1. A fraud, or a scam, committed by means of electronic communication; such as, with a telephone or a modem.
2. A situation where a person concocts a scheme to defraud or obtain money based on false representation or promises.

This criminal act is done using electronic communications or an interstate communications facility. Like any type of fraud, wire fraud is a U.S. federal offense. People can be found guilty for their misuse of a communication facility, regardless of whether their scheme actually defrauded anyone.