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Wire Fraud:

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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