Complete Legal Sections, Federal Acts, Punishments & Reporting Guide
Cyber crimes in the United States are prosecuted mainly under federal law such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), identity theft statutes, wire fraud laws, and child protection laws. Investigations are typically handled by the FBI, Secret Service, and local law enforcement.
| Section | Offence | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| 1030(a)(1) | Cyber espionage / accessing national security data | Up to 10 years (first), 20 years or more (repeat) |
| 1030(a)(2) | Unauthorized access to obtain information | Up to 5 years |
| 1030(a)(4) | Computer fraud / hacking for financial gain | Up to 5–10 years |
| 1030(a)(5) | Malware, viruses, damaging systems | Up to 10 years or more |
| 1030(a)(7) | Ransomware / extortion | Up to 5 years+ |
| Law / Statute | Offence Type | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| 18 U.S.C. § 1028 | Identity theft / fake IDs | Up to 15 years |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1028A | Aggravated identity theft | Mandatory 2 years extra sentence |
| 18 U.S.C. § 1343 | Wire fraud / online scams | Up to 20 years |
| 18 U.S.C. § 875 | Online threats / extortion | Up to 5 years |
| 18 U.S.C. § 2252 | Child sexual abuse material | 5–20+ years |
| DMCA | Copyright piracy | Fines + imprisonment |
| ECPA | Illegal interception of communications | Fines + prison |