Fraud as defined by Black’s Law Dictionary: “Fraud consists of some deceitful practice or willful device, resorted to with intent to deprive another of his right, or in some manner to do him an injury. As distinguished from negligence, it is always positive, intentional.” As can be garnered from the above definition fraud depends on lies and deceit used to deprive a person of property, money or legal rights, as in a situation where real property is fraudulently transferred.
Fraud in Movies Like “The Sting” and “Ocean’s Eleven” & TV Shows Like “Leverage”
Movies like “The Sting” and both versions of “Ocean’s Eleven” as well as TV programs like “Leverage” glorify fraud and usually contain a justice motive to make things right. The reality of fraudulent activity is more malevolent. Many elderly and retired persons live on the economic ledge. Financial losses can be catastrophic. Unfortunately many fraudulent scams target the elderly.
Fraudulent Crimes Against the Elderly & Others
When dealing with possible fraud the truism that “if it sounds too good to be good, it is too good to be true” often rings true. Those who master the fraud game do appeal to their victim’s sense of greed. To be a con artist you have to be personable. People need to like you and you must master the art of gaining trust. We all want to extend our economic margins to an extent. But fraudulent scams appeal because of the illusion of easy money. Those who are financially savvy realize that to expand wealth entails some risk and the willingness to invest. These same people are also aware of risk in even legitimate investment opportunities. But the fraudster reduces or minimizes the risk and promises a grand return. The elderly living off their life savings are particularly vulnerable to the idea of a quick return with safety of their principle investment.
Fraud Paper Trails & Electronic Documentation Evidence
One thing that is present in most advanced fraudulent schemes is a paper trail. Documentation is used to sell the product, give an illusion of legitimacy and promote a lucrative and quick return of the investment. But documentation will provide a paper trail for investigation. Credit Card Fraud leaves a trail of electronic documentation. If obtained by theft, pick-pocketing or fraudulent means like identity theft, the credit card has a short maximum useful life. Theft and larceny offer short term life spans for a credit card, and thieves will try to take them to their limits in less than 72 hours. Many will purchase items like high end electronics and then sell these items for cash. Credit instruments created in conjunction to identity theft have a much larger time span, sometimes over a year or more. Many people don’t realize they are a victim of identity theft until they are tracked down by bill collection agencies or apply for credit and find out it has been trashed. But there is almost always a documentation trail left for the investigator. Embezzlement is usually discovered by close inspection of genuine business related documents. But documentation in fraudulent crimes is almost entirely or at least partially fiction. As mentioned above fraud docs are used as window dressing to validate the fraud.
Fraud Investigation Process & Techniques
Most of those who commit these crimes tend to be mobile, nearly itinerant in nature. They move in, set up the fraud, collect their money and move on creating jurisdictional considerations. Computers and color printers find extensive use in these scams. Others get caught up in their own fraud and greed and are captured while the scam is in progress. The fraud investigator needs to be knowledgeable in a broad range of business practices. We have to figure out the how, what and when. We usually know the “who.” Then put it together for court in a manner understood by all. The court, jury and the legal practitioners need to understand the sometimes convoluted nature of fraud. The real Agatha Christie type investigations are fraud, not the typical homicide. The “how” and “why” (motive) are the challenge in fraud investigations.
Fraud Private Investigations in Greater Miami, Sunny Isles, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton & Miami Gardens Florida
Do to the secretive nature of fraud, some state accommodate this by modifying their statute of limitations provisions. Many police departments are understaffed; paper crimes are not usually given a priority. You may have to hire a private investigator to conduct your fraud investigation. Call on the professionals at Advanced Private Investigator & Security of Fort Lauderdale Florida to investigate a fraud.
