Cyber Crime Prosecution is on the Rise

Many people who commit cyber or Internet crimes are not even aware of their criminal activity before it is too late. Maybe that profanity-laced message you sent, or that offensive picture you posted, turns from an innocent joke into a very serious criminal investigation. With investigations and prosecutions of cyber crimes on the rise in the past few years, it’s important to be aware of these crimes and take precautions to avoid being charged.

Cyber crimes in Florida include:

• Unauthorized use of a computer
• Computer trespass
• Computer tampering
• Cyber harassment or bullying
• Computer fraud
• Identity theft
• Credit card fraud and wire fraud over the Internet
• Child pornography
• Solicitation of a minor
• Transmission of material harmful to a minor

Cyber crimes can be prosecuted both by the state and federal governments because the use of these electronic means often crosses state lines and many of the activities also violate a federal statute.  The penalties for these crimes can be severe and can include lengthy prison sentences and steep fines.

It is sometimes easy for innocent individuals to get caught up in a cyber or Internet crime investigation and wrongfully become a target because the lines are often blurred in these types of cases. Even if you only used the information on your computer for your own personal use and deleted it, the illegal evidence remains in your computer for the police or FBI to find.

If you think you have been wrongly charged with a cyber crime, it’s important to take quick action to secure your rights.