Both scams and frauds involve using some kind of manipulation or deception to gain something for oneself, which usually means a financial gain of some kind. In other words, scams and frauds are intended to unfairly deprive their victims of something that is rightfully theirs. If you are facing a charge that involves either a scam or a fraud, reach out to an experienced Round Rock criminal defense attorney today.
One: Telephone Scams
A very common form of scam happens on the phone – when someone attempts to wheedle private information out of you for nefarious purposes. The call can originate from an actual person or may be a robocall. Common examples include scammers who tell you they need personal information and/or payment for one of the following reasons:
Because your social security number has been compromised
Because you owe money to the IRS
Because someone is suing you and you need to pay up over the phone
Because you are going straight to jail if you do not pay a specific fine
Because you have to pay a fee to obtain the prize, lottery, or sweepstakes you have won
Because you need to pay an administrative fee in order to receive a grant you have been awarded
Legitimate sources do not make these kinds of calls, but this list could go on and on.
Two: Charity Scams
When disaster strikes – the pandemic is a prime example – scam charities start coming out of the woodwork, and some of their favorite tactics include:
Strongarming you into a rush donation
Thanking you for an imaginary donation then guilting you into a real one
Using a charity name that is nearly identical to a legit charity that you know
Taking a sentimental approach but never telling you what your donation is actually for
Three: Banking Scams
Banking scams are all about gaining access to your bank information, and they often include phishing for bank information via email inquiries, setting up automatic withdrawals that allow access to your bank account, and more.
Four: Investment Scams
Investment scams generally hinge on offering unrealistically high returns for very little investment and no risk. Examples include:
Ponzi or pyramid schemes
Fraudulently requiring an advance fee
Pump and dump schemes in which the seller pumps up the value of a stock via a hard sell approach then dumps his or her own shares
Five: Ticket Scams
Ticket scams involve fraudulently selling highly sought event tickets. Examples include:
Charging extremely elevated prices (ticket scalping)
Selling duplicates of legitimate tickets
Pretending to sell a ticket as a means of obtaining credit card information
Do Not Delay Consulting with an Experienced Round Rock Criminal Defense Attorney
Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Round Rock, Texas, is a formidable criminal defense attorney who takes great pride in helping clients like you prevail with beneficial resolutions to the criminal charges they face. Your case is important, so please do not wait to contact or call us at 254-501-4040 today
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