It has become very common for people in Morristown, New Jersey, to use credit cards and debit cards to pay at brick-and-mortar stores, and these cards are essential to the business of online retailers. Unfortunately, the rise of using plastic to pay has meant new opportunities for honest people to face prosecution for theft crimes.
This blog post is a brief introduction to the crimes of credit and debit card fraud in New Jersey. Credit and debit card fraud relates to two general categories of behavior: unlawful procuring of a credit card and unlawful use of a credit card.
First, it is unlawful to use false information to apply for a credit card. This covers both the use of a false identity to apply for a card and also the use of false financial information on the application. This is considered to be fraud.
Further, it is also unlawful to take another person’s credit card without permission. Prohibited actions include the stealing of a credit card and the possession, with the intent to use or transfer, of a credit card known to be stolen. A person accused of doing these things will likely be facing theft charges. It is also illegal to make or use a counterfeit credit card.
The use or attempted use of a stolen credit card is unlawful. It is also unlawful for a person to accept a credit card as payment knowing that the card was stolen or falsified.
Although fraudulent credit and debit card use is obviously a bad thing, it is also a bad thing to be falsely accused of credit card theft. Many of these crimes include the element of knowing the unlawful conduct is taking place. If a person honestly did not know that the fraudulent conduct was happening, then that person is not guilty of these offenses. It may be worthwhile to fight these charges in court.