Our specialist fraud defence team is ideally placed to advise and represent you or your company in relation to any fraud and money laundering prosecution.
If you are facing a fraud investigation for VAT fraud, Carousel Fraud, Phoenix Fraud, Benefit Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Ponzi Fraud, Pyramid Scheme Fraud, Missing Trader Fraud (MTIC Fraud), Boiler Room Fraud, Diversion Fraud or similar offences you will need representation from a team that has experience of such matters.
Call now 08444 936 057 to have a free consultation with a specialist solicitor
We have experience of prosecutions brought by the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), HMRC (Customs & Excise), CPS Organised Crime Department, Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Trading Standards, Office of Fair Trading (OFT), Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) and we can advise you in relation to any case brought by these prosecuting authorities.
Financial Crime
The global "credit crunch" is expected to lead to many investigations commencing within the financial sector. This will range from Financial Services Authority investigations relating to insider trading to police investigations concerning "dodgy" mortgage applications. As the tide of easy credit retreats, many lenders are now scrutinising questionable financial practices that were overlooked previously. We can help, whatever the situation.
Insurance Fraud Allegations
We have become aware that insurance companies are questioning insurance claims far more in the wake of the recession. Insurance investigators are quick to call in the police to assist their investigations with a view to voiding the claim, even where criminal proceedings are not brought. We can assist you in dealing both with the insurance investigator and the police.
In accordance with the case of Axa-v-Gottlieb, insurance companies can avoid paying the entire claim if they can show, on the balance of probabilities, that even £1 of the claim was fraudulent.
We also have extensive experience dealing with money laundering and associated offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. This includes assisting clients in cash detention and forfeiture proceedings where we have had considerable success in having assets returned to our clients. Prosecuting authorities will often challenge applications for legal costs, even when they lose these cases. We have specialist knowledge that has proved highly successful in having costs paid by the prosecutor in cash confiscation cases.
The Home Office has recently created an "incentivisation scheme" designed to encourage police and customs officers to seize cash suspected of being involved in crime. Under this scheme the police or customs can keep between 25% and 50% of the money seized and already high targets have been set year on year in order that prosecutors' budgets can be supplemented.
Although stripping criminals of their ill-gotten gains is entirely laudable, the use of this draconian legislation as a revenue raising tool has seen an increase in the seizure of cash from honest businesses and individuals by over-zealous law enforcers.
We are presently representing a family who had £50,000 seized when police entered the family home on an unrelated enquiry and discovered the cash. At subsequent court hearings the police applied for the continued detention of the cash on the basis that they suspected the family were involved in drug trafficking. At no stage did they substantiate these scandalous slurs and no evidence was ever produced. When we became involved the police quickly returned the cash and we are currently suing the police for compensation and costs on behalf of the family.
Read more here for other examples of contraversial cash sezures.
Pyramid Scheme Fraud
We are currently representing the first defendants ever to be charged by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) under new regulations that outlaw so-called "pyramid investment schemes" or "chain gifting schemes" (read more here). These are similar to "Ponzi Frauds" where the investors to the scheme receive compensation derived entirely from the payments made by other investors. There is no new wealth created and eventually there are insufficient investors to keep the scheme running and it collapses leaving many investors out of pocket.
We have the experience and expertise to deal with all fraud and related matters.
Contact our fraud case manager for further information or to arrange an initial meeting to discuss your case.
Call now 08444 936 057 to have a free consultation with a specialist solicitor
If you are facing a fraud investigation for VAT fraud, Carousel Fraud, Phoenix Fraud, Benefit Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Ponzi Fraud, Pyramid Scheme Fraud, Missing Trader Fraud (MTIC Fraud), Boiler Room Fraud, Diversion Fraud or similar offences you will need representation from a team that has experience of such matters.
The global "credit crunch" is expected to lead to many investigations commencing within the financial sector. This will range from Financial Services Authority investigations relating to insider trading to police investigations concerning "dodgy" mortgage applications. As the tide of easy credit retreats, many lenders are now scrutinising questionable financial practices that were overlooked previously. We can help, whatever the situation.
We also have extensive experience dealing with money laundering and associated offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. This includes assisting clients in cash detention and forfeiture proceedings where we have had considerable success in having assets returned to our clients. Prosecuting authorities will often challenge applications for legal costs, even when they lose these cases. We have specialist knowledge that has proved highly successful in having costs paid by the prosecutor in cash confiscation cases.