In our experience, fraud investigations and prosecutions are very difficult and can take a significant amount of time to be resolved. Therefore, clients who have been the victims of fraud would often be served by investigating the matter internally to:
- Establish that an offence has been committed, particularly before making allegations against particular individuals;
- Obtain and preserve evidence that may be lost if immediate steps are not taken to investigate the matter;
- Prepare a brief for review by the relevant law enforcement authorities to expedite the consideration of the matter and assist in the identification and gathering of further evidence that may be necessary; and
- Assist in providing a brief to the relevant prosecuting authority.
In assisting clients with investigating fraudulent conduct, Rowe Bristol Lawyers is experienced at (among other things):
- Advising the client as to the legal requirements of the relevant offence;
- Advising the client in relation to other related legal obligations such as employee rights, requirements of confidentiality and defamation in investigating suspected fraud;
- Advising the client as to obtaining and preserving evidence that would be necessary for a successful fraud prosecution; and
- Preparing a brief for and liaising with law enforcement authorities to expedite the investigation and prosecution of the relevant parties.
If you require legal advice in relation to a fraud investigation, please contact us to arrange a meeting so that we may consider your specific circumstances.
The above information is provided as general information only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. The accuracy of this information may have changed from the date when it was published.