Internet Crimes
Technological advancements in recent years have made computers and internet software readily available to the general public. Anyone can access the World Wide Web with ease from their handheld cell phone, portable device, or from behind the wheel of a car. Unfortunately, with internet access being accessible at the touch of a finger, there has been an increase in internet crimes and computer crimes.
The federal and state governments are catching on, and as a result, more and more arrests are being made for cybercrime allegations. Offenses such as identity theft, internet fraud, internet harassment, online stalking, and cybersex crimes are on the rise, and are showing trends of continuing to increase.
Oftentimes you will learn that police are investigating you for these crimes when they arrive at your house with a search warrant and seize your electronics. This can be frightening and can also feel overwhelming. However, police often make mistakes and over step their authority. Police will often ignore the possibility that you have been hacked or that your Internet Protocol address was actually used by someone else. Challenging the search warrants in these cases requires a detailed knowledge of the procedural requirements to obtain a search warrant. The attorneys at Jarvis, Bridge, Halttunen, & Weyer have handled these types of case and have a longstanding relationship with experts in the field in order to combat these charges.
Computer Crimes
A computer or internet crime is committed when any person who knowingly accesses, attempts to access or uses, or attempts to use, any computer, computer system, or computer network for the purpose of devising or executing a scheme or artifice to defraud another person. A scheme could relate to an attempt to obtain money, property, or services by means of false pretenses or promises.
Common examples of computer crimes include:
- Internet phishing
- Internet fraud
- Identity theft
- Cyberstalking
- Cybersex crimes
Child Exploitation and Internet Crimes
It is not uncommon for sex crimes and internet crimes to be related. With technology being increasingly accessible, it has been much easier for young children to access the internet. The federal government has dedicated a specific branch of the FBI to tracking internet crimes and internet sex crimes. This has led to nationwide investigations, through which the FBI has tried to crack down on repeat sex offenders by using fake internet profiles or tracking users through child pornography. Police often use subpoenas to get information that allows them to apply for a search warrant. Obtaining personal information through a subpoena has been a hotly contested issue in the courts in recent years. It is important to retain an attorney who knows how to fight back against these complex cases.
The attorneys at Jarvis, Bridge, Halttunen, & Weyer have been successful at realizing favorable outcomes in these type of cases. Call us today if you have been accused of an internet or computer crime.