wire fraud

noun

: fraud committed using a means of electronic communication (such as a telephone or computer)

Examples of wire fraud in a Sentence

He was charged with wire fraud.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The two men face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 8 July 2025 Julie was also convicted of wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 If convicted of the charges, Khan could face what amounts to the rest of his life in prison and up to about $605 million in penalties for five counts of wire fraud and money laundering, according to court records. Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025 Prosecutors charged a man with wire fraud conspiracy, accusing him of generating hundreds of thousands of AI songs and using bots to automatically stream them billions of times, earning at least $10 million. Kelvin Chan, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for wire fraud

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wire fraud was in 1951

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wire fraud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wire%20fraud. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

wire fraud

see fraud

More from Merriam-Webster on wire fraud

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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