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 Georgia, credit card fraud is considered a serious criminal offense. Under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) § 16-9-31, credit card fraud can include activities such as using a stolen or lost credit card to make unauthorized purchases, obtaining someone's credit card information to engage in card-not-present transactions, and any other forms of unauthorized use of a credit card or credit account numbers. Penalties for credit card fraud in Georgia can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity of the offense, the value of the fraudulent transactions, and the criminal history of the offender. Identity theft is also a criminal act under O.C.G.A. § 16-9-121, which prohibits the fraudulent use of identifying information belonging to another person, with the intent to unlawfully gain credit, goods, services, or to avoid legal consequences. The state imposes strict penalties for identity theft, which can include imprisonment, fines, and restitution. Victims of credit card fraud or identity theft in Georgia are encouraged to report the crime to law enforcement and may also need to contact their credit card issuer and credit bureaus to mitigate the damage to their credit and finances.