Mail fraud occurs when the U.S. Mail is used in the furtherance of a criminal act. In order for a defendant to be convicted under 18 U.S.C. 1341 for committing mail fraud, the following elements must be satisfied:
- The defendant must have been engaged in a scheme to defraud.
- The scheme must have involved material misstatements or omissions.
- The scheme resulted, or would have resulted upon completion, in the loss of money, property, or honest services.
- The defendant must have used or caused the use of U.S. mail in the furtherance of the scheme to defraud.
Conviction of mail fraud will result in either a fine, imprisonment, or both.
- See 18 U.S.C. Chapter 63 - Mail Fraud and Other Fraud Offenses
- See White-collar crime
[Last updated in July of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team]