Deception Flashcards
Section 228(1)(a)
Dishonestly
Without claim of right
Takes OR
obtains
Any document
With intent to obtain any property, pecuniary advantage, service, or valuable consideration
Section 228(1)(b)
Dishonestly
Without claim of right
Uses OR
Attempts to use
Any document
With intent to obtain any property, pecuniary advantage, service, or valuable consideration
Define obtain
To obtain or retain for himself, herself or any other person
Define property
Includes real and personal property, and any real estate or interest in any real estate or personal property, money, electricity, and any debt and anything in action and any other right or interest
Define service
Service is limited to financial or economic value and excludes privileges or benefits (R v Cara)
Define pecuniary advantage
Anything that enhances the accused’s financial position. It is enhancement which constitutes the element of advantage (R v Hayes)
What is the difference between pecuniary advantage and valuable consideration?
Pecuniary advantage can amount to a favourable consideration when it involves monetary advantage however the scope of valuable consideration is wider than pecuniary advantage
Define valuable consideration
Anything capable of being valuable consideration whether of a monetary kind or of any other kind, in short money or moneys worth (R v Hayes)
What are three examples of valuable consideration
-monetary payment in return for goods or services
-goods given in return for services provided
-issuing a false invoice to receive payment for goods never supplies
Define dishonestly
In relation to an act or omission, means done or omitted without a belief that there was express or implied consent to, or authority for, the act or omission from a person entitled to give consent or authority
R v Hayes - belief
The question whether the belief is actually held, not whether that belief is reasonable. However, reasonableness may be relevant as evidence on the issue of whether the belief was actually held
Define claim of right
Belief at the time of any act in a proprietary or possessory right in relation to the offence is to have allegedly been committed. Although belief may be based on if ignorance or mistake of fact
What are the four things for claim of right?
-Belief in a possessory or proprietary right in property - can be belief in someone else’s right
-Belied in relation to the property to which the offence is alleged to have been committed
-Belief held at the time of the conduct alleged to constitute the offence
-Belief must be actually held by the defendant
Define taking
For tangible property theft is committed by a taking when the offender moves the property or causes it to be moved
Define a document
Essentially a document is a thing which provides evidence or information or serves as a record (R v Misic)
The definition starts with ‘means’ rather than ‘includes’ because the definition is exhaustive
Define uses or attempts to use
An unsuccessful use of a document is as much use as a successful one. An unsuccessful use must not be equated conceptually with an attempted one. Because the use does not have to be successful it may be difficult to distinguish between the two
Section 240(1)(a)
Obtaining property by deception
-by any deception
-without claim of right
-obtains ownership/possession/control over
-any property, pecuniary advantage, privilege, service, benefit, valuable consideration
-directly or indirectly
Section 240(1)(b)
Obtains credit by deception
-by any deception
-without claim of right
-incurring any debt or liability
-obtains credit
Section 240(1)(c)
Altering documents capable of deriving pecuniary advantage
-by any deception
-without claim of right
-induces any other person to deliver, make, execute, accept, endorse, destroy or alter
-any document or thing capable of being used to derive pecuniary advantage
Section 240(1)(d)
Causing loss by deception
-by any deception
-without claim of right
-causes loss to any other person
Define deception
-false representation, whether oral, documentary, or by conduct with intent to deceive any other person and knows that it is false or is reckless to it being false OR
-An omission to disclose material particular, with intent to deceive when they should disclose it
-A fraudulent device, trick or stratagem use with intent to deceive
How do you prove a false representation?
-intent to deceive
-there was a representation by the defendant
- the representation was false and the defendant knew it to be false In a material particular OR
-The defendant was reckless whether it was false in a material particular
What are the differences in obtaining by deception and theft in relation to possession?
With theft the property is obtained without the owners permission and title is not passed on
R v Morley - intent to deceive
An intention to deceive requires that the deception is practiced in order to deceive the affected party. Purposeful intent is necessary and must exist at the time of deception
R v cameron
Recklessness is established if;
The defendant recognized that there was a real possibility that his or her actions would bring about the proscribed result and/or
That the prescribed circumstances existed and having regard that risk those actions were unreasonable
What are the two elements of intent?
Intention to commit the act to get a specified outcome
What are three ways representations can be made?
Orally, conduct and documentarily
R v Morley - representation
Representations must relate to a statement of existing fact, rather than a statement of future intention
What is an example of continuing effect (representation)
Ordering food in a restaurant represents that the dinner will follow the normal practice and pay for the meal. If during the course of the dinner the diner decides to avoid that payment , the continuing representation will become false and obtaining the food will come within S240
What is the general rule when it comes to silence or non disclosure?
It will not be regarded as a representation, but there are exceptions to where there is an incorrect understanding implied from a course of dealing and the defendant has failed to negate that incorrect understanding
How can knowledge be established?
An admission
Implication from the circumstances surrounding the event
Propensity evidence
What must prosecution prove in relation to knowledge
The defendant knew the representation was false in a material particular or was reckless as to it’s falsity. Absolute certainty is not required
What is a material particular
An important, essential or relevant detail or item. Something that matters
What is an omission
A conscious decision not to do something or not giving thought to the matter at all
Where does a duty to disclose originate from?
Often from civil law, for example where the parties are in a contractual relationship
Define fraudulent device
A plan scheme or trick
Define trick
An action or scheme undertaken to fool, outwit or deceive
Define fraudulent stratagem
A cunning plan or scheme especially for deceiving an enemy or trickery
What are examples of benefit or privilege
Access to medical services
Reduction in sentence for an offence
Using another person’s gym membership to access gym facilities
Does not need to involves money or loss or injury to the person who has been defrauded
If the item that is being obtained is being sent by post when is the obtaining complete?
At the time of posting
R v Collister
Circumstantial evidence where an offenders intent can be inferred includes:
Offenders actions before during and after
Surrounding circumstances
Nature of the act itself
R v cox
Possession is two elements, mental and physical;
Mental possession is knowledge that you possess the item and an intention to possess the item
Physical possession requires physical custody or control over the item and is actual or potential possession