Follow authority, knowledge and the transaction—not titles
A disputed transfer, loan default or compliance alert may be civil, regulatory or criminal depending on deception, authority and intent.
What banking representation or instruction was false, who authenticated it and what caused the bank or customer loss?
A flow-of-funds chart may show movement without proving beneficial ownership, criminal origin or what each participant knew.
Records that test the prosecution theory
Account-opening and KYC, payment instructions, authentication logs, device and IP data, calls, loan file and proceeds trail.
- AuthorityMap signatures, delegations, approvals and system access.
- EconomicsReconcile contracts, performance, accounting treatment and actual benefit.
- KnowledgeSeparate each person's information and decisions at the relevant time.
- Proceeds and restraintTest tracing, ownership, valuation and third-party interests.
Articles that may enter the qualification
Fraud
The investigation must distinguish alleged deceptive appropriation from contractual non-performance, commercial risk or a later inability to pay.
Read full Article 180 text on this pageMisuse of cheques or credit cards
May apply to specified unlawful conduct involving payment instruments; authentication, authorisation and transaction records are central.
Read full Article 211 text on this pageRead the relevant Criminal Code provisions
The panel below reproduces the available official English wording for convenient reading. Check the current Georgian text and the exact article part before relying on it, because later amendments may not yet appear in translation.
Article 180Fraud+
1. Fraud, i.e. taking property of another person or obtaining of title to the property by deceit for its unlawful appropriation, –
shall be punished by a fine or community service from 170 to 200 hours, or by corrective labour or house arrest for a term of one to two years, or by imprisonment for a term of two to four years.
2. The same act:
a) committed by more than one person with a preliminary agreement;
b) causing substantial damage, –
shall be punished by a fine or by imprisonment for a term of four to seven years.
3. The same act committed:
a) using the official position;
b) in large quantities;
c) repeatedly, –
shall be punished by a fine or by imprisonment for a term of six to nine years.
4. The same act committed:
a) by an organised group;
b) by a person who has two or more previous convictions for unlawful appropriation or extortion of another person’s property, –
shall be punished by imprisonment for a term of seven to ten years.
The consolidated official source is listed in the source section at the end of this guide.
Article 211Misuse of cheques or credit cards+
Misuse of cheques or credit cards which has caused considerable damage to the person who cashes it, –
shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment for up to three years.
The consolidated official source is listed in the source section at the end of this guide.
Notify the bank through controlled channels and preserve access logs before they expire.
Primary sources for this guide
Before acting, compare this guide with the current Georgian text and the exact document served in the case. The official English translation may not include the latest amendment.
Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia↗︎Official consolidated Criminal Code — current text & PDF↗︎Ministry of Finance Investigation Service↗︎