Fraud Act 2006

The U.K. Fraud Act 2006, came into force on January 15, 2007. The Act makes "fraud" a statutory offense, including fraud committed online. Fraud can be committed in three ways:


 * 1. by making a false representation (dishonestly, with intent to make a gain, cause loss or risk of loss to another);
 * 2. by failing to disclose information; and
 * 3. by abuse of position.

In addition, the Act established new offenses, including:


 * “obtaining services dishonestly . . . if payment is made for them,” such as credit card fraud over the Internet;
 * possessing “articles for use in frauds” (the term “article” including “any program or data held in electronic form”), which relates to identity fraud;
 * “making or supplying articles for use in frauds . . . knowing that it is designed or adapted for use . . . in connection with fraud,” which relates to the writing of malicious software. See "Phishing kits banned by new Fraud Act," Nov. 13, 2006.