What is the difference between civil fraud and mail fraud?

Civil fraud and mail fraud are both forms of fraud that can be prosecuting under Pennsylvania law. The key difference between them is the mode of communication used to commit the fraud. Civil fraud is the intentional misrepresentation of facts made by someone to another party for their own gain. Generally, this type of fraud occurs when a person makes a false statement to someone else, with the intention of inducing them to act based on the false facts. Civil fraud cases can involve any type of communication, but they generally involve face-to-face or written communication. For example, if someone sells a car to someone else by telling them it was in perfect condition, but it actually has a lot of mechanical problems, that person could face a civil fraud charge. On the other hand, mail fraud is a specific type of fraud that leverages the postal service to commit the crime. Mail fraud is an intentional attempt to obtain property or money by using the U.S. postal service or an interstate carrier like FedEx or UPS. For example, if someone sends out a mailer containing false information in order to solicit money from unsuspecting victims, they could face a mail fraud charge. In Pennsylvania, being convicted of either type of fraud can result in a hefty fine, jail time, and restitution to those affected by the fraud.

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