What is a potential consequence for victims of fraud?

Victims of fraud often face a range of negative consequences, with legal fees and lost time being among the most significant. When an individual or organization falls victim to fraud, they may need to engage legal services to seek recourse, recover losses, or navigate the complexities of filing a claim. This involves financial costs related to hiring attorneys and potentially incurring additional expenses related to litigation. Furthermore, the time spent dealing with these legal matters can be considerable, taking valuable resources away from core business activities or personal pursuits. These impacts are detrimental and contribute to the broader consequences that fraud has on victims, both personally and financially.

The other choices misrepresent the typical outcomes of fraud incidents. For instance, while increased company profits might be a goal for legitimate business pursuits, fraud actually undermines trust and financial stability. Enhanced public reputation is unlikely to emerge after a fraud incident; instead, organizations often face reputational damage. Finally, suggesting that there is no impact at all fails to recognize the profound economic and emotional toll that fraud can take on victims.