Wire Fraud involves a crime where a fraudulent scheme is executed using telecommunications means — telephone, email, or bank transfers. While Georgia does not have a separate statute specifically named "Wire Fraud" (like in the US), this act is qualified under Article 180 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (Fraud) or Article 285 (Obtaining property rights using computer data/systems). This crime includes instances where the perpetrator interferes with an electronic system, alters banking data, or deceives a victim via electronic communication to transfer funds. A typical example is "Business Email Compromise" (BEC), where a fraudster forges an invoice and tricks a company into wiring money to the wrong account. These types of cases are often cross-border and require a synergy of financial and IT expertise.
What Does Wire Fraud Defense Service Cover?
Lawyers registered on Legal.ge offer specialized defense in financial and computer crime cases. The service includes:
- Banking Transaction Research: Studying the "money trail" and determining whether the accused had access to specific transactions.
- IP and Metadata Analysis: Identifying where the fraudulent email was sent from or where the transfer originated.
- Proving Lack of Intent: Often individuals become "Money Mules" unwittingly — the lawyer works to prove that the client was misled and unaware of the criminal scheme.
- International Cooperation: Working with foreign banks and law enforcement to obtain information.
- Asset Forfeiture Prevention: Defense during the process of freezing bank accounts.
Common Situations and Scenarios
Wire fraud charges are often related to:
- CEO Fraud / BEC: Emailing an accountant in the name of a company executive requesting an urgent wire transfer.
- Invoice Fraud: Hacking a supplier's email and sending an invoice with altered bank details.
- Phone Fraud (Vishing): Calling as a bank employee to extort card details.
- Money Mule Schemes: Hiring a person as a "financial agent" whose account receives stolen funds for further transfer.
Georgian Legal Framework
As mentioned, the act is mainly qualified under Article 285 of the Criminal Code (Computer Fraud). This article punishes altering, deleting, or interfering with data in a computer system to obtain property benefits. Penalties range from fines to 10 years imprisonment (if committed by a group or in large amounts). It is important to note that in Georgia, the concept covers any electronic manipulation related to finances.
Step-by-Step Service Process
Defense stages include:
- Audit: Checking the technical and financial grounds of the accusation.
- Communication Recovery: Recovering deleted emails or records to establish the truth.
- Court Defense: Explaining complex financial schemes to the court in simple terms.
Why Choose a Specialist on Legal.ge?
Wire fraud cases require a synthesis of financial law and IT knowledge. Lawyers on Legal.ge will help you navigate complex transactions and defend yourself against baseless accusations, especially if you became part of a scheme unwittingly.
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