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 Wyoming, credit card fraud and identity theft are criminal offenses under state law. Credit card fraud may involve the unauthorized use of someone's credit card or account information to make purchases or withdraw funds. This can occur through the physical theft of a card, or by obtaining the card information such as the account number, PIN, or security code. Wyoming Statutes Title 6, Crimes and Offenses, provides specific provisions against fraudulent credit card use under Section 6-3-602, which addresses credit card fraud as a crime that can lead to felony or misdemeanor charges depending on the circumstances and the amount of money involved. Identity theft is also a serious crime in Wyoming, covered under Section 6-3-901, which prohibits the knowing use of personal identifying information of another person, living or dead, to obtain credit, money, goods, services, or anything else of value without authorization. Penalties for identity theft can include imprisonment, fines, and restitution. Victims of credit card fraud or identity theft in Wyoming should report the crime to law enforcement and may also need to contact an attorney to help mitigate the financial and legal repercussions of the fraud.