Fraud Offences - Settle with Holborn Adams
Serious Fraud Solicitors for complex, high-stakes allegations
Even a rumour of fraud can upend the things people spend years building. Careers stall, contracts disappear, and friends start asking careful questions. We see it all the time. The allegation alone bites before anyone has had a fair chance to answer back.
That’s why early legal action matters. You need a calm head, a smart strategy, and someone who picks apart the problem before it spirals out of control. If you are facing an investigation or you think one is about to land, this is the moment to get ahead of it.
Call us or email in confidence.
We handle fraud cases across England and Wales, from pinpoint tax enquiries to sprawling multi-agency investigations. Everything we do is geared towards protecting reputation, reducing risk, and preventing matters from spiralling.
What Counts as a Fraud Offence?
Fraud covers a lengthy list of behaviours under the Fraud Act 2006, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA), and a mix of secondary regulations across financial crime, tax, and company conduct.
Some investigations begin quietly through a request for records or a bank account that has been frozen without warning. Others start with a knock on the door, an arrest, or the shock of a production order. How severe it gets depends on the allegation: false representation, abuse of position, failure to disclose information, or dealing with criminal property.
The stakes vary, but the risk to reputation stays intact.
Fraud Offence Categories We Deal With
Serious Fraud Solicitors
Handling the cases that keep directors awake at night
Serious fraud is not just about money; it’s about scale, sophistication, and public interest. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO), National Crime Agency (NCA), and regional fraud units tend to get involved when the numbers run high or the impact spreads across companies or investors.
We look at the details early. Who made the decision? What emails matter? Which assumptions do investigators lean on? Our work usually begins before a formal interview because the biggest gains often come in the quiet early hours of a case.
Tax Fraud Solicitors
When His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) believes something does not add up
Tax investigations can feel personal. There’s something about a letter from HMRC that makes even compliant people second-guess themselves. Tax fraud allegations often arise from claimed irregularities in returns, undeclared income, offshore arrangements, or paperwork that no longer matches a business’s real-life history.
The law is wide: sections of the Taxes Management Act 1970, Finance Acts, and the Criminal Finances Act come into play, depending on the allegation.
We help clients challenge assumptions, narrow the scope, and push back against overreaching enquiries. Early intervention can stop an inquiry from drifting into a criminal investigation.
Money Laundering Solicitors
POCA allegations and suspicious activity reports
Money laundering cases often begin long before the client suspects anything. A bank files an internal Suspicious Activity Report (SAR), an account is restricted, or a business transaction is halted. Before long, the police or HMRC will want answers.
These cases turn on tracing funds and showing a legitimate origin. We are accustomed to dealing with the complex mixture of POCA regulations, unexplained wealth concerns, and assumptions that seldom survive proper scrutiny.
His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Investigations
Staying in control when the tax authority widens the net
HMRC has broad information-gathering powers. Some are routine; others are not. Criminal investigations move fast, and production orders can catch businesses off guard. We examine proportionality, timing, and whether HMRC has overlooked evidence that changes the picture.
We have seen investigations collapse because we challenged a flawed interpretation of the records at the start.
Value Added Tax (VAT) Fraud Solicitors
From misstatements to carousel and MTIC allegations
VAT issues can snowball. What begins as a seemingly minor discrepancy turns into accusations of deliberate misrepresentation or involvement in organised fraud. Missing Trader Intra-Community (MTIC) and carousel cases often rely on assumptions about supply chains, rarely complementing the way businesses function.
At Holborn Adams, we break down the evidence trail and question each step. Investigators follow patterns; we follow facts.
Mortgage Fraud Solicitors
When lenders claim deception or undisclosed information
Mortgage fraud allegations often stem from misunderstandings or sloppy broker paperwork. Sometimes lenders point to inflated incomes, undisclosed debts, or valuations they now want to distance themselves from.
We pull apart the timeline, correspondence, and the broker’s role. It’s surprising how often the blame is misplaced.
Insurance Fraud Solicitors
Accusations of staged claims or dishonesty
Insurers never like uncertainty. When a claim looks irregular, they assume the worst. We handle everything from suspected staged accidents to claims supposedly inflated or submitted in bad faith.
These cases are often far more personal than clients expect. We get involved early to protect both the case and the individual’s reputation.
Bounce Back Loan Fraud
Where good intentions collide with hurried paperwork
Bounce Back Loans were issued quickly in 2020. Mistakes were inevitable. Years later, investigators are revisiting loan applications with a fine-tooth comb, treating misunderstandings as deliberate deception.
We analyse trading history, financial records, and the guidance available at the time. Many cases are not fraudulent at all; they are chaotic snapshots of an already chaotic period.
Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO)
Serious consequences if the numbers do not make sense
UWOs flip the burden of proof. Instead of the state proving wrongdoing, the individual must prove the source of wealth. That’s a heavy ask for anyone who has built assets over decades through multiple channels.
We help clients gather records, challenge the evidence, and fight disproportionate assumptions. These cases often involve the High Court and move quickly, so early support matters.
Tax Evasion and Avoidance
Recognising the difference before investigators blur the lines
Tax evasion is criminal. Tax avoidance is not. The problem is that HMRC sometimes treats aggressive avoidance schemes as evasion, especially where promoters were less than clear with clients.
We examine intent, disclosure, and the real-life circumstances behind the returns. Clarity is everything.
Confiscation and Asset Restraint
Stopping unfair financial damage
Under POCA, restraint and confiscation proceedings can freeze accounts, halt business operations, and disrupt personal finances. These orders often apply long before guilt is proven.
We work to release assets, challenge valuations, and stop overreaching assumptions. A poorly drafted restraint order can cause unnecessary damage; we push back hard when it matters.
How We Help With Fraud Offences
We focus on early intervention because that’s where the biggest wins usually sit. Before interviews. Before charging decisions. Before investigators commit themselves to a version of events.
Here’s what our involvement tends to look like:
Early Assessment
We peruse the documents, the timeline, and any disclosure already made. We identify risks, gaps, and opportunities to influence the investigation.
Strategic Approach
We talk with investigators when appropriate, provide written representations, and correct misunderstandings before they stick. Many cases close quietly at this stage.
Interview Representation
If you’re invited to a voluntary interview or taken into custody, we’re with you. We prepare you properly, instead of leaving anything to chance.
Evidence Review
Fraud cases involve mountains of records. We work through them with forensic accountants when needed, focusing on what genuinely changes the case.
Defence and Court Work
If the matter proceeds, we build a detailed and focused defence. We present clear arguments, credible witnesses, and a grounded approach.
What Usually Changes the Outcome?
Three things influence the outcome of fraud offence cases at Holborn Adams:
- Timing: People call us after an interview when the real opportunities for influencing the case were weeks earlier.
- Control: Investigators rely on assumptions unless challenged.
- Clarity: Most fraud cases are built on messy data. We find the threads that actually matter.
If you are facing allegations or are anxious that an investigation is underway, contact us. The quicker we get involved, the more space there is to work with.
Common Enquiries in Fraud Offences
Do I really need a solicitor before an interview under caution?
Honestly, yes. Whether the allegation connects to tax issues, suspected money laundering or something broader, the interview is where investigators set the tone. People often go in hoping to “clear things up” and come out having made the situation worse. When we step in early as serious fraud solicitors or tax fraud solicitors, depending on the case, we review the disclosure, identify risks, and prepare you properly so you are not guessing your way through one of the most important moments in the investigation.
Will this remain private, or will my employer discern it?
Investigations are not public by default, but privacy is not guaranteed. Banks can freeze accounts if they think a transaction looks suspicious. HMRC investigations can also trigger questions from accountants or business partners. We work secretly to contain the situation and minimise the risks of allegations spreading through your professional life. Protecting your reputation is part of the job.
How long do fraud cases usually take?
It varies. Straightforward matters involving a single transaction can be resolved quickly. Cases tied to VAT fraud, Unexplained Wealth Orders or complex financial records take longer because investigators sift through large volumes of data. What we have seen over the years is that early involvement gives you more control over the pace and in many cases, helps bring the investigation to a close sooner.
Can you help if my bank account or assets have been frozen?
Yes. Freezing accounts and restraint orders under POCA can feel like someone has taken a grip on your entire life. These orders unfold in cases involving money laundering allegations, tax evasion and avoidance, and confiscation and asset restraint. We review how the order was made, challenge unnecessary restrictions and work to release funds for basic living costs or business needs.
What should I do if I am accused of fraud linked to a loan, mortgage or insurance claim?
Never try to explain it away on the spot. Mortgage fraud, insurance fraud, and Bounce Back Loan fraud allegations often boil down to misunderstandings, missing documents, or assumptions that do not reflect what actually happened. We gather the records, build the timeline and deal with investigators directly so you are not carrying the pressure alone.
Act Now for the Best Outcome
The sooner you act, the stronger your defence. Take control and protect your future today.
