What Are Your Rights When You’re Facing Accusations of Internet Fraud?

What Constitutes Internet Fraud?

Internet fraud includes online crimes (or “cybercrimes”) such as phishing, identity theft, and other online acts intended to take someone’s money or property fraudulently. If you are charged with an internet fraud crime, contact a Fort Lauderdale criminal defense attorney at once.

The internet provides outstanding benefits to almost everyone who uses it, but it also provides ample opportunities for criminals to target the innocent. From basements and bedrooms to offices and boardrooms, criminals perpetrate millions of dollars of internet fraud every year.

If you are charged with an internet fraud crime, you must not rely on a lawyer with little or no computer background or knowledge. In fact, it may become your lawyer’s job to explain to the court – and if there’s a trial, the jurors – about the technology that’s pertinent to your case.

How is Internet Fraud Perpetrated?

Criminals use a number of different strategies to defraud the innocent on the internet. They use instant messaging and email to spread malware, phony websites that steal a visitor’s data, and complicated phishing scams. Here is how most of the fraud on the internet is committed:

1.  Phishing and spoofing: Criminals use messaging and email to deceive victims into sharing login credentials, personal identity details, and personal financial information.
2.  Data breaches: Data is breached when criminals steal confidential, sensitive, or protected information from individuals, businesses, organizations, or government agencies.
3.  Denial of service: A denial of service may happen when criminals prevent visitors from accessing an online network, system, or service with malicious intent.
4.  Malware: Malware is malicious software that may be used to damage or disable users’ devices or to steal their data.
5.  Ransomware: Ransomware is malware that may prevent a user from accessing critical information. Ransomware then demands payment to have that access restored.

Charged With Internet Fraud? How Will a Lawyer Defend You?

If a law enforcement agency violated any of your legal or constitutional rights while compiling evidence to charge you with an internet fraud crime, your Fort Lauderdale fraud lawyer will act to have the charge dropped or to have the case entirely dismissed.

Sometimes an internet fraud charge is the result of a misunderstanding or a mistake that someone made with no criminal intent. Other times, innocent people are tricked or confused into clicking a link that shouldn’t be clicked, and they can innocently commit a crime without knowing it.

Entrapment is rarely offered by defense attorneys, and it rarely works as a defense in internet fraud cases. Law enforcement agencies in the State of Florida know the entrapment rules, and generally speaking, law enforcement officers know how to avoid violations of those rules.

Will You Face State or Federal Charges?

Depending on the specifics of the case, a fraud crime committed on the internet may be charged as a state crime or as a federal offense. Although a number of Florida statutes prohibit various types of fraud, internet fraud crimes are usually prosecuted as federal offenses.

The FBI investigates internet fraud allegations, and federal courts almost always penalize internet fraud convictions harshly. If you learn that you are under investigation by local law enforcement or by the FBI, contact a Fort Lauderdale fraud attorney as quickly as possible.

Do not wait until you have been placed under arrest. Immediately contact a South Florida defense attorney who can intervene with investigators on your behalf, offer evidence of your innocence, and begin negotiating for a reduced charge or an acceptable plea bargain.

A delay in retaining legal help increases the possibility that you may be charged with a serious internet fraud crime. It’s rare, but in some investigations, a defense lawyer may have success persuading the FBI or local police to drop your case completely before any charge is filed.

How and When Should You Exercise Your Rights?

If you are the target of a federal or state internet fraud investigation in South Florida, your right to an attorney and your right to remain silent do not suddenly “kick in” once an arrest is made or a criminal charge is filed.

You have the right to be advised by a criminal defense attorney right now, and you have the right to remain silent right now if a federal or local law enforcement agency asks to interrogate you.

If an FBI agent or another investigator appears at your residence or workplace, be cooperative and polite, but don’t answer questions – even if you’re not guilty of anything. Say something like, “I would prefer to remain silent until I can speak with my attorney,” and say nothing more.

Let George Reres Law Advise and Defend You

If you are charged with an internet fraud crime in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in South Florida, you must be represented by a Fort Lauderdale fraud lawyer who has substantial experience and success representing those who are charged with internet fraud crimes.

Our award-winning team at George Reres Law will protect your rights, fight for the freedom and justice you need, and bring your internet fraud case to its best possible resolution. Your defense attorney will review the case against you and will take action to have the charge dropped or dismissed, negotiate for an acceptable plea agreement, or fight at your trial for your acquittal.

If you become the subject of an internet fraud investigation in South Florida, or if a charge against you is currently pending, contact George Reres Law immediately by calling 954-543-1186 to schedule an initial, in-depth evaluation of your case without any cost or obligation.