U.S. Federal Cybercrime Laws

Types of Unlawful ConductExamples of Potentially Applicable Federal Laws
Internet Fraud15 U.S.C. §§ 45, 52 (unfair or deceptive acts or practices; false advertisements)
15 U.S.C. § 1644 (credit card fraud)
18 U.S.C. §§ 102810291030 (fraud in connection with identification documents and information; fraud in connection with access devices; and fraud in connection with computers)
18 U.S.C. § 1341 et seq. (mail, wire, and bank fraud)
18 U.S.C. § 1345 (injunctions against fraud)
18 U.S.C. § 19561957 (money laundering)
Online Child Pornography, Child Luring, and Related Activities18 U.S.C. § 2251 et seq. (sexual exploitation and other abuse of children)
18 U.S.C. § 2421 et seq. (transportation for illegal sexual activity)
Internet Sale of Prescription Drugs and Controlled Substances15 U.S.C. § 45 et seq. (unfair or deceptive acts or practices; false advertisements)
18 U.S.C. § 545 (smuggling goods into the United States)
18 U.S.C. § 1341 et seq. (mail, wire, and bank fraud; injunctions against fraud)
21 U.S.C. § 301 et seq. (Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act)
21 U.S.C. §§ 822829841863951971 (Drug Abuse Prevention and Control)
Internet Sale of Firearms18 U.S.C. § 921 et seq. (firearms)
Internet Gambling15 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq. (Interstate Horseracing Act)
18 U.S.C. § 1084 (transmission of wagering information)
18 U.S.C. §§ 1301 et seq. (lotteries)
18 U.S.C. § 1952 (interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises)
18 U.S.C. § 1953 (interstate transportation of wagering paraphernalia)
18 U.S.C. § 1955 (prohibition of illegal gambling businesses)
28 U.S.C. §§ 3701370237033704 (professional and amateur sports protection)
Internet Sale of Alcohol18 U.S.C. § 1261 et seq. (liquor traffic)
27 U.S.C. §§ 122204 (shipments into states for possession or sale in violation of state law)
Online Securities Fraud15 U.S.C. § 77e77j77q77x78i78j78l78o78ff (securities fraud)
Software Piracy and Intellectual Property Theft17 U.S.C. § 506 (criminal copyright infringement)
17 U.S.C. § 1201 et seq. (copyright protection and management systems)
18 U.S.C. § 545 (smuggling goods into the United States)
18 U.S.C. §§ 13411343 (frauds and swindles)
18 U.S.C. § 1831 et seq. (protection of trade secrets)
18 U.S.C. §§ 231823192320 (trafficking in counterfeit labels for phonorecords, copies of computer programs or computer program documentation or packaging, and copies of motion pictures or other audio visual works)
Sources: The Electronic Frontier, A Report of the President’s Working Group on Unlawful Conduct on the Internet, March 2000; online version of the U.S. Code courtesy of Cornell University Legal Information Institute.