Title 18Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§1343 Fraud by wire, radio, or television

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 63— - MAIL FRAUD AND OTHER FRAUD OFFENSES › § 1343

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Using wire, radio, or TV across state lines or abroad to carry out a plan to steal money or property by lying is illegal and can bring fines and prison for up to 20 years. If the fraud involves benefits tied to a presidentially declared disaster or emergency (Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5122) or affects a financial institution, penalties can be fines up to $1,000,000 or prison up to 30 years.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §1343

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with, a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Pub. L. 110–179 inserted “occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with, a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or” after “If the violation”. 2002—Pub. L. 107–204 substituted “20 years” for “five years”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”. 1990—Pub. L. 101–647 substituted “30” for “20” before “years”. 1989—Pub. L. 101–73 inserted at end “If the violation affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.” 1956—Act July 11, 1956, substituted “transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce” for “transmitted by means of interstate wire, radio, or television communication”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 1343

Title 18Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73