Identity theft is one of the fastest growing criminal offenses in South Carolina and across the country. Traditionally, identity theft involved accusations of changing or falsifying documents, such as passports and other identity documents. The increased availability of computers and access to the internet, and the resulting growth in technology, has also resulted in many innocent people getting mixed up unknowingly in fraudulent schemes.
Many work-from-home jobs that are advertised on the internet are not what they appear to be. Some individuals may believe they are involved in good faith work efforts when they are, in fact, unknowingly part of a criminal scheme. While following the instructions of someone they met online, these unsuspecting entrepreneurs may be soliciting individuals for personal information without realizing that they are being used by a larger group involved in identity theft activities. In many cases, individuals are canvassed to operate the business in the United States, not realizing that instructions originate from outside the country.
Those who unwittingly get roped into these scams often do not even realize that they can be charged with conspiring to defraud other unsuspecting consumers. When people are unexpectedly faced with federal charges, the first important step is to retain the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Christopher A. Wellborn, P.A. is an attorney with 25 years of criminal defense experience, including identity theft charges. He can help accused individuals expose the true motives of their so-called employers. He can also work to document that the duped worker did not intend to hurt anybody.
When one is accused of being part of an identity theft conspiracy — or any white collar crime — it is vital that no communication take place with law enforcement personnel without the presence of an experienced criminal defense attorney. The attorneys at Christopher A. Wellborn, P.A. can fight to have the case dismissed, or a plea bargain may be negotiated when circumstances warrant. Every reasonable effort will be made to avoid a conviction and possible jail time in South Carolina.
