Internet Fraud Solicitors
Updated on Monday 12th July 2021
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based on We have a team of internet fraud solicitors specialized in different types of internet frauds, also known as cybercrimes: hacking, cases related to cryptocurrencies, dark web, phishing etc. As cybercrimes are developing at a fast pace and different types appear nearly every week, we try to keep up with them and find the proper solutions for your case. Let our internet fraud solicitors in London provide you with the needed legal support and representation if you have been accused of such crimes.
Asking for legal support and representation
Many of these cases are spread internationally and the investigations usually take place in many countries. We can represent you no matter you are the victim of internet fraud or if you are accused of cybercrimes. We offer a free initial consultation and after that, you can decide if you want to be represented by us in court at every stage of your trial.
What types of internet fraud can be met in UK?
Our internet fraud lawyers in London can provide complete legal advice for internet fraud cases like the following:
- phishing – email fraud methods used by fraudsters to obtain financial information;
- hacking – a series of internet activities that can compromise your computer or any kind of electronic device;
- malware – a type of software programmed to cause several damages to a computer or system;
- cloning – the process that duplicates all your information found on a computer;
- breach of copyright and trademark – the case in which a person or a company uses your trademark without the rights to do so;
- internet fraud – the use of the internet to obtain personal information for specific benefits or targets;
- online fraud - internet scams used for obtaining personal information like bank accounts;
- email fraud – the type of email that solicits money or other valuables on behalf of a company or for a noble cause which eventually shows it is fake;
- cryptocurrency fraud – specific scams and schemes to solicit money, with the support of cryptocurrency;
- identify theft – stealing the identity of someone and act on his/her behalf by asking for money or other benefits;
Cybercrimes in UK
Most of the cybercrimes met on an international scale refer to the ways in which money can be obtained, through all sorts of illegal methods. Online frauds, for example, involve all sorts of scams sent via email to ask for many on behalf of a charity or institution. The mechanism is quite simple and in many cases conclusive, meaning that victims are persuaded to offer information about their personal bank account or influenced to open a new one and deposit a certain amount of money. Some fake stories or fictive contracts might turn an ordinary person into a victim of internet fraud. Whether you have been accused of online fraud or if you are a victim of cyber crimes, it is best to seek legal advice and get in touch with our internet fraud solicitors for legal advice and representation. Let our team of internet fraud solicitors in London take care of your case right from the police station if you have been detained for internet fraud charges.
Computer Misuse Act 1990
The Computer Misuse Act 1990 is a set of laws that stipulates the type of crimes involving the use of the internet and systems with the intention of committing different crimes like accessing specific information, changing passwords, making varied system modifications, or stealing private information, among many other things. Deleting or copying private data, accessing personal bank accounts, introducing computer viruses, using online chats on behalf of someone, accessing private emails, or changing the operating system are only a few of the internet and cyber crimes mentioned by the Computer Misuse Act 1990. The authorities are aware of the fact that such crimes develop on a daily basis and act in accordance by implementing different protection measures. Our internet fraud lawyers are here to provide comprehensive legal advice and assistance for all persons who have been accused of cyber crimes in UK.
What are the punishments in cases of internet frauds?
Imprisonment of up to 14 years is issued for individuals accused of cyber crimes in UK, plus related fines. For serious damages committed to institutions with the help of internet frauds, an individual can receive at least 10 years of prison. If you have been accused of internet fraud it is suggested to ask for legal advice from our internet fraud solicitors.
Defence for online frauds via emails
A serious concern refers to the internet frauds discovered every day is related to the online frauds made on the internet. There are cases in which simple persons become real victims once they reveal their private information comprising details about their bank accounts. Emails asking for charity money on behalf of a company are among the type of internet frauds mostly met nowadays. It all starts with an email that comprises details about a so-called foundation or company that wants to collect money for a noble cause. Such an email might comprise a complete description of the foundation plus information about a cause they are raising money for. Even convincing pictures and/or details about the social media channels involved might be presented in such an email, ending with the request of sending money to a specific bank account. There are also cases in which an email asking for money for a friend might be met. The first thing to do is to report as spam or delete the message and avoid any possible internet fraud that might turn you into a victim. It is quite normal to report such cases and to ask for the legal opinion of an advisor, especially if you have been trapped in such a scam. Our internet fraud lawyers are by your side with comprehensive legal advice if you consider you have been a victim of online fraud.
Asking for money on the internet
Most of the online frauds are strictly related to those kinds of emails in which personal information is solicited. Things like the name, address, bank accounts, and passwords are requested via a fake email that represents an individual, a company, or an organization. There are many emails that can involve varied countries from Asia, South Africa, or America. It is highly recommended to report such emails as spam because under any circumstances you cannot provide your private details especially the ones related to your finances. You do not need to respond to such emails, you should delete them right away. There are many persons who for varied reasons consider such emails a cry for help from friends, especially if a sum of money is requested. There are also cases in which the email presents an offer you cannot resist, like traveling to a particular place in order to receive an amount of money. This is also another form of online fraud via the email, a virtual trap that you should not access. We remind that no small, medium, or large company or institution in the world would solicit fees or money transfers on the internet. All charitable acts in which money is requested are normally presented publicly and not in a private email. Also, you have the possibility of reporting any suspicious email which contains information or requests like the ones mentioned above. However, if you have been trapped in such an internet fraud, you should ask for legal assistance and talk to one of our internet fraud solicitors in London for legal guidance.
How does the mechanism work?
Victims of internet fraud are asked to provide a personal bank account or to open a new one in a foreign country and then send a specific amount of money to that account. In order to present a sort of credibility, the impostors send well-made emails with documents, photos, fake stories (or contracts signed by fictive persons and ask for small amounts of money at the beginning). Moreover, if the first email is credible enough and the victim sends the requested sum of money, there are cases in which the fraudsters turn back with another financial request. In return, they can promise that the money is directed for special cases involving children, animals, and many more. Actually, the victim will discover that the personal bank account is out of money, a case in which he/she should immediately contact the police. We remind you that these are serious cases in which you should ask for legal help and recommendations in order to recover the damages through legal ways.
Our internet fraud solicitors can help in fraud cases
Our team of internet fraud solicitors in London is at the disposal of all victims of online frauds who would like to report such cyber crimes and look for legal support. On the other hand, offenders accused of internet fraud and sent into police custody are recommended to get in touch with our team of advisors and look for the proper legal support for their case. Internet crimes are often linked to financial bank accounts of victims who for varied reasons decide to access the emails soliciting all sorts of favors involving money. In many cases, the victims discover quite late that they have been robbed on the internet and their bank accounts have been hacked. In any case, the legal aspects can be entirely explained by our team of criminal defence solicitors in London who can represent you in front of the authorities if you decide to act in accordance. No matter the type of cyber fraud and no matter if you are a victim or an offender accused of such serious crimes, it is best to seek legal advice and discover the ways in which our team of lawyers can help.
Do I need to report online frauds to the police?
Yes, it is extremely important to call the police and report the crimes you have been involved in. As a recommendation in this sense, you can also solicit our support when going to the police station to report your problem.
Identity theft, a serious concern for internet experts
It is well known that identity theft causes quite a lot of financial losses globally. The UK is no exception, and unfortunately, there are thousands of cases of identity theft reported each year, putting the authorities on constant alert. Although there are many projects and investments in this direction, there are always questions such as:
- How well is our identity protected on the internet?
- How well do the authorities protect our online identity?
- Are institutions prepared to face problems such as identity theft?
These are just a few questions that are largely related to the rapid advancement of technology, which unfortunately allows access to personal data for illegal purposes by third parties. According to specialists, such crimes are considered serious consequences of the modern economy and its rapid evolution internationally. Although there are hundreds or maybe thousands of articles that mention in detail all kinds of protection measures against identity theft, it seems that in fact there is not enough information in this direction. The prevention of identity theft, which already has many forms today, is important and must be emphasized every time by the authorities. Here are some questions and answers to keep in mind when dealing with such issues:
What do I do if I detect that my identity has been used on the internet without my consent?
Unfortunately, individuals who lose their personal documents are also vulnerable to crimes like identity theft. In this case, the specialists recommend that the persons who have lost their identity documents must immediately notify the banks they collaborate with, the authorities, the utility providers, and/or other institutions such as the medical ones or the schools. It is also suggested to change the profile on the internet, especially for online payments that currently take place.
What do I do if I find out that payments were made on the internet without my consent?
In this case, it is clear that you are a victim and that you must turn to the appropriate authorities to resolve this issue. In addition to this, it is important to know that you must also contact the banks where you have accounts, either personal or related to the company you own. An internet fraud solicitor in London can help you with legal advice and counseling to solve such problems. We are here to provide you with the necessary legal support to successfully resolve such situations.
Useful tips for preventing identity theft
Although the advice is generally valid, UK citizens are advised to pay more attention to preventive measures against identity theft. Here are some of them:
- Personal documents are presented only to entitled authorities or institutions such as banks or service providers, and not to foreigners.
- Retention or copying of documents cannot be done by third parties. You can risk being a victim of internet fraud.
- It is recommended not to send on the internet, with the help of e-mail, identity data, and/or information about personal bank accounts.
- It is important to know that no public or private institution will ask for telephone, personal account information, passwords, and other such identification methods.
- The use of antivirus programs is essential for the protection of data stored on the computer.
- If you suspect a harmful website or that is requesting information that would not normally be provided, then you should leave it and even report it.
- And performing banking transactions in front of an ATM can be vulnerable, considering the internet connection. Various devices can be used to copy personal bank card data. So, pay attention to the ATM used!
- Receipts and bills can contain personal information, so be careful where you store or dispose of them. It is preferable to break them if you no longer use them, to prevent possible fraud.
Here are some statistics on internet fraud in the UK:
- According to data revealed for 2019 by the Office for National Statistics, nearly 63% of the fraud incidents were registered by email and online.
- Around 76% of the internet fraud incidents resulted in financial losses.
- Only 15% of the internet fraud was reported to the British authorities.
- About 21% of computer virus incidents resulted in personal data breaches in 2019.
Contact our internet fraud solicitors in London immediately if you are in police custody for internet fraud and you need legal assistance.