mail fraud
Deceptive postal schemes
Mail fraud is a federal crime in the United States involving the use of postal services to carry out a scheme to defraud—obtaining money or property through false pretenses.
The charge is often added to other fraud prosecutions because mailing even routine documents during a crime triggers it: The investment scheme resulted in thirty counts of mail fraud.
Wire fraud is the analogous crime using electronic communications.
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- Nigerian prince scamEmail requesting money for fictional fortune
- sweepstakes scamFake contest targeting victims
- chain letterSelf-replicating correspondence scheme
- Ponzi schemeFraudulent returns from newcomers
fake charity · inheritance scam · romance scam · subscription trap
Stealing personal data criminally
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- counterfeitingMaking fake money
- racketeeringConducting illegal business schemes
conspiracy · money laundering · extortion · bribery · felony · indictment · prosecution · defendant
Federal agent investigating mail crimes
- USPSAmerican postal agency
- postmarkDated mailing imprint
- forwardingRedirecting to another location
- return addressMailer's printed coordinates
postmaster · P.O. box · mailroom · delivery confirmation · postal regulations
False or misleading statement
- false pretensesDeceptive claims for gain
- fraudulent claimsDishonest assertions for gain
- forged signatureFraudulently imitated handwritten name
- fake documentsFalsified official papers
impersonation · false advertising · shell company · stolen identity
phishing
Fraudulent credential harvesting
- Nigerian prince scamEmail requesting money for fictional fortune
- sweepstakes scamFake contest targeting victims
- chain letterSelf-replicating correspondence scheme
Ponzi scheme · fake charity · inheritance scam · romance scam · subscription trap
identity theft
Stealing personal data criminally
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- counterfeitingMaking fake money
racketeering · conspiracy · money laundering · extortion · bribery · felony · indictment · prosecution · defendant · conviction
postal inspector
Federal agent investigating mail crimes
- USPSAmerican postal agency
- postmarkDated mailing imprint
- forwardingRedirecting to another location
return address · postmaster · P.O. box · mailroom · delivery confirmation · postal regulations
misrepresentation
False or misleading statement
- false pretensesDeceptive claims for gain
- fraudulent claimsDishonest assertions for gain
- forged signatureFraudulently imitated handwritten name
fake documents · impersonation · false advertising · shell company · stolen identity
- mail crimespostal theft, package theft, counterfeit stamps, letter bombs, porch piracy
- crimesarson, burglary, robbery, kidnapping, vandalism
- postalstamp, stamps, postal service, letter, letters
- postal servicepost office, sorting machine, stamps, stamp, letter carriers
- postal servicespost office, stamps, delivery, packages, envelopes
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
mail fraudhonesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
integrity · truthfulness · fair dealing · transparency · ethical business practices