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Frequently Asked Questions About Internet Crime
Q: Is spam illegal?
A: Some types of spam (unsolicited, typically commercial email) may violate state or federal law. The federal Can-Spam Act (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003) regulates commercial email. It prohibits certain deceptive practices and requires that commercial emails contain a way for recipients to opt-out of receiving emails in the future. Some states also have laws on spam.
Q: If I install filtering software on our home computer, is that enough to protect my kids?
A: While protective software is a start, it is only a first step. Your children can access computers from locations outside the home, and filtering software is not 100 percent effective. Speak with your children about the dangers of the Internet and make sure they know what to do in difficult or dangerous situations.
Computer crime costs as much as $50 billion per year. Public awareness and law enforcement vigilance are growing. If you have been charged with an Internet Crime, contact a knowledgeable attorney to understand your rights and options.
William M. Butler has been a criminal defense lawyer since 1986. He knows the system, and he understands the legal issues surrounding charges of Internet crime. You were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ever since you were arrested, your whole life has been turned upside down. If you are going to get through this, you need an attorney who understands the system and will fight hard for you. He is ready, willing, and able to help you put this part of your life behind you. Call William Butler for an initial consultation.
Internet Crime - An Overview
The Internet has changed everyday life in ways too numerous to count. Instantaneous communication with people all over the world has become commonplace. The new technology has also created new legal issues, particularly in the area of criminal law. If you are facing charges of Internet crimes, including possession of child pornography and soliciting sex from a minor, call to schedule a consultation with a criminal defense attorney.
Identity Theft
Identity theft happens when a person steals someone else's personal information and uses it to acquire loans, credit cards, automobiles and other items. The thief may even use the victim's identity to secure employment or avoid criminal charges. The information that perpetrators of identity theft seek includes Social Security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, bank account information and credit card information. Over the past decades and with the growth of the Internet, identity theft has become an increasingly visible problem. Law enforcement, prosecutors and legislators have focused numerous resources on combating identity theft.
Child Pornography
The Internet has become a common means for the distribution of child pornography. Child pornography is illegal virtually everywhere in the world, and numerous law enforcement agencies have made it a priority. This means that cases are investigated and prosecuted aggressively.
4-1-9 Scams and Advance Fee Fraud
Many people who have email accounts have received a message promising a fabulous sum of money in return for assisting in the transfer of funds out of a country, usually Nigeria. Numerous businesses have also received faxes making similar offers. These proposals are part of a fraudulent scheme called a "4-1-9 scam"; it is named after the section of the Nigerian criminal code dealing with such fraud.
Solicitation of a Minor on the Internet
Solicitation of minors for sexual purposes on the Internet is an issue that has grown immensely in the past decade. It is a crime that has garnered a great deal of attention; newsmagazine shows highlight "stings" of alleged sexual predators, and the government and advocacy groups widely distribute information to help parents protect their kids. The consequences of a conviction for soliciting a minor on the Internet can be very serious.
Internet Crime Resource Links
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
A partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center
(NW3C), the IC3 processes complaints of Internet crime and refers them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Internet fraud
Strategies for avoiding Internet fraud, provided by the FBI.
NetSmartz Workshop
A program of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offering interactive resources for parents, teens and kids about recognizing potential Internet risks.
Crimes against children
Information on crimes against children, Amber alerts and submitting tips to the FBI or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline.
Innocent Images
Information on Internet safety and links to parental guides and sex offender registries, provided by Innocent Images, an investigative arm of the FBI targeting exploitation of children on the Internet.
Contact William M. Butler, Jr. for an initial consultation.
Attorney William Butler, Jr. represents clients throughout the Louisville, Kentucky, metro area including the cities of Lexington, Bowling Green, Paducah, Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Frankfort, Ashland, London, Richmond, Covington, Newport, Elizabethtown, Pikeville, Danville, Owensboro, and Georgetown.
Jefferson County • Daviess County • Warren County • Kenton County • McCracken County • Boyle County • Christian County • Fayette County • Boyd County • Pike County • Hopkins County







