Wire fraud is a legal concept in the United States Code which provides for enhanced penalty of any criminal activity if it is determined that the occurrence of the crime involved electronic communications of any sort, at any phase of the event.

The [legal definition of wire fraud] in the US is:

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 63 > § 1343. Fraud by wire, radio, or television 2004-08-06

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 20 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.

See also

• phone fraud
• internet fraud
• advance fee fraud