wire fraud

Wire fraud is a criminal offense that involves the use of electronic communications , such as telecommunications or the internet, to intentionally deceive and defraud someone of money, property , or honest services. This crime is prosecuted under federal law Title 18, Section 1343 of the United States Code ( 18 U.S.C. § 1343 ). To secure a conviction for wire fraud, the prosecution must establish several key elements beyond a reasonable doubt :

  1. The defendant must have engaged in a scheme to defraud;
  2. The scheme must have involved material misstatements or omissions ;
  3. The defendant must have used interstate or international wire communications in furtherance of the scheme to defraud; and
  4. The defendant must have used or caused the use of interstate wirings.

See this Justia page on Wire Fraud Law

[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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