Because the actual criminal subject of contract fraud is different, the specific punishment is not the same, and the prosecution period is also different. Among them, the Criminal Law stipulates three ranges of sentencing standards for the crime of contract fraud, and the maximum penalty involved in different ranges is different.

Legal objectivity:

Article 87 of the Criminal Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) shall not be prosecuted beyond the following time limit: ① If the statutory maximum penalty is less than five years' imprisonment, the limitation period for prosecution shall be five years. (2) If the statutory maximum penalty is imprisonment for more than five years but less than 10 year, the limitation period for prosecution shall be 10 year. (3) If the statutory maximum penalty is fixed-term imprisonment of more than 10 years, the limitation period for prosecution is 15 years. (4) If the statutory maximum punishment is life imprisonment or death penalty, the limitation period for prosecution shall be twenty years. If prosecution is deemed necessary after 20 years, it must be reported to the Supreme People's Procuratorate for approval, and it can still be prosecuted.