One of the most common white-collar crimes is wire fraud. But what exactly does it mean to commit wire fraud? According to federal law, wire fraud occurs when an individual uses wire, radio or television with the intent to scheme someone out of money.
But what does this look like in practice? Here are a few of the most common types of wire fraud.
1. Telemarketing
Fraudsters have been using telephones to get money from people for decades. Telemarketing fraud usually goes like this:
- A criminal calls the victim
- The caller makes a false statement
- This false statement results in the victim giving money to the fraudster
Telemarketing fraudsters usually tell victims that they are winners of some sort of lottery and must provide their personal information to receive the prize.
2. Phishing
A lot of wire fraud takes place on the internet in the modern era. One common type of online wire fraud is phishing. This scam occurs when a criminal sends emails or text messages while posing as a legitimate company, such as a banking institution. Phishing is used to obtain financial and personal details of victims.
3. Catfishing
Some criminals use fake identities and develop romantic connections with unsuspecting users online. Once a fraudster establishes a romantic relationship, he or she may ask the victim to send hundreds or thousands of dollars for help.
4. Nigerian prince scam
One of the most well-known examples of wire fraud is that of the fake Nigerian prince. In this scam, the sender makes claims that he is a prince from Nigeria who is experiencing some sort of disaster. The scammer claims he has funds in a bank account but needs the recipient to give his or her bank account to deposit the money in so it is safe.
Are you facing charges of wire fraud? You should rely on a criminal defense lawyer to help you through this situation.
