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What is wire fraud?

On Behalf of | Apr 14, 2018 | Firm News, White Collar Crimes |

Many people in Louisiana have been hit hard financially due to the number of disasters that have affected the state over the years. Those in such positions are often looking for help, and there are plenty of people and companies out there — online and in person — offering it. There are also those who will face accusations of fraud if their services do not produce positive results. Have you found yourself in such legal trouble?

Wire fraud is big right now, and it really has been for some time. What is this type of fraud? What elements must exist for a person to be convicted of a crime in such a case? If charged with wire fraud, how can you defend yourself?

Wire fraud basics

Wire fraud is a scam conducted via some form of electronic communication or interstate communications. The types of wire fraud that are most commonly seen are:

  • Telemarking schemes
  • Phishing

Of course, wire fraud can take many other forms. Often the purpose of committing wire fraud is to take people’s money or personal information. 

Elements needed for conviction

If you stand accused of wire fraud, prosecuting attorneys have the burden of proving that certain elements exist in your case. There are four specific elements, to be precise. These are:

  • You participated in a scheme
  • You intended to defraud people
  • You intended to use wire communications
  • You did use wire communications of some sort

The key word in all of this is “intent.” You could be a good person who was honestly trying to help others in a difficult time, but it just didn’t work out as you planned. You could have been working for someone you thought was offering a legitimate service, only to find out that wasn’t the case. If you did not intend to defraud, a prosecuting attorney may not achieve conviction.  

Defending yourself

If charged with wire fraud, you could find yourself fighting an uphill battle, but there may be hope for you. You have the right to defend yourself, and you do have the right to retain legal counsel who will help you do just that. There are often various defense strategies that can be utilized that can help you achieve a case dismissal or at least a reduction in charges. After obtaining a careful review of your case, you can choose a course of action that will best benefit your circumstances. 

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