As the use of computers has become a common and integral part of everyday life and most businesses, Computer Fraud has become progressively more widespread. A New York Computer Fraud lawyer on the team at Stephen Bilkis & Associates will explain to you that this crime can be very complex or quite simple, and we can counsel you at no cost consultation about how to defend yourself against these criminal charges. Very often a Computer Fraud can lead to criminal charges in both New York State Court as well as Federal Court.

Whenever a computer has allegedly been used to facilitate a criminal act, a charge of Computer Fraud may be brought by the US Attorney, New York City offices of the District Attorney, the District Attorney in Westchester, or the District Attorney on Long Island in Nassau County and Suffolk County. The crime therefore represents a broad category of deceptive activities that are generally designed to steal, destroy, or misrepresent information. For instance, Computer Fraud occurs if you access credit card numbers or Social Security numbers online in order to use them illegally. Computer Fraud is frequently connected to Credit Card Fraud, or other crimes such as Bank Fraud, Embezzlement and in some instances Bribery.

Among the common actions that can be prosecuted under the charge of Computer Fraud are the following:

• Posing as someone else online.
• Emailing a hoax with the intent to scare or intimidate others.
• Employing spyware or other malicious software, or hacking into a computer system, to collect the private information of a business, an individual, or a group of people.
• Emailing investment schemes with the intention of taking other people's money.
• Illegally accessing a computer to alter business, government, medical, academic, or other records.
• Intentionally sending harmful computer viruses to damage the computers of others.

Because defending a charge of Computer Fraud typically involves both technological and financial investigations—and because relevant records can be preserved even if you believe they've been erased—you need a skilled defense team on your side. You might face multiple charges, criminal or civil prosecution, prison time, or fines (even if you're convicted of only minor fraud). So contact Stephen Bilkis & Associates today to set up a free consultation with an experienced Computer Fraud Lawyer. Call 1-800-NY-NY-Law, and we'll arrange to meet with you in any of our offices, whether in our New York City locations in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, or Staten Island; in our Long Island offices in Nassau County or Suffolk County; or in our offices in Westchester County.