Understanding fraud charges in Pennsylvania

By Amy B. Levenson Jones

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Federal Criminal Defense

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Last Modified on Dec 24, 2025

Pennsylvania statutes dictate how the justice system handles criminal charges. When a person faces prosecution for fraud, the authorities believe the accused purposely deceived another.

The government takes fraud seriously, and we agree that anyone who stands accused of the crime should as well. Discover what types of fraud exist under Pennsylvania law to understand the charges better should they arise.

Selling fake goods

When a person engages another to sell something under falsehoods, it may constitute fraud. The crime here involves a seller attempting to inflate the value of an item or pass a fake designer piece as authentic. Some examples of this include designer purses and wallets. The crime here may yield a first-degree misdemeanor.

About the author: Amy B. Levenson Jones

Principal Attorney at Levenson Law Firm

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Amy B. Levenson Jones is a seasoned trial attorney and Principal of Amy B Levenson Jones LLC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 20 years of litigation experience in criminal and complex commercial matters, she represents clients in federal and state courts nationwide. Ms. Levenson Jones is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third and Fourth Circuits. She earned her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

Writing bad checks

People short on cash may cash a check knowing the funds in the account are insufficient. Purposefully passing bad checks may come with a third-degree misdemeanor charge if the amount falls between $200 and $500. When a person faces accusations of passing a bad check above this amount, the severity of the charge may increase.

Filing a false insurance claim

Filing a claim with an insurance company under false pretenses may land a person in court on serious charges. Fabricating an incident or injury to benefit from an insurance payout may come with a third-degree felony charge. Much like lying to the police, when a person makes a false statement to an insurance adjuster, it may come with hefty fines and jail time.

A judge may hand down a jail sentence in many fraud convictions. Discover more about this serious criminal offense on our website here.