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:
- The defendant must have engaged in a scheme to defraud;
- The scheme must have involved material misstatements or omissions;
- The defendant must have used interstate or international wire communications in furtherance of the scheme to defraud; and
- 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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