Wire Fraud Defined

What is Wire Fraud?

Wire Fraud is a classification of crime or criminal activity that entails the presence of fraudulent activity that takes place through the utilization of electronic or computational facilities, such as the internet, computer terminals, and telecommunications. Wire Fraud – eponymously titled for the wiring and circuitry present in electronics – can mirror a wide array of fraud that exists outside of a virtual forum, yet many Wire Fraud offenses retain analogous measures of punitive recourse regardless of a virtual or real-time setting.

What is Cyber Law?

Cyber Law is considered one of the most recently developed legal specialties that address the legislation and legality innate with the expressed legal and lawful decorum required while engaging in the use of a computer, electronic network, or telecommunications system. Cyber Law can include a wide variety of electronic fraud, including Wire Fraud, online scams, harassment, and illegal, electronic solicitation.

Wire Fraud Offense Profile

Legal Jurisdiction: Criminal Law, Cyber Law, Fraud Law, Finance Law, Commercial Law, Administrative Law

Type of Crime: Misdemeanor or Felony – varies upon the nature of the crime

Criminal Code: Varies upon the location of the crime, including the applicable country, nation, state, or province

Range of Punishment(s): Fines, probation, associated penalties, or incarceration – varies upon case details

Applicable Punishment(s): Varies upon individual intent, criminal record, criminal history, and the victim(s) involved. Wire Fraud can range from first-time offenses involving individuals with no prior criminal history to methodically-planned, deceptive operations resulting in enormous financial loss sustained by its victims. The severity and nature of the Wire Fraud in question typically constitutes the severity of applicable sentencing.

Wire Fraud Allegations: Terminology and Associated Offenses

The following are commonly associated with charges of Wire Fraud:

Computer Fraud: The unlawful disbursement of unsecured and fraudulent documentation with the intent to scam, trick, or steal. This includes phishing, email spamming, hacking, piracy, and the distribution of malware.

Online Data Fraud: The act of illegally or unlawfully possessing information, data, or records belonging to another individual or entity through the use of a computer or telecommunication instrument.

Identity Theft: The criminal act of illegally assuming the identity of another human being without their consent with the intent of committing fraud, theft, exploitative acts, and harm. Personal information can be obtained through virtual or electronic records stored on individual computer terminals or networks.

Computer-based Scam: An organized, computer-based program or scheme intended to purposefully defraud those solicited to participate in it. Solicitation typically occurs through electronic correspondence.

The Preparation of a Wire Fraud Defense

Individuals are encouraged to consult with attorneys specializing in criminal law and, if possible, those who focus on Cyber Law. In the construction of a defense, the individual may be asked to provide the nature of the Wire Fraud in question, any included threats, the biographical information with regard to any and all victims, any previous arrests and/or convictions, evidence and witness testimony, full account of the details surrounding the event in question, and the arrangement for bail or bond.

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