore Criminal Law appears in these courts.

If you have been charged with a fraud or white collar crime offence call North Shore Criminal Law on (02) 9955 2298 or our 24 hour Emergency Service on 0400 44 64 24.