A NY Defense Lawyer Explains Scams Involving International Money Transfers
With services like Western Union and MoneyGram, it is possible for money to zip around the globe in an instant. The ease and relative anonymity of moving money worldwide have given rise to international wire transfer scams, which can have serious legal consequences for perpetrators.
Those who are accused of involvement with scams targeting people in the United States could potentially face criminal prosecution no matter where they are physically located when the crime takes place. While the U.S. may have limited success investigating and extraditing people who are involved in international wire fraud and who live abroad, prosecutors are generally aggressive in going after those they believe they can catch.
Bukh Law Firms, PLLC provides legal representation to U.S. citizens as well as to foreign nationals accused of involvement with scams involving international money transfers. Our legal team can help you understand and protect your rights under the U.S. justice system with the goal of avoiding consequences or minimizing potential jail time and financial penalties. Contact us if you are being investigated, if the U.S. is trying to extradite you, or if you are under arrest and forced to stand trial in the United States.
Types of Scams Involving International Money Transfers
International money transfer scams typically involve convincing people in the U.S. to send money to someone who is located overseas. The person(s) who are scammed end up sending funds under false pretenses and usually end up experiencing financial loss as a result. The recipient of the funds is located outside of the United States and typically cannot be found or forced to give back the money once the scheme is uncovered.
A number of different techniques are used to entice people to send money under fraudulent pretenses including:
- Romance Scams: The perpetrator of the scam claims to be interested in forming a romantic relationship. Often, fake profiles are posted on dating and social networking sites and a “relationship” is developed via phone or email. The person being scammed is then asked to wire money.
- Business scams: Companies that routinely do business with overseas suppliers are targeted by people who have been monitoring their transactions. The business is asked to wire payment to an alternative, fraudulent account. Usually, the request is made via phone or email.
- Email hacking: An employee’s email account is hacked into and requests are sent to vendors on contact lists to wire money to foreign bank accounts. The accounts are controlled by those perpetrating the scheme.
- Check cashing scams. Those perpetrating the scam send a check to someone (usually, someone who was selling something or who was looking for a job). The recipient of the check is told to keep some of the money and wire some of the money to an account outside of the country. The recipient deposits the check and wires the funds, only finding out after the money is sent that the initial check was fraudulent.
These are just a few of many different examples of scams involving international money transfers. Any time someone in the U.S. is coerced under false pretenses or convinced by misleading statements to wire money to overseas accounts, this can be considered international wire fraud.
Penalties for International Wire Fraud
Penalties for scams involving international money transfers are generally similar to the consequences associated with other types of wire transfer fraud– with the only difference being that the scam originates from outside of the country and it can be harder for the United States government to actually move forward with legal action against defendants.
If a foreign national involved in a scam is caught and prosecuted in the U.S., the potential consequences are grave. Penalties for international wire fraud can vary depending upon the specifics of the scheme that you are accused of involvement with, but usually include making restitution (paying back money) as well as long prison sentences.
Wire transfer schemes, by design, induce a financial institution to part with money or assets under false pretenses. This means defendants could face charges for bank fraud, which is a federal offense carrying a potential maximum prison sentence of 30 years. The federal government has also defined wire fraud as a separate criminal offense, which also has a maximum sentence of two decades imprisonment or three decades in prison if a financial institution is a victim of the fraud. Defendants frequently face multiple charges for their role in international wire fraud schemes.
How a NY Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help Defendants Accused of International Wire Fraud
Bukh Law Firms, PLLC is here to assist you in arguing against extradition, fighting to get charges dropped, or negotiating a plea deal. The goal is always to avoid conviction, so we’ll also help you try to raise affirmative defenses or make the jury doubt whether you broke the law.
Whether you are a U.S. citizen or a foreigner, you should not be convicted in the justice system in this country unless a prosecutor can prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Our legal team brings ample legal experience to the table to help with the introduction of doubt so a jury won’t convict.
Call today to schedule your consultation and learn more about how a NY criminal defense lawyer can provide you with advice and aggressive representation when facing charges related to international wire fraud.
