Internet Theft Charges

There are a variety of situations in which charges are made against online buyers and sellers for fraudulent behavior. A recent example involved the Craigslist site. An Anderson County man reported that an ATV had been stolen through a transaction on Craigslist. The man had sold a Polaris RZR ATV on Craigslist for $38,000 with a payment option of periodic payments available. The man selling the ATV eventually came to agreement with a buyer. Eventually, the seller learned that the buyer had provided false information during the transaction. The seller ultimately contacted law enforcement to report the ATV as stolen. Several weeks later, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Dallas area law enforcement, who had arrested an individual for several charges including stolen property during which time the ATV had come into focus. The buyer was then arrested and taken to the Denton County jail. The buyer now faces a charge of theft of property greater than $30,000 and less than $150,000. This individual’s bond has been set for $75,000.

The Most Common Types of Internet Theft

“Internet theft” is a broad term that refers to any type of theft involving the use of the internet. Some of the most common types of internet theft include the following:

• Bulk E-mail Scams: Spam is a word that refers to “junk” e-mail that is sent in large number to a variety of individuals. Congress has made several efforts to regulate the use of spam. There are currently federal laws that prohibit using techniques to find mass lists of email addresses. Repeat offenders of anti-spam law can even be sentenced to prison terms.
• Identity Theft: Identity theft occurs online when one individual uses another individual’s identity. The impersonation is done with the intent to defraud, harm, intimidate, or threaten another individual. This type of identity theft often includes individuals who create a personal or commercial profile on a social networking site or post and send messages via social networking./li>
• Internet Fraud: The phrase “internet fraud” encompasses any activity that uses one or more components of the internet in order to conduct fraudulent transactions, present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims, and transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or other individuals involved in the scheme./li>
• Phishing Scam: Phishing is a scam in which an individual voluntarily provides personal or financial information to what the individual thinks is an official institution, when in fact this information is being provided to another unauthorized individual who will use this information for unlawful means./li>

Contact a Talented Criminal Defense Attorney

The legal counsel at Wheeler Law Office has a strong track record of assisting clients in Denton and the surrounding area who have been charged with online theft related crimes. If you have the slightest questions regarding these types of criminal charges, you should consider contacting our firm. Even in the most difficult situations, our legal team can construct a strong legal strategy to make sure that your case resolves in the best possible manner. Do not hesitate to contact our firm today.

(image courtesy of Seth Schwiet)