07 Aug Phishing scams can lead to serious penalties

On behalf of Jack B. Rubin, PA posted in Internet Crimes on Friday, August 7, 2015.

In Maryland, it is a well-known fact that being found guilty of an Internet crime can be a very serious matter. Furthermore, a conviction could be highly detrimental to your future, diminishing your employment options and perhaps even affecting where you are allowed to live. Unfortunately, although it may initially seem that you have a great deal of anonymity on the Internet, this is not always the case.

There are many forms of Internet crime, many of which involve forms of fraud or deception. However, regardless of the scale of the offense, if you are found to be involved in any such scheme, you could be heavily fined or even sent to prison. These crimes include wire fraud, which is any scheme aimed at fraudulently gaining access to another person’s money. This can be done over the phone or Internet and even via email messages.

As this article on Internet crimes explains, phishing is an example of wire fraud committed via email. This usually involves obtaining an individual’s personal details via fraudulent emails. Being found guilty of distributing such emails or using similar methods to gain other people’s personal information can have serious consequences and the penalties can be severe.

If you have been accused of phishing or, indeed, any other Internet crime, you may be wondering what the future may hold. Navigating the legal process can be complicated and exhausting, but fortunately it is not something you need to do unaided. An attorney may be able to assist you with your case and help you to build your defense. With this guidance, you may be able to negotiate a reduced sentence or perhaps even avoid conviction altogether.