It a Federal crime or offense for anyone to use the United States mails in carrying out a scheme to defraud. In order to be proven guilty of mail fraud, it must be shown that the person knowingly and willfully devised a scheme to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false pretenses, representations or promises and that such acts were carried out by means of use of the U.S. Postal Service. Obtaining a payment in response to a fraudulent offer or making a fraudulent offer through the mail is sufficient to claim an offense of mail fraud.
