Check fraud can result in being arrested in some cases or you may be heavily fined. This does depend on the state that you live in, however. Below is information on what check fraud is, as well as the steps you should take to take care of everything.
Check Fraud
It is common for someone to accidentally write a check when there is not enough money in their checking account to cover it. If you wrote a bad check, however, and you knew there was not enough money, you could be charged with check fraud. In many cases, you would have to do this several times before being charged. Much of this does depend on how large the check was written for. For example, if it is a small amount, you may not have to worry. If it was a large check, however, this is where things could get bad for you.
What You Should Do
There are many things you should do in a case like this, including:
Do a Warrant Check
You can check yourself if you have a warrant out for you. There are websites that allow you to check this. You may have to pay a fee for this, but it is generally not a large amount. There may be a website for the sheriff's department or county court that you live in to check if you have a warrant out for you. One of the best ways to determine this is to hire an attorney, as they will have access to this information. A bail bondsman in your area may also have this information. You could call the police department, but you will have to answer a lot of questions.
Contact the Merchant
Contact the merchant where you wrote the check and tell them that you will cover it, such as bringing them cash. In some cases, they will drop the charges against you. If you have written several bad checks to the merchant, they will likely pursue action against you. At this time, an arrest warrant can be issued.
What Happens If You Get Arrested
If you get arrested, you can post bail to get out until your trial date. In many cases, the district attorney will give you a plea deal. This will include you setting up payments with the court to cover the check. You will also have to pay fines in most cases. If the district attorney does not offer you a plea deal, ask for a delay in your court hearing so you can have time to talk with the merchant and pay them back. If you do this, your charges may be dropped, or your jail time will be drastically reduced. If you do not pay your payments, you will have to pay more fines, and you may have to go to jail and your time will be increased.
An attorney can give you much more information about this. Contact a warrant check service to learn more.
Share9 September 2021
When it comes to borrowing cash for a new house or a nice car, how much money do you really need? Although you might be tempted to mortgage yourself to the brim or borrow a little more than you should, the fact of the matter is that everyone has financial limits. My blog discusses the impact of borrowing more than you need, so that you can make smarter decisions with your money. In addition to keeping you out of trouble, this valuable information might also improve your quality of life and protect your financial future. You never know, it could make all the difference.
