Fraud Lawyer in Camden Point, MO. Being accused of fraud may sound manageable at first, but these cases only get more complicated. They often involve large amounts of complex records, expert testimony, and intricate relationships. These accusations need to be taken seriously, and to protect yourself against them, you need to call an expert Camden Point, MO, criminal defense lawyer.
If you need help fighting these charges in Camden Point, MO, you need Combs Waterkotte. Our firm is built on our pride in giving every client a high-quality defense, and we will not rest until you get the justice you deserve. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or sent us a note online today to get started.
While you’re waiting, the the state is working on their case. Get protection from legal professionals.
Cases Handled
Over 10,000
Jail Days Saved
Over 1 Million
Google Reviews
500+ Perfect
Legal Experience
100+ Years
Camden Point, MO, Fraud Lawyer: Page Summary
Here, you can read about:
- What sets fraud charges apart from other criminal accusations
- The role a fraud lawyer plays in defending you against charges;
- Common fraud charges in Camden Point, MO;
- Your next steps after being accused of fraud;
- Why your Camden Point, MO, fraud lawyer should be someone from Combs Waterkotte;
- Different fraud charge defense strategies that you should discuss with your lawyer; and
- How to contact our Camden Point, MO, fraud attorneys today.
Legal Videos
The Complete Guide to Criminal Defense in Missouri
The Complete Guide to Criminal Defense in Missouri. Attorneys Christopher Combs, Matthew Brown, and Martell Turner from Combs Waterkotte discuss everything you need to know about Missouri criminal …
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders?
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs talks about the differences in a defendant's experience when working with a public defender vs. a …
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri?
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri? If you've been arrested, the first thing you want to do is get out of jail and get back home. Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs …
How Does Plea Bargaining Work?
Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses how he negotiates the most favorable plea bargaining deals for his clients. You can read a transcript of the interview below.
Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped?
Can your criminal case get dismissed? How can your defense attorney get your case dismissed? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses what needs to happen to have your charges …
Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?
St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs explains how a private defense lawyer can offer the resources and attention to detail that many public defenders don't have time for. You can read a …
The Complete Guide to Criminal Defense in Missouri
The Complete Guide to Criminal Defense in Missouri. Attorneys Christopher Combs, Matthew Brown, and Martell Turner from Combs Waterkotte discuss everything you need to know about Missouri criminal …
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders?
Are Private Attorneys Better Than Public Defenders? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs talks about the differences in a defendant's experience when working with a public defender vs. a …
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri?
What Is the Process For Getting Bail in Missouri? If you've been arrested, the first thing you want to do is get out of jail and get back home. Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs …
How Does Plea Bargaining Work?
Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses how he negotiates the most favorable plea bargaining deals for his clients. You can read a transcript of the interview below.
Can Criminal Charges Be Dropped?
Can your criminal case get dismissed? How can your defense attorney get your case dismissed? Missouri criminal defense attorney Chris Combs discusses what needs to happen to have your charges …
Public Defender Caseloads Are High. Can I Trust One With My Case?
St. Louis defense attorney Chris Combs explains how a private defense lawyer can offer the resources and attention to detail that many public defenders don't have time for. You can read a …
How Are Fraud Crimes Defined?
Fraud crimes are white-collar crime cases where someone is accused of cheating another person by lying to them. It often consists of a person misrepresenting themselves in order to gain something, often for a financial benefit.
When trying to determine if an alleged crime counts as “fraud,” look for the following:
- The act of lying committed with intention
- The act benefits the alleged offender
- The alleged victim experiences some sort of loss
Romance scams are a popular form of online fraud. In them, an alleged perpetrator feigns affection for the alleged victim to later ask them for money or other favors.
It is not fraud if you were mistaken about something and unintentionally deceived someone as a result. A failed adoption can fall into either category: Adoption fraud is a process where someone exploits a family for money without any intention to help them adopt a child. But if someone took money from a family with the intention of helping them adopt a child, and something went wrong preventing it from being completed, it would not qualify as fraud.
Professional Help That a Fraud Lawyer Can Provide in Camden Point, MO
Having a fraud lawyer to defend you is essential when navigating the Camden Point, MO, court system. If you have any reason to suspect you’re being investigated for fraud, reach out to your attorney immediately.
When you work with a fraud lawyer, you’re getting the following:
- Explanations of Case – Some Missouri statutes are ambiguous and hard to understand. Fraud is no exception, but your attorney can break it down for you.
- Advice During Questioning – It’s possible that you’ll find yourself wanted for questioning because of an alleged violation. Your lawyer can help you navigate police tactics and preserve your freedom.
- Defensive Investigation – Investigation isn’t just for the state: A leading criminal defense firm will offer investigative services to find exculpatory evidence.
- Guidance for Your Reputation – You could face judgment and non-legal consequences as a result of the charges against you. An attorney can give you advice on how to handle it.
- Negotiating Skills – Most criminal cases end in a plea bargain. Your attorney can help you negotiate a favorable one.
- Representation at Trial – Not every case reaches trial, but if yours does, your attorney will argue against the prosecution and for your innocence.
On your own, you’re in a tough spot against the Camden Point, MO, prosecutor. With Combs Waterkotte at your side, you have a team that’s strong, experienced, and cares about your well-being.
Credit Card Fraud
§ 570.130 RSMo is the first statute that Missouri has regarding Credit card fraud. It restricts how a credit card can be used, mostly making it illegal to use one when you aren’t authorized to. It also makes it illegal to cancel a credit card payment for property taxes, even if you were authorized to make the payment in the first place. Breaking this law is typically only a class A misdemeanor, but can be elevated to a class E felony if the value is high enough.
The second credit card fraud statute in Missouri is § 570.135 RSMo. This makes it illegal to lie in order to get a credit/debit card, or use one that you know was obtained fraudulently. This offense is also a class A misdemeanor.
Bank Fraud
Camden Point, MO bank fraud cases can vary widely in scope, but all have to do with lying to a financial institution in some form or another.
The main bank fraud statute in Missouri is § 570.148 RSMo. This law makes it a crime to try to trick a bank into giving you money that you’re not supposed to. Depending on the amount and other circumstances, a conviction can be anything from a class B misdemeanor to a class B felony.
Identity Theft
Identity theft is against the law in and of itself, but is more likely to be a part of a greater alleged scheme, and can be just one of multiple charges in these cases. For instance, writing a check for another person’s bank account, forging their signature, and using their ID in the process could result in charges of bank fraud, forgery, and identity theft.
In Missouri, § 570.223 RSMo defines identity theft as intentionally taking or using someone else’s identifying information in order to commit another act of fraud. Normally, this means taking money, goods, or services illegally. Committing identity theft at all is a class B misdemeanor, but this can be elevated up to a class B felony depending on how much was taken.
Tax Fraud
Never take Tax fraud charges lightly. Tax fraud could mean being accused of intentional tax evasion, or it could mean failing to file a return.
Defenses to tax fraud often center around intent (e.g., a person accidentally underreported their income), but a skilled defense attorney will look for other tactics as well. Some others include good-faith compliance efforts or identifying mistakes on the part of the tax authorities.
Wire Fraud
Wire fraud may sound like a complicated crime, but it isn’t always. The federal government defines wire fraud as the use of wire (including the internet), radio, or television to send false messages, intending to take someone’s money.
Sometimes, a wire fraud scheme can arise out of a legitimate transaction. For example, if a person was looking to make a down payment on a house, and a hacker sent a false money request pretending to work for the realtor, the hacker could be charged with wire fraud.
False Impersonation
False impersonation is covered under its own statute, but is often charged alongside fraud charges.
As described in § 575.120 RSMo, false impersonation is when a person allegedly either pretends to be a government official, pretends to hold a professional license, or lies about their identity to the police after being arrested. On its own, this charge will only result in six months in jail (or one year, if you allegedly impersonated a police officer). But if the court decides to sentence you consecutively, you could be facing that as an addition to an already lengthy prison term.
Additional Fraud Charges in Camden Point, MO
Your fraud lawyer from Combs Waterkotte will fight against the full range of fraud charges in Camden Point, MO. Here are some more common charges we can help you with:
- Welfare Fraud
- Medicare/Medicaid Fraud
- Mortgage Fraud
- Immigration Fraud
Free book
How a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Protect Your Rights and Future
Combs Waterkotte has over 80 years of experience and over 10,000 cases handled. This ebook helps guide you through the criminal defense process and how an experienced, skilled defense attorney can keep your freedoms intact.
5 Steps to Take After Being Accused of Fraud in Camden Point, MO
As soon as you’re accused of fraud, it’s important to take proper steps to protect yourself. We recommend the following:
- Plead the Fifth – You have the right to remain silent, and should use it during any police interviews.
- Get Professional Help – You will likely be given the opportunity to make phone calls after an arrest. Make sure your criminal defense attorney is the first one.
- Ask for Conditional Release – Posting bail and securing pre-trial release gives you the flexibility to help build your defense.
- Collect Evidence for Your Defense – Evidence, such as documents, texts, photos, and data, can be crucial in building a strong defense.
- Work With Your Lawyer to Develop a Defensive Strategy – It’s your lawyer’s job to present the best defense possible for your case, and build a strategy based on your story.
Going to trial is always a risk. But a team of expert fraud defense lawyers can make a major difference in optimizing your outcome. Combs Waterkotte can offer you that.
What Sets Combs Waterkotte’s Fraud Defense Team Apart?
Our team of Camden Point, MO, fraud defense attorneys know how to fight cases in Missouri court. We want to give you a quality defense, built on over 100 years of cumulative courtroom experience.
We are dedicated to our clients, and take pride in offering comprehensive legal services to Camden Point:
- We have a reputation for excellence.
- We take the time to listen to you.
- We are always honest when evaluating your case.
- We have representatives ready for your call during evenings and weekends, because arrests can happen outside of regular business hours.
Our clients are our motivation to fight in court – send us a note now to have a lawyer work on your case.
5 Possible Fraud Charge Defenses
Picking a defense for your fraud case isn’t as simple as selecting an option from a list. Your Camden Point, MO, fraud lawyer will take the time to listen to your story and develop a defense based around it.
Here are five possible strategies we may draw from:
- No Intent to Defraud – Fraud charges in Missouri normally require intent to be found guilty. If you had no ill intentions, we can use this as a defense.
- Statement Was Not Fraudulent – If you made an opinion-based or vague statement that didn’t hold much weight, we can challenge whether it was enough to qualify as fraud.
- Lack of Victim Reliance – To be fraud, your statement must have impacted the alleged victim’s decision. If the statements did not actually influence the alleged victim’s decision, you did not defraud them.
- False Accusations – If a business deal was legitimate, but didn’t work out, a partner with hard feelings could make a false accusation of fraud. We can build cases designed to cast doubt on the supposed victim’s motives.
- Mistaken Identity – Perhaps another person was impersonating you while committing the fraud, and the state is accusing the wrong person.
Start Defending Your Freedom With Combs Waterkotte Right Away
Combs Waterkotte offers high-quality defenses for Camden Point, MO, citizens facing criminal charges, from traffic tickets to felonies. When you call us, you’ll get direct attention from an experienced attorney.
Get in touch with a fraud lawyer in Camden Point, MO, today at (314) 900-HELP or use our online contact form to request a confidential, no-strings case review.
