Criminal Law · Ontario
A fraud lawyer can review financial records, alleged dishonesty and the loss or risk of loss claimed by the Crown.
View all Criminal Law servicesDiscuss your matter with Dildeep Sahi in a free consultation.
Free initial consultation. Basic details only; not for emergencies.
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Fraud involves deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means that deprive another person of money, property, a service or another protected interest. A risk of economic loss can be enough; an unpaid debt or failed business deal does not automatically establish fraud.
Section 380 requires proof of the prohibited conduct and the required knowledge and intent. Value affects the offence category and potential punishment. Sentencing may involve imprisonment, restitution and other orders, depending on the amount and circumstances.
Counsel traces transactions, reviews contracts and communications, and tests the alleged misrepresentation, authority and loss. The assessment separates disputed business obligations from evidence capable of proving a criminal offence.
Fraud requires a dishonest act, such as deceit or falsehood, and deprivation or a risk of deprivation. The required knowledge also matters. A business loss, unpaid debt or failed contract does not by itself establish criminal fraud; the representations, authority and state of mind must be examined.
An actual permanent loss is not necessary in every case if the dishonest conduct exposed another person’s financial interests to risk. Conversely, financial difficulty alone does not prove dishonesty. Counsel can compare what was promised, what was known at the time and how the other party’s money or property was affected.
A transaction may involve an employee, business owner, account holder and person giving instructions who are not the same individual. Signing authority, approvals, access logs and complete communications can help identify who made a representation or directed a payment. An account appearing in the records is a starting point for inquiry, not a substitute for proving the accused’s role.
Preserve contracts, invoices, banking records and original messages that you may lawfully access. Prepare a short chronology showing who approved each disputed step. Aftermath Law can organize that record, compare it with disclosure and assess whether additional financial analysis or a challenge to the way evidence was obtained is needed.
The value alleged can affect how fraud is charged and the available penalties. Repayment may be relevant to a proposed resolution or sentence, but it does not necessarily erase an offence already committed. A private settlement also does not control whether the Crown continues the prosecution.
Discuss any repayment or contact proposal with counsel before acting, particularly where release conditions apply. Do not alter or backdate records. Advice should also address any identified employment, professional or immigration implications, with appropriate specialist input where needed, rather than assuming that every outcome has the same effect.
Your representation at Aftermath Law
A fraud allegation may involve a long financial history condensed into a short police summary. Aftermath Law can help organize the transactions, communications and responsibilities that explain your role. Your fraud lawyer can examine what the Crown says was dishonest and how it connects that conduct to an alleged loss or risk of loss.
Dildeep Sahi can discuss which records may clarify instructions, authority or the purpose of a payment. Keep original documents and a dated chronology available; a useful defence review needs to distinguish what the records establish from what someone has inferred from them.
Discuss your matter with Dildeep Sahi in a free consultation.
No. The prosecution must prove criminal elements, including the alleged dishonesty and required mental state. A debt dispute may also raise separate civil issues.
Not automatically. Repayment may be relevant, but the Crown controls the prosecution and any proposal should be considered with counsel.
Personal receipt is not the only issue. The alleged role, participation, knowledge and deprivation must be examined against the specific charge.
Defines the fraud offence and addresses prosecution and punishment. It provides the statutory foundation for examining the alleged dishonest conduct, affected financial interests and value involved.
Lists aggravating circumstances and restrictions on treating certain factors as mitigating in fraud-related sentencing. It explains why planning, impact on victims and misuse of a position can matter when assessing consequences.
Explains the conduct and mental elements of fraud, including dishonest conduct, deprivation or risk of deprivation, and the required subjective knowledge. It helps distinguish a criminal fraud allegation from a transaction that merely resulted in a financial loss.
Your next step
Discuss the disputed transactions, the stage of the investigation or prosecution and the questions you have about arranging a defence.
The free one-hour initial consultation with Dildeep Sahi focuses on your situation, options and potential representation. Consultations are available in English, Punjabi and Hindi. Any document review or further work should be arranged separately with the firm.
Office visits are by appointment only. Scheduled consultations are separate from urgent telephone assistance; an immediate answer or response is not guaranteed. This form is not an emergency service.
Keep your enquiry brief and omit confidential documents or a detailed history. Submitting the form does not create a lawyer-client relationship; the firm must complete an initial review and conflict check before agreeing to act.
Free initial consultation. Basic details only; not for emergencies.
Enter your name and enquiry type, and provide an email address or phone number. Your message is optional.
