Santa Barbara Cybercrime Lawyer

What Is Cybercrime? 

California Penal Code 502 PC makes activities related to the unauthorized access of a computer, software, data, or computer network illegal. Under this statute, an individual may be accused of committing internet crime for the following acts:

• Copying or taking data from a network, computer, or computer system without authorization
• Introducing a virus into a network, computer, or computer system
• Damaging or altering any data or computer system to devise a scheme to defraud or wrongfully obtain data, property, or money

Also known as the “Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act,” this code section makes damaging, altering, deleting, destroying, or otherwise using any computer data without permission punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony with penalties that may include up to three years in jail.

What Are Common Types of Cybercrimes in California?

California courts use “cybercrime” as an umbrella term to describe the use of the internet, a computer, or a telecommunications network to commit fraud-related crimes. Below are some of the most frequently prosecuted types of cybercrimes in California.

Schemes to Defraud through the Internet

You could be charged with this crime if you use a computer to take part in a plan to carry out the three elements of fraud for which the general definition is:

1. Making misleading or false statements
2. Intending that your statements mislead someone into parting with property, money, or other valuables, and
3. The other person believed your statements and did part with the items of value.

For example, if you advertise items for sale and accept payment for them but never deliver them to the buyer, you could be charged with this offense. Even if you deliver the items but they fail to meet the product description that prompted the buyer to purchase them, you could be criminally charged. Another typical example of a scheme to defraud through the internet involves sweepstakes and lottery programs where a person is convinced to pay a fee for a prize that does not exist.

Unauthorized Computer Access

Also known as “hacking,” unauthorized computer access describes the act of accessing a server, website, or other online systems by using another person’s account information. According to a Forbes article on internet security, a hacker attacks someone online every 32 seconds, translating to a cybercrime being perpetrated about 2,244 times each day.

Hacking may be done by physically accessing a computer or more sophisticated methods where hackers may operate halfway across the world when accessing a network.

Phishing 

Phishing is an increasingly common internet crime that describes the act of obtaining personal identifying information (PII) from a victim using trickery by imitating a credible company, website, or person. Phishing is a specific type of identity theft since the victim intentionally provides their information. Likewise, spoofing is the criminal offense of fabricating an I.P. address to gain a victim’s confidence that they are communicating with a trustworthy entity.

PII may include, but is not limited to:

• Usernames and passwords
• Credit card information
• Social security numbers
• Bank account numbers

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, phishing attacks have become increasingly common. According to recent statistics, Google registered over two million phishing sites in January 2021, making the number of phishing sites and attempts increase by more than 27 percent in the past year alone.

Federal Prosecution of Cybercrime in California

Cybercrimes may be prosecuted under California statutes by the District Attorney’s office in the county where the suspect committed the crime. However, depending on the circumstances, they may also be prosecuted federally by the United States Attorney General. Federal laws that make internet crimes punishable at the federal level include:

• Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA), which bans illegal access to networks and computers
• Stored Communications Act (SCA), which makes hacking into third-party networks illegal
• Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), which safeguards the transmissions of data and content and data.

Any illegal conduct that involves the use of telecommunication networks may be prosecuted at the federal level. If you believe that you’re under federal investigation for any cybercrime or other offense, please contact the Aron Law Firm’s experienced cybercrime defense lawyers for professional legal advice.

Penalties for Cybercrime Charges in California 

The consequences for a conviction of an internet crime may be severe. You may be charged by state or federal authorities depending on how you perpetrated the alleged offense, where you were located, and where the victim was located. Note that cybercrimes that have been carried out across state borders are federal violations.

If indicted at the state level, California prosecutors may charge internet crimes as a “wobbler” offense, meaning that it may be either a misdemeanor or felony charge, depending on the details of the particular offense.

Penalties for a cybercrime offense in California may include: 

• A jail sentence for up to one year for a misdemeanor or three years for a felony
• Fines up to $5,000 for a misdemeanor and up to $10,000 for a felony

When deciding whether to prosecute a cybercrime as a misdemeanor or felony offense, the prosecution will usually analyze the severity of the crime, how many victims were involved, and whether you have a previous criminal record. 

Defenses to Cybercrime Charges 

While a criminal charge for cybercrime may be a worrying experience, the California cybercrime always at the Aron Law Firm has vast experience in high-stakes litigation in cases such as these. Whatever the state or federal internet crime allegations you may face, various strategies may be used in your legal defense, including:

• You did not know you were committing a cybercrime
• You had been granted consent to access the computer, network, or system
• You did not intend to commit fraud

If you are charged with committing a cybercrime, the prosecutor must demonstrate that you “knowingly” participated in the computer-based act and did so without permission or authorization. Thus, if you unknowingly committed an internet crime, it may be challenging for the prosecution to establish this element of knowingly committing the crime to garner a conviction.

Talk to an Experienced California Cybercrime Defense Lawyer in Santa Barbara

If you’re confronted with criminal charges or being investigated for internet crimes, experienced legal counsel is essential from the start. The Aron Law Firm is a criminal defense firm in Santa Barbara led by William M. Aron, who takes a client-centered approach in all that he does. Mr. Aron served as a former Deputy District Attorney, where he earned extensive trial experience prosecuting hundreds of criminal cases. In his private practice as a cybercrime defense lawyer, he fights for the underdog and works to hold the government accountable. To speak with a skilled California cybercrime defense lawyer at the Aron Law Firm, schedule a case review by completing a contact form or calling (805) 500-7536.