### Question
How is the "victim" defined?


### Answer
The term **victim** is defined in *18 U.S.C. § 3663A* as follows -

> 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**

