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 Pennsylvania, credit card fraud and identity theft are serious criminal offenses. Under Pennsylvania law, credit card fraud may include activities such as using a stolen or lost credit card to make unauthorized purchases, using someone else's credit card information online (card-not-present fraud), or any other form of unauthorized use of a credit card or credit account information. These offenses are typically charged under statutes related to theft, receiving stolen property, or access device fraud. Access device fraud (which includes credit cards) is covered under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4106 and can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the value of the transactions and other factors. Identity theft is specifically addressed under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4120, and it criminalizes the use of another person's identifying information without their consent for unlawful purposes. Penalties for identity theft can also range from misdemeanors to felonies, with more severe penalties for larger amounts of money stolen or if the victim is a senior citizen or a person under 18. Victims of credit card fraud or identity theft in Pennsylvania are encouraged to report the crime to local law enforcement and may also need to contact their financial institutions to prevent further unauthorized transactions.