Fraud
In criminal law, fraud occurs when cases are presented differently from what they actually are. Forms of fraud:
- tax fraud
- Bottle pulling (food piracy, black tanks)
- computer and internet fraud (cybercrime)
- bankruptcy fraud
- mortgage fraud
- identity theft
- benefit fraud
- falsity of writing
- insurance fraud
When can there be fraud?
You must have deliberately given a misleading impression. In addition, it must have been your intention to gain an economic advantage. Finally, you must have acted unlawfully or illegally. If these conditions are met, fraud will generally be involved. When false documents are used, the suspicion takes the form of forgery. When a false representation is made in any other way (for example, by lies) there may be fraud.
What are the penalties for fraud?
The maximum penalties for fraud vary from 4 years for fraud to 6 years for forgery. Substantial fines may also be imposed. These are maximum penalties. Depending on the seriousness of the fraud and your personal circumstances, the court can also impose a much lower penalty. In addition to or instead of imprisonment, the judge can also impose community service or a fine alone.
Specialized Defense
Meijers Canatan Advocaten has been offering specialised legal assistance in fraud cases for decades. These include, among other things:
- legal counsel for hearings
- negotiating with the Public Prosecutor's Office on the method of settlement (if possible by means of a dismissal, whether or not subject to conditions)
- legal aid for the hearing at first instance, appeal and cassation (if necessary)
Lawyers from our firm acted in many of the most important fraud cases, such as the Clickfonds case, the Bouwfraude case and Klimop ( Bouwfonds ) case. We also provide legal assistance if you experience the consequences of a fraud investigation, such as problems in obtaining a Certificate of Good Behaviour (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag, VOG) and a possible deprivation procedure.
Our lawyers can assist you throughout the Netherlands. We litigate at the Courts of Alkmaar, Almelo, Amsterdam, Arnhem, Assen, Breda, Dordrecht, The Hague, Groningen, Haarlem, 's-Hertogenbosch, Leeuwarden, Lelystad, Maastricht, Middelburg, Roermond, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Zutphen and Zwolle, the Courts of Appeal in Amsterdam, Arnhem, The Hague, 's-Hertogenbosch and Leeuwarden and the Supreme Court of the Netherlands in The Hague.
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