> The U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Resource Manual Section 941.18 U.S.C. 1343 cites these as the key elements of wire fraud: “1) that the defendant voluntarily and intentionally devised or participated in a scheme to defraud another out of money; 2) that the defendant did so with the intent to defraud; 3) that it was reasonably foreseeable that interstate wire communications would be used; and 4) that interstate wire communications were in fact used.”

So wire fraud is defrauding money. Most people consider fraud to be a form of stealing, although it is obviously different in the eyes of the law. Either way, it is getting money that is not rightfully yours.