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 Missouri, credit card fraud and identity theft are considered serious criminal offenses. Under Missouri law (specifically, Section 570.130 of the Missouri Revised Statutes), credit card fraud can include the theft of a credit card, the receipt of a stolen credit card with the intent to use it, the fraudulent use of a credit card to obtain goods or services, or the fraudulent production or sale of credit cards. Penalties for credit card fraud in Missouri can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the value of the fraudulent transactions and the circumstances of the offense. Identity theft is addressed under Section 570.223 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, which makes it illegal to knowingly and with the intent to deceive or defraud, possess, transfer, or use the means of identification of another person without lawful authority. The severity of the punishment for identity theft also varies based on the amount of financial loss caused by the theft, and can include fines, imprisonment, or both. Victims of credit card fraud or identity theft in Missouri are encouraged to report the crime to law enforcement and may also need to contact their financial institutions to protect their accounts.