Fraud

=====Criminal fraud=====
The proof requirements for criminal fraud charges in the United States are essentially the same as the requirements for other crimes: guilt must be proved beyond a [[reasonable doubt]]. Throughout the United States fraud charges can be misdemeanours or felonies depending on the amount of loss involved. High value fraud can also trigger additional penalties. For example, in California, losses of $500,000 or more will result in an extra two, three, or five years in prison in addition to the regular penalty for the fraud.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=186.11 |title=California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 186.11 |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=California Legislative Information |publisher=California State Legislature |access-date=9 August 2017 |quote=If the pattern of related felony conduct involves the taking of, or results in the loss by another person or entity of, more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), the additional term of punishment shall be two, three, or five years in the state prison. |archive-date=10 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810013423/http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=186.11 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The U.S. government's 2006 fraud review concluded that fraud is a significantly under-reported crime, and while various agencies and organizations were attempting to tackle the issue, greater co-operation was needed to achieve a real impact in the public sector.<ref>{{cite web|title=Financial Crimes Report 2006|url=https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/fcs_report2006|publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation|access-date=6 September 2017|archive-date=10 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710160145/https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/fcs_report2006|url-status=live}}</ref> The scale of the problem pointed to the need for a small but high-powered body to bring together the numerous counter-fraud initiatives that existed.