Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud

Do you know how the feds really catch white collar criminals and how the cases are often charged in federal court? The answer lies in the use of the U.S. mail by white collar criminals.

Years ago, Congress made it a federal crime, (in 18 U.S.C. 1341), to use the U.S. mail to help further a fraudulent scheme. This federal crime is known as mail fraud. Thus, any time someone sends a fraudulent solicitation or bogus claim in the mail, they may have violated the federal mail fraud statute. In addition, Congress also made wire fraud, (18 U.S.C. 1343), a federal crime. Therefore, any time a con artist makes a telephone call or uses the internet in furtherance of his scam, he has likewise violated federal law and may be visited by an F.B.I. agent.

And don't think you can get away with your crime simply by sending your bogus claims via federal express. Congress also included use of common carriers in the mail fraud statute, too! So, maybe you should just use "donkey mail," if you want to avoid a date in federal court!