The elements of proof of FRAUD A typical definition of “fraud” is: “Any act or omission, including a misrepresentation, that knowingly or recklessly misleads, or attempts to mislead, a party to obtain a financial or other benefit or to avoid an obligation.”
Gathering Evidence for Your Court Case Support your fraud claim. When you present your case in court, you will have to prove each of the six elements of fraud. Gather the documentation. At this point, you should pull together every scrap of paper that has anything to do with your claim. Establish the testimony.
This paper briefly discusses the basic principles of evidence with which fraud and corruption investigators should be familiar, followed by their application to the proof of Corrupt and Fraudulent Practices. The two most important principles of evidence for investigators are relevance and weight.
Know the elements of fraud. To prove fraud in court, you must allege and prove all of the elements found in historical common law. In general, you must look for and define six elements: There was a statement or representation that was false.
Know the elements of fraud. To prove fraud in court, you must allege and prove all of the elements found in historical common law. In general, you must look for and define six elements: There was a statement or representation that was false.
Health care fraud. This includes doctors or other medical providers over-prescribing or obtaining medical equipment and charging your insurance. Instead of the healthcare you need, you end up with extra co-pays, co-insurance bills, or higher insurance premiums. Investment fraud, Ponzi schemes, and pyramid schemes.
The false statement must relate to a material fact. For instance, you examined the painting and discovered it was a print or a recently created copy. The statement was made intentionally made to induce you to act on it. This can be very difficult to prove. The other party must have known the statement was false.
Telemarketing or mail fraud. The phone call or letter claims that if you "act now" and pay money, you will receive some sort of benefit that seems too good to pass up on. Too late, you discover the truth is that the telemarketing, "Nigerian prince" letters, and other advance fee schemes are fraudulent.
Good documents include contracts, receipts, cancelled checks, letters, phone messages, and advertising material. Make a list of your documents and mark each one with the element of fraud that it supports. For example, an advertisement that is misleading can be the false representation.
Receive your decision. The judge will usually make a decision immediately, either in your favor or the defendant. Regardless of how the judge rules, do not comment, complain, or enter into discussion with the defendant. Gather your documents and exit the courtroom.
You don’t have to wear a suit or fancy dress, but your clothing should be neat, clean, professional, and respectful to the court. Don’t wear t-shirts with designs, flip-flops, very short or revealing clothing. Be comfortable. Depending on how many cases the judge has to hear, you could be there for several hours.
Circumstantial evidence of knowledge and intent in a fraud investigation might include, among many other things, proof that the subject, or someone acting at his or her direction, e.g., deliberately: Altered or forged a relevant document, such as a supporting document submitted with a bid or invoice;
The type of evidence – direct or circumstantial – that would be relevant to prove them, and apply that knowledge at every stage of the case, including: In case planning, to ensure that all potentially relevant evidence is identified and provision is made for its collection;
In collusive bidding cases , the investigation often begins with the identification of unusual bid patterns , such as bids being too close or exact percentages apart. This can be considered circumstantial evidence of collusion, and might be admissible itself to help prove the offense in some cases.
Documentary evidence. Documentary evidence usually is considered to be more reliable and persuasive than witness statements, but, as with direct and circumstantial evidence, a combination of the two, with one corroborating the other, is usually the most powerful.
Direct evidence is usually considered to be the strongest method of proof, but circumstantial evidence – evidence that tends to prove a fact indirectly, or by inference from other facts – also can be quite persuasive if presented correctly. [2] To be convincing (and admissible in court), circumstantial evidence must:
In most corruption and fraud cases the combination of direct and circumstantial evidence usually is the most persuasive.
Deliberately destroyed a relevant document, or improperly withheld it from investigators; Lied to investigators or to another party about a material point to hide their guilt, for example, in a bribery case, lied about the source of sudden new wealth (such lies are known in court as a “false exculpatory”);