Hi there. In Queensland, it is a criminal offence known as ‘fraud’ to dishonestly obtain another person’s property or use someone else’s property for personal use. Penalties vary depending on the value of the property and seriousness of the crime.

If someone has reported suspected fraudulent behaviour to the police, the police must decide whether to investigate the matter. If the police find enough evidence, they may decide to prosecute the matter in court. If you are a suspect in the police investigation, you may be questioned by the police. You can help the police by answering their questions, but you can also exercise your right to silence. You may want to have a lawyer represent you during police questioning.

If the police find enough evidence to prosecute the matter against you, you will be notified and required to attend a court hearing. At the hearing, you can plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead not guilty, you can give your side of the story and offer any evidence that proves you are not guilty of the offence. If found guilty, an appropriate penalty may be imposed based on the nature of the crime and your personal circumstances.

Suggested way forward

Based on the information you provided, it is not clear how serious the allegations are and, if a police report has already been lodged, whether the police are going to investigate the matter further. If you are contacted by the police, you should ask a lawyer for advice about your rights and the best course of action. In the meantime, you best option is to try to resolve the dispute directly with the other parties involved. By pressing the “Consult a Lawyer” button, LawAdvisor can help you search for experienced lawyers and obtain fee proposals for their services. Costs for legal advice and representation will vary between providers based on experience and the scope of services.