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U.S.
Code, TITLE 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure, PART I, CHAPTER 63, 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
five 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.
Plainly
put, this means that anyone who willingly and knowingly uses United States
communications devises to defraud or willfully misrepresent with the intent to
defraud is a bad guy. This includes anyone from outside the U.S. wiring to
someone inside the U.S. because in order to do so, U.S. communications devices
must be used.
Wire
fraud communications devices include fax machines and computers (email).
Examples of wire fraud would be NIGERIAN
SCAM LETTERS, POWERS
OF ATTORNEY requested by swindlers, and bogus
financial instruments sent for investment scams.
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