Mail fraud was first defined in the United States in 1872.
18 U.S.C. § 1341 provides:
Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme … See more

18 U.S.C. § 1346 provides:
For the purposes of this chapter, the term "scheme or artifice to defraud" includes a scheme or artifice to … See more

In McNally v. United States (1987), the Supreme Court held that 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1343 did not reach honest services fraud. Congress responded by passing 18 U.S.C. § 1346. In Skilling v. United States (2010), the Court construed § 1346 to apply … See more

The scope of 18 U.S.C. §1341 and 18 U.S.C. §1343 is broad. These statutes have been held by the Supreme Court to encompass "everything designed to defraud by representations as to the past or present, or suggestions and promises as to the future." … See more

Wire fraud was first defined in the United States in 1952.
18 U.S.C. § 1343 provides:
Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme … See more

There are three elements to mail and wire fraud:
1. A mail or wire communication
2. a scheme and intent to defraud someone
3. a material deception See more

There are many types of mail fraud schemes, including employment fraud, financial fraud, fraud against older Americans, … See more