- Legal Basis
- § 263a StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment up to five years or a fine; in especially serious cases imprisonment from six months to ten years
- Summary
- Causing financial damage by manipulating computer processes to obtain an unlawful financial advantage
Computer Fraud (Section 263a StGB)
Computer fraud is the digital counterpart to traditional fraud. While fraud involves deceiving a person, computer fraud involves manipulating a data processing operation to obtain an unlawful financial advantage. With the increasing shift of business processes to the internet, this provision has steadily gained importance — making it a particularly relevant offence for expats working in Germany’s digital economy.
Legal Basis
Section 263a(1) of the German Criminal Code (StGB) provides:
“Anyone who, with the intention of obtaining an unlawful financial advantage for themselves or a third party, damages the assets of another by influencing the result of a data processing operation through incorrect configuration of a programme, use of incorrect or incomplete data, unauthorised use of data, or other unauthorised interference with the process, shall be punished with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine.”
Elements of the Offence
Influencing a data processing operation: The offender must interfere with an automated data processing operation. Four types of conduct are covered:
Incorrect configuration of a programme: Manipulation of the programme code itself, such as installing backdoors or altering calculation algorithms.
Use of incorrect or incomplete data: Entering false data into a system, e.g., forged transfer data or manipulated order information.
Unauthorised use of data: Using data without authorisation, particularly the misuse of others’ debit or credit card data, using others’ online banking credentials, or unauthorised use of customer numbers.
Other unauthorised interference with the process: A catch-all provision covering all other manipulations of a data processing operation.
Financial damage: The manipulation must have caused actual financial damage. Damage is calculated according to the same principles as for fraud (Section 263 StGB).
Intent to enrich: The offender must have acted with the intention of unlawfully enriching themselves or a third party. The sought advantage must correspond to the damage caused.
Typical Methods of Commission
The most common forms include misuse of debit and credit card data in online commerce, phishing attacks followed by unauthorised transfers, manipulation of online banking systems, use of skimming devices at ATMs, obtaining services from online providers using false identities, and manipulation of billing systems within companies.
Sentencing Range
The basic offence carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment or a fine. In especially serious cases (Section 263a(2) in conjunction with Section 263(3) StGB), such as commercial-scale activity, gang involvement, or financial loss on a large scale, the sentence ranges from six months to ten years’ imprisonment. Attempt is punishable. Additionally, Section 263a(3) StGB criminalises preparatory acts: anyone who produces or obtains computer programmes whose purpose is to commit computer fraud faces up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine.
Typical Defence Strategies
The question of “unauthorised use” frequently stands at the centre of the defence. If the accused had authorisation — even if tacitly granted — to use the data, criminal liability is excluded. The distinction from simple fraud can also be decisive, particularly where a person rather than a computer was deceived. The amount of damage is critically examined, especially in cases of failed transactions or where the financial advantage was not realised. Attribution problems may also arise: who actually accessed the computer? Finally, exclusionary rules are examined, particularly regarding the forensic analysis of computers and mobile phones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was ist Computer Fraud?
Der Computer Fraud (§ 263a StGB) ist die Beeinflussung des Ergebnisses eines Datenverarbeitungsvorgangs zur Erlangung eines rechtswidrigen Vermögensvorteils, etwa durch Verwenden fremder Kartendaten oder Manipulation von Programmen.
Worin liegt der Unterschied zum Fraud?
Beim Computer Fraud wird kein Mensch getäuscht, sondern ein automatisierter Vorgang beeinflusst. Diese Abgrenzung ist für die Verteidigung relevant.
Welche Strafe droht?
Wie beim Fraud Freiheitsstrafe bis zu fünf Jahren oder Geldstrafe, in besonders schweren Fällen mehr.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Computer Fraud? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Computer Fraud requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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