Very often when we read in the press about fraud charges, we hear the statement that the person involved has been charged with wire fraud. What exactly is wire fraud?

Wire fraud is a concept found in United States law. Basically, if a persons uses any type of telecommunication to commit a fraud (telephone, fax, internet), that person could be charged with wire fraud. Generally, the “wire” used would have to be used to help in the commission of a fraud across state or international borders. The wire fraud law allows US federal law enforcement to become involved in fraud cases if the criminals use any communication device that sends messages across state lines.

Here is the actual wire code statute from the United States Code.

Sec. 1343. Fraud by wire, radio, or television

Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.

In other words, don’t use the telephone lines or the internet to defraud. It will cost you.

Those tele-marketers who tell you lies to get your money, those false internet messages which try and get you to buy some product…..yes….it could be wire fraud!!!

If you have a story about being defrauded over the telephone, fax or internet, let me know by posting it to my blog.

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