LeoGlossary: Wire Fraud

In the United States this is covered under section 941. 18 U.S.C. 1343 of the US criminal code.

Wire fraud is an electronic communication that is meant to elicit further criminal acts. This can come in the form of an email or text. It can also involve the use of a telephone.

It is similar to mail fraud and treated accordingly. This is an expansion of that statute since it incorporates email.

According to the code, the following must be present.

• the defendant must have been engaged in a scheme to defraud
• the scheme must have involved material misstatements or omissions
• the scheme resulted, or would have resulted upon completion, in the loss of money, property, or honest services
• the defendant must have used interstate wirings in furtherance of scheme to defraud
• the defendant used or caused the use of interstate wirings

Some examples:

• Internet scams
• Phishing
• Social Security fraud

Wire fraud covers digital communications whereas mail fraud requires the use of USPS or a private carrier.

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