Some say that sunny Florida is a dream state, perfect for vacationing or permanent residence. Others, apparently, say that the state is a haven for white collar crime. According to some, it has been a location of under-handed activities since the earliest settlers gathered there.
In the past 10 years, three of Florida’s most thriving areas have become renowned for scam activities, including false medical procedures, stolen identities and thefts from banks, the government and private individuals. A laptop computer is said to be a “weapon” of choice, used by some to carry out fraudulent deeds online. It has been reported that South Florida ranks highest for fraud among all states in the nation.
A top agent for the investigative unit for the Internal Revenue Service said that when fraudulent crimes are traced, it is often found that the scamming scheme at-hand originated in Florida. Some data suggests that close to 200 out of every 100,000 residents complained of identity theft-related incidents in 2013. In light of this information, it would be logical to assume that there might be people who have been arrested and charged with criminal activity that would most likely benefit from legal assistance in the matters at-hand.
In Florida and throughout the United States, anyone accused of white collar crime or any other criminal act has the right to defend himself or herself against the charges in court. Additionally, each person facing charges is able to request an advocate by retaining representation from a criminal lawyer in the area. An experienced attorney would be able to help a person determine what options are available in light of the charges against him or her with regard to impending court proceedings.
Source: startribune.com, “By nearly any measure, sunny South Florida is tops in fraud from ID theft to mortgage scams“, Curt Anderson, July 29, 2015