More California Internet Crimes information
California Internet Crimes FAQ
- How do I report internet crime?
- Is spamming a crime?
- Can internet crimes be federally prosecuted too?
- Is it illegal to upload music or movies onto the internet even if they don’t charge for it?
- If I accidentally download child pornography or receive unsolicited child pornography by email, can I be criminally charged?
You can file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), which is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). IC3 processes complaints and refers them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for investigation.
SPAM, also known as “junk mail,” is a term that refers to unsolicited commercial emails that are sent out in massive amounts. The use of SPAM in itself is not illegal, but it is regulated. In the United States, spam was deemed legal by the passage of the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 if the underlying message adhered to certain specifications.
Yes. Since the internet crosses state lines, a crime involving the internet can also constitute a federal offense. A federal offense will be prosecuted in more specialized federal courts in proceedings that are different and somewhat more complicated than those followed by state courts. If you are facing federal charges involving internet crime, it is very important that you contact an attorney who is highly qualified and licensed to practice in federal court proceedings. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have over 30 years of experience in defending clients against criminal prosecution in federal court.
Yes. If the music or movie that you are uploading is copyrighted material, you are not allowed to distribute them in any way without the permission of the copyright holder – even if you are doing for no charge.
Yes. The law requires that you destroy all child pornography in your possession and to contact law enforcement authorities. Even if your motivations are innocent or honorable, you may still be prosecuted for possession of child pornography as long as you have downloaded it onto your computer and saved it on your hard-drive or a storage disk.
