We’ve heard of the terms “phishing” and “spamming” before but perhaps without understanding that they represent forms of fraud that can be punishable with serious penalties. Specifically, since these forms of actions are conducted over interstate wires, they are considered forms of wire fraud.
Ohio residents may not know that wire fraud is similar to fraud, except that it is taking place either over phone lines or uses some form of electronic communications. When interstate wirings are used to further a criminal act, the person accused of perpetuating the act can be charged with wire fraud. For example, when someone sends out an unsolicited mass email with a somewhat convincing story asking for some financial assistance, they may have committed the crime of phishing and find themselves facing white-collar criminal charges.
In order to prove wire fraud, certain elements must be met. First, the person being accused must have either created or participated in a plan to defraud someone else out of money and they had the specific intent to defraud someone. Secondly, it should have been reasonably foreseeable that the person being accused was going to use wire communications and lastly that they then did in fact use wire communications.
If someone finds him or herself facing white collar crime charges, they should take them very seriously, as prosecutors are beginning to crack down on Internet crimes. They may want to consider consulting an experienced defense attorney to attack various prongs of the charge and clear their name of any wrongdoing.