Credit and Debit Card Fraud

The criminal defense attorneys at The Davis Law Group, P.C. represent clients charged with Credit and Debit Card Fraud throughout Illinois and the Chicagoland area. Credit card fraud is becoming increasingly common as technology advances and the security of confidential information is constantly exposed. Individuals and businesses alike are targets for this type of crime.

These crimes often occur out of financial desperation. There are also those that try to justify the crime and assume the credit card company will absorb the losses rather than the individual cardholder. Regardless of the motive, Illinois law takes a tough stance on credit card fraud and every allegation must be taken seriously.

What Does the Law say?

Illinois strictly prohibits Credit and Debit Card Fraud. Under 720 ILCS 5/17, it is illegal to:

make a false statement to obtain a debit or credit card
possess another’s debit or credit card, debt, or identification card
possess a lost or mislaid credit or debit card
sell another’s debit or credit card without consent of the issuer
use a credit or debit card as security for a debt
use a counterfeited, forged, expired, revoked, or unissued credit or debit card
use a credit or debit card with the intent to defraud
use an account number or code with intent to defraud
receive goods or services knowing it was obtained through credit or debit card fraud
sign another’s card with the intent to defraud
alter or counterfeit a card
possess an incomplete card with the intent to complete it without consent
make a prohibited deposit
fraudulently use an electronic transmission
make a payment of charges without furnishing item for value
furnish items of value with intent to defraud
fail to furnish items of value with intent to defraud

Possible Defenses to Credit Card Fraud

Illinois law requires that there is intent to defraud. For example, an individual charged with this offense may not know that the credit card was stolen, counterfeited, expired, or revoked. Additionally, often the accused did not have the intent to defraud, as he or she was unaware of the illegality of the card.

Penalties for Credit Card Fraud

Illinois has harsh penalties for those who commit Credit or Debit Card Fraud. Penalties depend on the exact crime committed, the value of the property stolen, and the number of transactions made. Of course, the number of victims and any prior convictions for offenses involving fraud are always taken into account as well.

In Illinois, Credit and Debit Card Fraud is usually charged as a Class 4 felony, which carries a potential sentence of 1-3 years in prison and a fine up to $25,000. However, these offenses are often charged as Class 3 felonies, which carry 2-5 years in prison and a fine up to $25,000.

Contact Our Defense Attorneys

The criminal defense attorneys at The Davis Law Group, P.C. have years of experience representing clients in criminal courtrooms throughout the Chicago Area including Cook County, Lake County and DuPage County. Our attorneys are familiar with local courthouse procedures, prosecutors, judges, and Clerks of the Circuit Court throughout our area. Contact us today for a free initial consultation if you have been charged with credit card fraud or another criminal offense in Illinois.