Top Rochester Hills, MI Telemarketing Fraud Lawyers Near You
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3317 S Old US 23, Suite E, Brighton, MI 48114
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Gormley Law Offices, PLC has experience helping clients with their Telemarketing Fraud needs in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
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2000 Town Center, Suite 2350, Southfield, MI 48075
For those working through a Telemarketing Fraud issue in the Rochester Hills, Michigan area, Lewis & Dickstein, P.L.L.C. can be your partner in law.
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3150 Livernois, Suite 115, Troy, MI 48083
When you need legal representation for your Telemarketing Fraud, connect with Law Office of John Freeman, PLLC in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
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42705 Grand River Ave, Suite 201, Novi, MI 48375
522 N Main St, Suite 200, Milford, MI 48381
28175 Haggerty Rd, 110, Novi, MI 48377
8424 Twelve Mile Rd, Suite 200, Warren, MI 48093
4000 Town Center, Suite 1350, Southfield, MI 48075
1775 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48084
32398 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48073
26339 Woodward Ave, Huntington Woods, MI 48070
276 S Union St, Plymouth, MI 48170
39111 West Six Mile Road, Livonia, MI 48152
44 1st St, Mount Clemens, MI 48043
1000 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Ste 103, Birmingham, MI 48009
2600 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 300, Troy, MI 48084-3312
1441 West Long Lake Road, Suite 310, Troy, MI 48098
1450 W Long Lake Rd, Suite 350, Troy, MI 48098
9042 Lewis Avenue, Suite 5, PO Box 490, Temperance, MI 48182
444 S. Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48067
613 Abbott St, Suite 150, Detroit, MI 48226
3150 Livernois Rd, Suite 126, Troy, MI 48083
30445 Northwestern Highway, Suite 225, Farmington Hills, MI 48334
17515 W 9 Mile Rd, Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48075
42400 Grand River Ave, Ste 109, Novi, MI 48375
Rochester Hills Telemarketing Fraud Information
Lead Counsel independently verifies Telemarketing Fraud attorneys in Rochester Hills and checks their standing with Michigan bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience
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Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.Annual Review
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Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
How Does Telemarketing Fraud Work?
Telemarketing fraud is the practice of scamming or fleecing recipients of your call by falsely representing a legitimate business or other enterprise.
Typically, scammers begin the call by creating a sense of urgency within the recipient of the call — perhaps saying that the recipient has won a prize (a cruise, etc.) and must supply their credit card information to pay for a nominal deposit. While a large number of call recipients may hang up or refuse to comply, a certain percentage of individuals inevitably will comply, and this is the payoff for the fraudster.
Once purchase or cash advances have been made against the victim’s card the scammer disappears.
What Are Some Examples of Telemarketing Fraud?
There are a number of popular telemarketing fraud schemes, ranging from the free cruise or vacation scam to simple cold-calling for sales products that will never be delivered (nonexistent culinary products, beauty products, medical products, etc.).
Perhaps the most popular example of telemarketing fraud involves the overpayment scheme. In this scenario, fraudsters use the phone to call unsuspecting victims while adopting the persona of a collections or accounting agent for a legitimate business or government agency such as VISA or the IRS. Under this guise, the fraudster advises the victim that they are in debt, with interest accruing at an unacceptable rate, and that they must pay their debt outstanding immediately. By using the aura of authority to intimidate their victims — as well as by creating a sense of urgency in order to get the victim to comply immediately, without considering the consequences or reliability of the caller — fraudsters manipulate their victims into emptying their bank accounts.
Who Investigates Telemarketing Fraud?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with investigating most serious cases of telemarketing fraud.
What Is the Penalty for Phone Scamming?
At the federal level, telemarketing fraud and email fraud are bundled together in the United States Code. Per these guidelines, there is an automatic forfeiture of all proceeds gained from the fraud in order both to make restitution to the victim(s) while also acting as a punitive measure. Penalties can be enhanced if fraudsters are seen to be taking advantage of pensioners or the elderly, with mandatory penalties ranging from 5 to 10 years in jail.
Generally speaking, phone scamming and telemarketing fraud are also prosecuted under the broader federal fraud statutes (regarding mail or wire fraud). Such offenses can lead to a punishment of no more than five years in federal prison — before considering aggravating elements.
Though telemarketing and email fraud are typically investigated by the FTC and charges are generally laid in federal court, states are also empowered to levy civil fines and further penalties for minor infractions. Fines can range from $1,000 to $3,000 per offense, plus restitution for any ill-gotten gains.
Can You Go to Jail for Telemarketing Fraud?
Yes. Because telemarketing fraud is so closely connected to other forms of fraud at the federal level, it is certainly possible to face incarceration in federal prison in response to a conviction.
For this reason, you should immediately secure the services of a skilled criminal defense attorney if you are facing charges related to telemarketing fraud. Not only can an attorney who is knowledgeable in the field of fraud law help you to navigate your charges — and how best to deal with them — but attorney-client privilege protects your discussions, keeping them private and allowing for honest conversation.
In many cases, your lawyer may be able to negotiate with the prosecution in favor of a reduced sentence, perhaps avoiding the prospect of jail entirely. A plea bargain may involve further financial restitution, some form of community service or both. A conviction on federal fraud charges is a very serious matter, and repeat offenders — or those who are accused of defrauding pensioners or other vulnerable populations — could face a lengthy prison sentence if found guilty.