There is no denying the fact that wire fraud is a serious crime that has serious consequences. At the same time, you cannot ignore the fact that it is possible to commit this crime without any criminal intentions.
Wire fraud, as the name suggests, involves some type of electronic communication. There are four elements of this crime, including:
— The person created a scheme to defraud another person.
— The person has an intent to defraud another.
— It was foreseeable that the person would rely on wire communication to commit the fraud.
— It can be proved that the person used wire communication.
Wire communication can be defined as many things, including but not limited to telephone calls, internet, fax machines and television.
While not always the case, wire fraud is typically associated with a person seeking another’s financial information. For example, a person wants to steal a person’s credit card or bank account information for his or her own financial gain.
Many years ago, wire fraud was typically conducted over the phone. In today’s world, thanks to advancing technology, the Internet is more commonly used to defraud people.
With so much technology and the possibility of honest mistakes, anybody charged with wire fraud needs to understand what he or she did and what the future holds. It is possible that a person can be charged with this type of crime without actually crossing the “legal line.”
Understanding the elements and types of wire fraud can help you avoid trouble in the first place, or appropriately deal with a criminal issue should it arise.
Source: FindLaw, “Wire Fraud,” accessed Nov. 11, 2015