Credit card fraud is when someone uses your credit card or credit account to make a purchase you didn't authorize. This activity can happen in different ways. For example, if you lose your credit card or have it stolen, it can be used to make purchases or other transactions, either in person or online. And fraudsters can also steal your credit card account number, PIN and security code to make unauthorized transactions, without needing your physical credit card—unlawful transactions like these are known as card-not-present fraud.

Identity theft involves the use of illegally obtained information about you, like your name, birthday, Social Security number, credit card numbers and more, in order to use existing credit accounts or open new ones in your name. When this happens, criminals capture the spending power of your credit while you get stuck with the bill.

In Arizona, credit card fraud is considered a serious criminal offense. Under Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) §13-2102, a person commits credit card fraud if they, with intent to defraud, use a credit card or credit card number to obtain goods, services, or anything else of value without the consent of the cardholder. This includes situations where the card is lost, stolen, or obtained with the intent to use it fraudulently, as well as card-not-present fraud. Additionally, identity theft is addressed under ARS §13-2008 and §13-2009, making it illegal to take, purchase, manufacture, record, possess, or use the personal identifying information of another person without consent for any unlawful purpose, including obtaining or attempting to obtain credit. Penalties for credit card fraud and identity theft in Arizona can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity of the crime and the amount of money involved, and can result in significant fines and imprisonment.