wire fraud

American  

noun

1. the crime of using interstate wire, television, or radio communications with the intent to defraud.

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Etymology

Origin of wire fraud

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Dana Williamson, a former Newsom chief of staff, pleaded guilty in May to bank and wire fraud and other felony charges stemming from a position she held prior to working for the governor.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

She faces sentencing in September, with a maximum penalty of almost 200 years in prison — up to 20 years for each count of wire fraud and 5 years for each count of obstruction.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Prosecutors charged Mr. Van Dyke with commodities and wire fraud, among other violations, and the platforms cooperated with federal investigators.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

The problem is that the wire fraud statute does not clearly lay out what counts as a “scheme to defraud.”

From Slate • May 1, 2026

Any electronic transference of this document, by anyone unauthorized to have it, could be interpreted as an act of wire fraud.

From The Hacker Crackdown, law and disorder on the electronic frontier by Sterling, Bruce