Vista DUI Lawyer and Criminal Attorney Peter M. Liss

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san diego fraud attorney

San Diego Fraud Defense Attorney

I am fraud lawyer Peter M. Liss and if you have been charged with this serious crime or any other white collar offenses, I can help you fight the charges. I have been practicing law for over 35 years, tried over 100 jury trials, and successfully defended many people in similar situations. My Vista criminal law office is conveniently located just off the 78 highway across from the North County courthouse and jail. My San Diego criminal defense office is off the I-5 freeway in Carmel Valley. I accept all major credit cards. Please call any time, day or night, to schedule a free initial consultation where we can discuss your case.

What is Fraud?

Fraud is a type of theft that involves the use of false claims or deception. Most of these cases are considered white collar crimes because no one is put in danger of physical harm during the process, but just because these are not violent crimes does not mean they are inconsequential. Anyone facing such accusations should contact a Vista fraud defense attorney as soon as possible.

The Most Common Forms of Fraud

There are many different kinds of fraud charges in San Diego, California, and they all depend on what the suspect is said to have lied about. It is worth noting that the specific charges you will face in San Diego courts will depend on whether you are charged in a state or federal court and what, exactly, you are accused of doing.

credit card fraud san diego

Financial Fraud Crimes

The most well-known type of fraud is simply lying to someone else to swindle them out of money, which commonly involves some form of mail fraud, wire fraud, mortgage fraud or securities fraud. If you are accused of financial fraud in San Diego, you must contact an experienced lawyer to help protect your rights.

Defrauding the Government

The government is one of the most commonly defrauded organizations around, with benefits fraud being one of California’s most common forms of fraud. Welfare fraud occurs when someone attempts to obtain government benefits they would otherwise not be entitled to. The most commonly defrauded programs in California include:

  • Unemployment Insurance
  • Social Security
  • TANF (Usually called “Welfare”)
  • SNAP (aka “Food Stamps”)
  • SSI and SSD (Government-issued Disability Insurance programs)
  • WIC
  • Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program)
  • Medicare

 Some of the most common ways people commit fraud against welfare programs include: lying on applications, collecting someone else’s benefits, applying for benefits using multiple names, illegally giving benefits to others, or a non-California resident applying for benefits as a Californian.

Other forms of fraud people commit against the government include: falsifying information on an official government form, lying about their state of residency to avoid paying registration fees in California, or illegally using a disabled parking placard. Tax fraud can also result in criminal charges, but this rarely happens except in the most egregious cases.. Tax fraud can also result in criminal charges, but this rarely happens except in the most egregious cases. Instead, these situations are generally civil matters that may result in massive fines but no potential criminal penalties.

Insurance Fraud Cases

insurance fraud

There are many types of fraud perpetrated against insurance companies, but some of the methods that most commonly result in criminal charges include:

  • Filing false claims
  • Obtaining services with someone else’s name
  • Falsely inflating losses when filing a legitimate claim
  • Making an injury to get medical care or money from workers comp insurance
  • Committing property damage (often arson) to get collect compensation for damages

A few real-life examples include: purposefully getting in car accidents for insurance money, falsely claiming property was stolen to collect reimbursement, or lying about the date of an incident that occurred before or after the claimant’s coverage period.

Insurance fraud cases are investigated thoroughly by both the insurance company and the police, so anyone accused of one of these theft crimes should call a criminal defense attorney immediately to help protect themselves.

healthcare fraud lawyer vista

Healthcare Fraud Charges

Healthcare fraud is another common crime, which can sometimes overlap with insurance fraud. These charges require a healthcare fraud lawyer in Vista with experience defending individuals and organizations. This crime can be performed by doctors, pharmacists and nurses, even entire hospitals, physician’s offices and pharmacies, or, less commonly, by patients.

Medical Provider Fraud

Fraud by providers may involve billing insurance companies or government programs such as Medicaid (known as Medi-Cal in California) or Medicare for services that were not actually rendered. In other cases, services or medications provided to patients may be unnecessary and only given to inflate the bill. Pharmacists are occasionally charged with fraud for falsifying records so they sell controlled substances on the streets. The agencies most commonly victimized by these tactics are insurance companies and government programs such as the Veteran’s Administration, Medi-Cal or Medicaid. Each of these institutions has its own fraud investigation units to uncover suspicious billing and evidence against entities suspected of fraudulent billing. Anyone accused of this crime should always work with a Vista attorney with experience helping clients in need of a strong defense against healthcare fraud charges, whether it involves private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.

Medical Patient Fraud

Patients may also perpetrate medical fraud. Common examples include: participating in a “doctor shopping” scam to obtain large quantities of prescription narcotics, using someone else’s identity to obtain medical services for an uninsured or underinsured person, or forging a doctor’s signature on a prescription pad to obtain pain medication. When people try to defend themselves against these charges, they often make statements that can be used as a confession —particularly when they say they were just trying to help someone else who couldn’t afford treatment. To avoid saying something you may regret later, you should never talk to the police without a lawyer experienced in defending clients against charges related to Medicaid, Medicare or other forms of health care fraud in Vista or the rest of San Diego County.

Before you do something illegal, you may ask your attorney to answer any of your questions about the legality of a particular money-making venture that may seem ethically questionable.

What Are the Penalties for Fraud?

The penalties for these crimes vary depending on the specific charges, the details of the crime, what was taken, and whether the accused party is an organization or individual —but most fraud cases involve felony charges.  Any individuals convicted of these charges may face prison or jail time. If the crime involved large amounts of money, the potential prison sentence will increase accordingly.

Financial penalties for these crimes are also very significant, especially when the perpetrator is a corporation. No matter what the sentence entails, restitution to the victim is mandatory. It is also worth noting that this is a crime of moral turpitude, meaning it will often result in the loss of any professional licenses or accreditation.

Vista fraud lawyer

In some cases, you may face an individual charge for each time you broke the law. In these cases, it may be advisable to work with your fraud crimes lawyer to see if you can negotiate a plea bargain to minimize the charges you will face.

Been Accused of Fraud?

I Can Help You

fraud defense liss

As a top San Diego fraud defense attorney, I will always strive to achieve the best results for you, given your specific situation, whether that means fighting the charges or negotiating a plea bargain. When it helps your case, I will investigate the situation, gather evidence and interview police and witnesses so I can build and present the strongest possible defense on your behalf.

An Advocate on Your Side

I will always keep you updated about your case status and fight for you when it comes to arguing for reduced bail or making court motions that could help you. When you face penalties, I will work to obtain the minimum possible sentence or some form of alternative sentencing when available.

how to fight fraud charges

My Record Speaks for Itself

When you call my San Diego County law firm, you will always get an answer thanks to my 24-hour-a-day answering service and I always return calls promptly. I have earned top ratings on Yelp, Google and Avvo by always giving my clients the best possible representation at affordable rates.

I’m available, let’s talk

Criminal Fraud Charges

Mail fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, welfare fraud, mortgage and real estate fraud are all specific fraud charges under the law. If there is no existing law against the type of scheme you have been accused of performing, you may face various criminal charges. As a top fraud defense attorney, I can help you fight all types of related crimes, including:

  • Theft crimes
  • False impersonation
  • Identity theft
  • Employee theft
  • Forgery
  • Drug crimes
  • Using a fake ID
  • Mail theft
  • Elder abuse
  • Perjury
  • Arson
  • Internet crimes
  • Money laundering
  • Hacking
  • Conspiracy
  • Aiding and abetting

Different Fraud Schemes

Some of the many different types of fraud people may be arrested and charged for include:

  • Unemployment insurance scams
  • Worker’s compensation fraud
  • Election fraud
  • Healthcare fraud
  • Charity fraud
  • Auto fraud
  • Service dog fraud
  • Car registration fraud
  • Credit card fraud
  • Pyramid schemes
  • Handicapped placard misuse

Call a Fraud Lawyer Now

The San Diego Police Department and District Attorney each have specialized units devoted exclusively to investigating and prosecuting white collar cases. Additionally, if an insurance company was involved in the scheme, they will have their team investigate the case as well. These criminal cases may also be tried in a Federal Court and federal agencies have special investigators to uncover fraud. All of this means that if you have been charged with this crime, there is probably plenty of evidence against you.

prison sentences for fraud

Invoke Your Right to Silence

Never attempt to speak to investigators without an lawyer present. Remember that anything you say can be used against you and it is easy to incriminate yourself in these cases by trying to defend yourself. An experienced lawyer may be able to help you avoid prosecution or a prison sentence by negotiating directly with the victim of the crime. If you are under investigation for fraud or have already been accused, you need to hire a skilled white collar crimes lawyer in San Diego immediately.

How to Contact Attorney Peter Liss

For skilled, IMMEDIATE help with non-violent crime defense, including fraud, embezzlement, forgery and related offenses in Vista or San Diego, call lawyer Peter M. Liss:

(760) 643-4050or(858) 486-3024

Call 24/7, any time, any day. I can help you.

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Attorney Peter M. Liss,
(760) 643-4050
380 S Melrose Drive #301
Vista, CA 92081

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Copyright 2003, 2021 Peter M. Liss, Esq.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


About the Legal Information on This Website

I rely on my experience as a top defense lawyer in my area to personally review all information on this site; however the information offered here should not substitute as legal advice. If you have been arrested or charged with a crime in Vista, please contact a qualified defense attorney.