Fraud

MAIL FRAUD

Mail Fraud is the oldest form of fraud statutorily regulated and prosecuted by the federal government. The objective of mail fraud is to accomplish a desired result by deception, trickery, concealment, and/or dishonesty, albeit through the use of the United States Mail Service or other private/commercial interstate carriers. Statutorily regulated since 1872, the United States Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the authority of Congress to pass the statute.

WIRE FRAUD

The elements of wire fraud directly compare to those of the mail fraud statute, but require the use of an interstate telephone call or electronic communication made in furtherance of the scheme.

The key element placing this form of fraud into the purview of "wire fraud" is the use of interstate wire communications or other forms of facilitating communications, such as television, radio, microwaves, or the internet.