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 Hawaii, credit card fraud and identity theft are serious criminal offenses. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 708-8100 et seq., particularly 708-8100.5, credit card fraud can include making unauthorized transactions with someone else's credit card or credit account information, whether the card is physically present or not (card-not-present fraud). This encompasses situations where a credit card is lost or stolen and used to make unauthorized purchases, as well as when credit card numbers, PINs, or security codes are illegally obtained and used. Identity theft is addressed under Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 708-839.5 to 839.8, which makes it illegal to intentionally use the personal information of another person, without authorization, for the purposes of committing a crime or fraud. This includes using someone's name, birthday, Social Security number, or credit card information to open new accounts or access existing ones. Victims of credit card fraud or identity theft in Hawaii are encouraged to report the crime to law enforcement and may also need to contact their financial institutions to dispute unauthorized transactions and prevent further financial damage. It's important for individuals to understand their rights and the steps to take if they suspect they have been victims of these crimes.