Credit Card Crime Act

The act is a criminal statute governing the misuse of credit and debit cards. It defines the terms it uses and establishes a related group of offenses — obtaining a card by theft or fraudulent means, making false statements about one's financial condition or identity, fraudulent use of a card, receiving money, goods, or services known to have been obtained through such use, publishing card information so that others may defraud, and possessing incomplete cards or the machinery and plates used to produce counterfeit ones — including conduct by merchants and others authorized to honor cards. It fixes penalties for those offenses, withdraws one defense that might otherwise be raised, and states that it is not exclusive, so prosecution remains available under other criminal laws as well.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.