Middle Tennessee Legal Blog
Don’t exaggerate your claim, or you could be accused of fraud
You know that faking an injury is a kind of fraud if you end up making an insurance claim for it, but did you know that just exaggerating your injuries could be fraud, too? It is a crime to defraud the insurance agency by falsely representing the facts of your case....
Be careful you are not committing mortgage fraud
If you are like most people, your income may have varied lately, and it is hard to predict how your income will look over the next few months or years. When you apply for a mortgage loan, you are required to state your income honestly. What you write down on the...
There are many forms of bank fraud, all serious
When it comes to bank fraud, there’s no two ways about it: It’s a serious crime that can have serious penalties in the event of a conviction. Generally speaking, bank fraud occurs when an individual knowingly attempts to or executes fraud against a financial...
Extortion: Don’t let yourself face prison and fines over accusations
Extortion occurs when you obtain something, whether assets or money, through threats or the use of force. You should know that extortion is against the law, and it can result in federal charges. An example of extortion would be if you suggested to someone that you...
Accused of Medicare fraud? You need to protect yourself
If you’ve been accused of Medicare fraud, you need to know that it’s extremely serious. It is essentially stealing from the government, and that can lead to heavy fines and penalties as well as a prison sentence. Today, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force is in charge of...
What kinds of behavior could lead to assault charges in Tennessee?
Under Tennessee law, there are two forms of assault, including both basic assault and aggravated assault. Aggravated assault charges typically stem from a situation that involves certain circumstances that make it more serious than a basic offense, such as the death...
Money laundering a serious federal crime
Money laundering occurs when someone funnels a large amount of illegally gained cash through a seemingly legitimate source. The name is derived from taking “dirty” money and making it look “clean,” or laundered. Large amounts of money can’t be deposited in the bank...
Pump-and-dump: A prevalent securities fraud
If a deal is advertised as “too good to be true,” it probably is, as is the case in the scheme known as “pump-and-dump” — a type of securities fraud. It’s a white-collar crime that has become more prevalent through the internet and especially in recent years as...
If you unbundle medical charges, that might be billing fraud
Both private insurance companies and federal insurance programs negotiate repayment schedules with medical providers such as hospitals and physician's offices to control costs. Agreeing to certain costs and terms are what make your practice an in-network care provider...
Why embezzlement carries more social stigma than other theft
Theft is a very common form of crime that involves one person intentionally depriving another of an asset for personal gain. Theft takes many forms, ranging from burglary, which involves someone stealing items from someone else's property, to retail fraud or...