Computer and internet attacks, fraud, and abuse are quickly growing areas of crime in Florida. Swift advances in technology and the speed, convenience, and anonymity of the internet mean that cybercrime has become easier to commit, and the list of potential criminal acts has expanded. If you have been charged with a computer or internet crime in Florida, you need a dedicated and experienced West Palm Beach cybercrime defense lawyer to aggressively protect your rights in court.
The possible types of computer- or internet-based crime are nearly endless, but there are three main categories:. Internet fraud is the use of online services to defraud or take advantage of victims. It can include, among other offenses:. The third major category of internet and computer crime is using the internet or electronic devices to commit abuse crimes against victims.
Offenses include:. Most online abuse offenses are third degree felonies, though cyberstalking is generally a first degree misdemeanor. However, it will be charged as a third degree felony if:. The use of the internet facilitates the commission of crime across state borders.
However, state law enforcement cannot get warrants, issue subpoenas, or arrest suspects outside their jurisdictions. Thus, computer and internet crimes are often prosecuted on a federal level. The Internet Crime Compliance Center is a federal multi-agency force that receives, develops, and refers criminal complaints involving the internet.
There are several federal statutes involving internet crime, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and various statutes addressing computer and internet sex crimes, including obscenity, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of children, and transportation for illegal sexual activity.
