Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section
United States Department of Justice

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Appendix A
Unlawful Online Conduct and Applicable Federal Laws

The chart below details the type of unlawful online conduct, potentially applicable federal laws, and the section of the Department of Justice with subject-matter expertise. If the subject matter expert is not a section of the Department, but rather another agency, the entry will have an asterisk following its initials.

In many cases, prosecutors may also consider whether the conduct at issue is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2 (aiding and abetting) or 18 U.S.C. § 371 (conspiracy).

Unlawful Conduct Applicable Federal Law DOJ Section
Denial of Service Attacks 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(5)(A) (transmission of program, information, code, or command, resulting in damage) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 1362 (interfering with government communication systems) CCIPS
Substitution or Redirection of a website 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(5)(A)(i) (transmission of program, information, code, or command, resulting in damage) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(5)(A)(ii)-(iii) (accessing a computer without authorization, resulting in damage) CCIPS
Use of Misleading Domain Name 18 U.S.C. § 2252B (using misleading domain name with intent to deceive a person into viewing obscene material or with intent to deceive a minor into viewing harmful material) CEOS
Extortion 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(7) (transmitting, with intent to extort, communication containing threat to cause damage) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 875(b), (d) (transmitting, with intent to extort, threat to kidnap or harm a person, or threat to injure a person's property or harm a reputation) (Hobbs Act) CTS
18 U.S.C. § 1951 (interfering with commerce by robbery, extortion, threats or violence) DSS
Internet Fraud (e.g., auction fraud or "phishing") 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(4) (accessing a computer to defraud and obtain something of value) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 1028 (fraud in connection with identification documents and authentication features) Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1028A (aggravated identity theft) Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud) Fraud
18 U.S.C. §§ 1956, 1957 (money laundering) AFMLS
18 U.S.C. § 1001 (making false statements in any matter within the jurisdiction of the government) Fraud
15 U.S.C. § 45 (unfair or deceptive trade practices) *FTC
15 U.S.C. § 52 (false advertising) *FTC
15 U.S.C. § 6821 (fraudulent access to financial information) *FTC/Fraud
Credit Card Fraud 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(2)(A) (accessing a computer and obtaining information from a financial institution, card issuer or consumer reporting agency) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 1029 (access device fraud) Fraud/CCIPS
15 U.S.C. § 1644 (credit card fraud aggregating at least $1,000) Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud) Fraud
Password Fraud 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(6) (trafficking in computer passwords) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 1029 (access device fraud) Fraud/CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud) Fraud
Child Pornography, Child Luring, and Related Activities 18 U.S.C. §§ 2251, 2252, 2252A (sexual exploitation of children) CEOS
18 U.S.C. § 2423 (transportation of minors or travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct) CEOS
18 U.S.C. § 1466A (obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children) CEOS
Obscenity 47 U.S.C. § 223(a)(1)(A) (using telecommunications device to make, create, or solicit, and transmit any obscene comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication) CEOS
18 U.S.C. § 1465 (using interactive computer service for purpose of sale or distribution of obscene material) CEOS
Sale of Prescription Drugs and Controlled Substances 15 U.S.C. § 45 (unfair or deceptive trade practices) *FTC
15 U.S.C. § 52 (false advertising) *FTC
18 U.S.C. § 545 (smuggling goods into the United States) Fraud/AFMLS
18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud) Fraud
21 U.S.C. §§ 301 et seq. (Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) *FDA
21 U.S.C. §§ 822, 829, 841, 863, 951-71 (Drug Abuse Prevention and Control) Fraud/NDDS
18 U.S.C. § 2320 (trafficking in counterfeit goods or services) CCIPS
Sale of Firearms 18 U.S.C. § 922 (unlawful sale of firearms) DSS
Gambling 15 U.S.C. §§ 3001 et seq. (Interstate Horseracing Act) OCRS
18 U.S.C. § 1084 (use of wire communication facility to transmit bets or wagering information) OCRS
18 U.S.C. § 1301 (importing or transporting lottery tickets) OCRS/AFMLS
18 U.S.C. § 1952 (use of facilities in interstate or foreign commerce to aid in racketeering enterprises) OCRS
18 U.S.C. § 1953 (interstate transportation of wagering paraphernalia) OCRS
18 U.S.C. § 1955 (conducting, financing, managing, supervising, directing, or owning an illegal gambling business) OCRS/AFMLS
28 U.S.C. § 3701 et seq. (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act) OCRS/AFMLS
Sale of Alcohol 18 U.S.C. §§ 1261 et seq. (transportation of liquor into state prohibiting sale; shipping liquor without required marks and labels on package) OCRS/Treasury
27 U.S.C. §§ 122, 204 (interstate shipping of alcohol) OCRS/Treasury
Securities Fraud 15 U.S.C. §§ 77e, 77j, 77q, 77x, 78i, 78j, 78l, 78o, 78ff (securities fraud) Fraud/SEC
18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud) Fraud/CCIPS
Piracy and Intellectual Property Theft 17 U.S.C. §§ 1201-1205 (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 545 (smuggling goods into the United States) AFMLS
18 U.S.C. §§ 1831, 1832 (theft of trade secrets) CES/CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 2318 (trafficking in counterfeit labels) CCIPS
17 U.S.C. § 506 and 18 U.S.C. § 2319 (criminal copyright infringement) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 2319A (trafficking in recordings of live musical performances) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 2320 (trafficking in counterfeit goods or services) CCIPS
47 U.S.C. § 553 (unauthorized reception of cable service) Fraud
18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud) Fraud
Trade Secrets/Economic Espionage 18 U.S.C. § 1831 ( theft of trade secrets for benefit of foreign government) CES/CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 1832 (theft of trade secrets) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 1905 (disclosure of confidential information) Public Integrity
18 U.S.C. §§ 2314, 2315 (interstate transportation or receipt of stolen property) OEO
Electronic Threats 18 U.S.C. § 875 (transmitting communications containing threats of kidnap or bodily injury) (Hobbs Act) CTS
18 U.S.C. § 1951 (interfering with commerce by robbery, extortion, threats or violence) (Hobbs Act) DSS
47 U.S.C. § 223 (a)(1)(C) (anonymously using telecommunications device to threaten person who receives communication) CCIPS
Electronic Harassment 47 U.S.C. § 223 (a)(1)(C) (anonymously using telecommunications device to harass person who receives communication) CCIPS
47 U.S.C. § 223(a)(1)(E) (repeatedly initiates communication with a telecommunication device solely to harass person who receives communication) CCIPS
Interception of Electronic Communications 18 U.S.C. § 2511 (intercepting electronic communications) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 2701 (accessing stored communications) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(2) (accessing a computer and obtaining information) CCIPS
Cyberstalking 18 U.S.C. § 2261A (using any facility of interstate or foreign commerce to engage in a course of conduct that places person in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury to person, person's spouse or immediate family) See also Electronic HarassmentDSS
Espionage 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(1) (accessing a computer and obtaining national security information) CES
18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(2) (accessing a computer and obtaining information from any department or agency of the United States) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(3) (accessing a nonpublic United States government computer) CCIPS
18 U.S.C. § 793 (gathering, transmitting or losing defense information) CES
18 U.S.C. § 798 (disclosing classified information) CES
Hate Crimes Look to civil rights laws and penalty enhancements Civil Rights
Libel/Slander Look to civil laws 
Posting Personal Information on a Website (e.g., phone numbers, addresses) This is not a violation of law. May also be protected speech under First Amendment. 
Invasion of Privacy See Interception of Electronic Communications 
Disclosure of Private Information 18 U.S.C. § 2511(1)(c) (disclosing intercepted communications) CCIPS
Spam 18 U.S.C. § 1037 (CAN-SPAM Act) CCIPS
Spoofing Email Address 18 U.S.C. § 1037 (CAN-SPAM Act) CCIPS