### Question
How does the law define victim?


### Answer
Under *18 U.S.C. § 3663A*, **victim** is defined as:

> a person directly and proximately harmed as a result of the commission of an offense for which restitution may be ordered including, in the case of an offense that involves as an element a scheme, conspiracy, or pattern of criminal activity, any person directly harmed by the defendant's criminal conduct in the course of the scheme, conspiracy, or pattern

#### Citation:
  - *18 U.S.C. § 3663A*
  - Heading: **PART II-CRIMINAL PROCEDURE > CHAPTER 232-MISCELLANEOUS SENTENCING PROVISIONS**

