Here are some good resources on the internet for you to get information on various types of fraud so you can protect your family and your credit.

          Federal Trade Commission
          Crimes of Persuasion
          United States Secret Service - Protecting Yourself
          United States Postal Inspection Service
          Consumer Sentinel
          Texas Attorney General - Consumer Protection

Fraud has many different meanings, schemes, definitions, practices, people involved and victims. There are always two truths to fraud.

Money will almost always be a factor in the fraud
There is ALWAYS an unsuspecting victim.

The legal definition to fraud is as follows:

Fraud has a specific legal meaning. The following essential elements must be present before an actual finding of fraud will occur: Misrepresentation of a material fact consisting of a false representation, concealment or non-disclosure;

Knowledge of the falsity (scienter);
Intent to deceive and induce reliance;
Justifiable and actual reliance on the misrepresentation; and
Resulting damages.

Fraud statutes in the State of Texas can be found in the Texas Penal Code Title 7 Chapter 32. Complete copy of this code can be read by clicking the following button. The code is in PDF format so you will need Adobe Reader.