Messing around with fraud and faking documents is a scary thing to do. It’s sad, but there are many people out there who commit fraud. Their lives are forever changed.
Whether they get caught or not, there is something that happens to them that changes their thinking and the way they interact with the world.
Have you ever thought about committing fraud? How much trouble can you get in by driving without proper documentation or providing forged documents? Having a fake car insurance card, filing a fraudulent car insurance claim or an expired license can have adverse effects on your life.
If you’re trying to cheat the system or got caught doing so, we’ll go over the penalties you could be facing.
We’ll also supply you with ways to uphold the law, ensure you have what you need should you get pulled over, and talk about some other documents you can fake that will bring you some severe consequences.
As stated previously, having fake identification cards can have some severe effects. Some criminal law defenses can save you from experiencing punishment for your actions, but those only apply to people who have committed accidental fraud.
Below, we will look at the possible consequences of trying to cheat the system on purpose.
There are two kinds of possession of a fake ID. One is a misdemeanor, while the other is a felony. For misdemeanor possession, you could be served a fine as large as $1,000. With felony possession, you can get a fine of up to $10,000.
Getting caught with falsified documents can result in a probation sentence of 12 months or more. The sentence will be given by a judge who will determine the amount of time you’re required to serve.
During your probation, you will need to regularly report to a probation officer, notify them if you are planning to leave town, maintain your employment, avoid associating with any known criminals and pay all your required fines.
If you violate your probation, you may be given a longer sentence if the judge feels lenient. If they are not, you may be sentenced to jail time.
There are no set hours you can be assigned for community service, but you can expect to do some, especially if you go on probation. Community service can include working with a religious or nonprofit organization.
Insurance providers don’t take fake identification lightly. Should you get into an accident, and they find out you have fake identification, they will immediately deny your claim, even if the other person was at fault for the accident.
Whether you falsify an insurance card or your driver’s license, your license plates could be suspended consequently. You could also have your driver’s license suspended as well.
For misdemeanor possession, you can serve up to a year in jail. For felony possession, you could serve up to three years in state prison. Even if you’re considered to be a minor, you can still experience juvenile arrest and detention.
Upholding the law is about compliance and obedience. Below we will look at three ways you can abide by the law and avoid the consequences of ignoring it.
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to have insurance before you drive. Driving without insurance is illegal in most states, and as stated above, you will face some severe consequences if you are caught without it.
Insurance is required by law in most states, so you must be aware of what states are more lenient about insurance than others.
Even if you think you have it, please check again with your provider. Accidental fraud is still fraud, although the consequences are not as severe as purposeful fraud.
It’s important that you tell the truth whether you have proper documentation or not. Lying about having your driver’s license, insurance, or registration is a type of fraud.
As far as it depends on you, ensure that whatever you say to your insurance provider or to the local authorities is all accurate and true. There may be times when you believe what you say to be accurate when it is not but keep those moments few and far between.
We’ve looked at how faking your driver’s license or insurance card can get you in serious trouble, but what other documents can be manufactured and cause some adverse effects on your life?
Below, we will look at some of them in detail.
Sales receipts are given to the customer by the vendor. Falsifying information on a sales receipt can get you in a lot of trouble, depending on how much you steal from the customer. You will face fines, restitution for the victim, and possible jail time.
Lying about your income so you won’t have to pay taxes is never a good idea. You could end up serving a maximum of 10 years in prison and substantial fines.
Fraud of this kind can look like withholding information about your income, giving a false social security number, and claiming personal expenses are for business purposes.
While some tax fraud instances are simple mistakes, purposely committing fraud can result in very serious consequences. If you are suspected of fraud, you will be audited. The auditor can fine you or refer you for criminal fraud depending on their findings.
Auditors are specially trained to look out for common mistakes people make on their tax returns, so if your case is a simple misunderstanding, there is a good chance the auditor will not take any action.
However, if intentional fraud is found, you will have to face the potential consequences.
Check fraud is a very common and serious offense. Many states differ in their laws on consequences for falsifying these documents, and there is a wide variety of penalties a judge can grant.
The amount of your forged check can play a part in how severe your punishment might be. Smaller amounts, such as $250 or less, often see a penalty of one year in jail and a fine up to $3,000.
However, if you commit fraud on a larger scale, your punishment may be much worse. You could be looking at five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
Counterfeiting checks have very damaging penalties. Forgery and other tactics to create fake checks will result in fines and imprisonment. Both will depend on the severity of the crime.
Faking academic transcripts might not seem like a big deal compared to the other documents listed above, but this is something that can negatively affect your life and your education.
In some cases, these kinds of fraud can be considered felonies and could lead to fines or imprisonment, depending on the severity of the crime. This is not always the case, but it’s good to avoid this kind of behavior.
Fraud is a serious offense and results in some hefty penalties. It can even affect your career if you’re not careful. If the charge becomes a felony, it will be challenging for you to find employment and get insurance.
No one will see you as trustworthy and reputable.
Think before you act and ensure that you have what you need should you get pulled over. Do your best to live a life of honesty and integrity. Both attributes will take you a long way.
Fraud will only destroy your life and the lives of those affected by it.
Alexandra Arcand writes and researches for the car insurance site, CarInsuranceComparison.com.
