Fraud, Theft and Forgery in Hungary

This page is for a person accused in Hungary of fraud (csalás), theft (lopás), embezzlement or forgery of documents (okirat-hamisítás), and for relatives helping from abroad. It explains when a small theft is only a petty offence, how a criminal case runs and what an English-speaking defence lawyer does.
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About Fraud, Theft and Forgery in Hungary

Fraud, theft and forgery charges in Hungary are property and document offences of the Criminal Code: csalás (fraud, including online and card fraud), lopás (theft, including shoplifting), sikkasztás (embezzlement), rongálás (criminal damage) and okirat-hamisítás (forgery of official or private documents). Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Fraud, Theft, Forgery etc”. This page is for the person accused; a victim of these offences finds information under legal representation for crime victims. It is general information, not legal advice.

Who needs this

Shoppers stopped by store security, employees accused by an employer, people whose bank account was used to move money, business owners whose dispute turned into a fraud complaint, and applicants whose foreign documents were questioned by an authority.

How Hungary handles these cases

  • Value matters. Theft, fraud or damage below a value limit set by law is a petty offence against property (tulajdon elleni szabálysértés), dealt with by the police or a petty offence judge; above it, the act is a crime whose seriousness grows with the value of the loss.
  • Criminal stage. A complaint (feljelentés) starts the investigation; the suspect (gyanúsított) is questioned with the help of a defence lawyer and an interpreter, and the prosecution decides whether to bring charges.
  • Forgery. Using a false or altered document, such as a diploma, a driving licence or a certificate filed with an immigration office, is an offence in itself, even if someone else made the document.
  • Making good the loss. Repaying the damage early is taken into account and, for some offences, can open the way to mediation or a milder outcome.

What to pay attention to

Bank accounts and property can be frozen early in the investigation. A dispute about money is not automatically a crime: the line between a broken agreement and fraud is often the heart of the defence. Online fraud cases tend to involve several countries, and evidence from abroad arrives slowly.

What an English-speaking lawyer does

The lawyer attends questioning, studies the file and the bank or camera evidence, argues about the value and the intent, negotiates repayment or mediation where the law allows it, challenges freezing measures and represents the accused in court. Purely civil disputes about money belong under contract disputes; a conviction may appear on a criminal record certificate.

Questions and answers

I was caught shoplifting. Is it a crime?

It depends on the value and the circumstances. A low-value theft is usually a petty offence ending in a fine, while some circumstances, such as breaking in, make it a crime whatever the value.

Someone used my bank account. Can I be accused?

Letting others use an account, even without knowing what for, can bring a person into a fraud or money laundering investigation. Explaining the facts early and with a lawyer helps.

What is the difference between public and private document forgery?

A public document (közokirat) is issued by an authority, such as an identity card or an official certificate; a private document (magánokirat) is, for example, a contract or an invoice. Forging a public document is treated more severely.

Will the case be closed if I pay the money back?

Repayment does not end a criminal case by itself, but it counts in the person's favour and in some cases makes mediation or a reduced penalty possible.

1 lawyer who provides Fraud, Theft and Forgery in Hungary

Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.

  • Gábor István, lawyer in Budapest

    Gábor István

    Lawyer · Budapest, Hungary

    • 20 cases handled
    • 12+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, German, Hungarian
    • Degree in law, University of Pécs
    • 5.00(1 review)
    Contact Gábor István
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What our clients say about our service in Hungary

  • I recommend this lawyer, who helped me through a tough situation after I was wrongly accused of fraud. The advice, support and professionalism he offered were outstanding.
    — Elin
    28 Feb 2020
  • The lawyer answered my queries the moment I sent them. She knows the Greek legal system extremely well and was a great help; on my own I could never have reached a conclusion I am completely satisfied with. Her command of English was excellent, close to bilingual though not quite. At all times she was friendly, approachable and professional, and she explained clearly what I had to do. I came to trust her completely.
    — Alan
    19 Oct 2025
  • He replied incredibly fast and soon found the answers I needed, so I started to feel less stressed. He went out of his way to make certain I understood the procedure and the legal terms, and the assistance could not have been better.
    — Danni
    23 Jan 2026
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    — Carl
    18 Feb 2025
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    — Michael
    10 Apr 2024
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    17 Oct 2022
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    — Diar
    16 Dec 2021
    Rental Deposit Recovery, Hungary
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    — Murielle
    02 Jun 2021
    Assistance with Official Procedures, Hungary
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    — Mohit
    30 Sep 2025
  • I cannot thank my solicitor enough. He was patient, caring and knowledgeable, and he kept me informed about everything, even outside working hours and while he was on holiday. Thank you to this service for putting me in touch with him, and thank you to him for going above and beyond every time.
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    29 Aug 2022
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    28 Jan 2026
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