I Have Been Accused of Credit Card Fraud: What Should I Do?

You may be able to defend yourself against charges of credit card fraud by arguing that you were not the one who made the fraudulent transaction or stole the credit card information or by arguing that the cardholder gave you permission to make the transaction.

Cashless transactions are so common these days that even if you tried to keep track of all the businesses and websites where your credit card or debit card number is on file, you would lose count. Hardly a day goes by when you do not swipe, insert, or tap your payment card at a retail store or click to make a purchase on your mobile phone, where your credit card information is stored. Opportunities to steal payment card information are abundant, so abundant that banks often send text message alerts asking account holders to verify that the transaction is not fraudulent when the account holder makes an out-of-character purchase or uses the card in a city that the account holder has not visited before. There are also gray areas where someone knows that you have their credit card information, but they may or may not be okay with you making a certain transaction with their card. If you are being accused of credit card fraud, contact the Norcross, Georgia, financial crimes defense lawyers at Zimmerman & Associates.

Georgia Credit Card Fraud Laws

According to Georgia law, the crime of financial transaction card fraud occurs when a defendant obtains a victim’s credit or debit card information without the victim’s consent and then uses the information to make transactions, causing financial losses for the victim. This can occur when a defendant steals a credit or debit card or takes a picture of the card or a screenshot of a web page or computer file where the cardholder or a business has entered the card number. If someone else stole the card or card number and gave it to you, but you made the transaction, financial transaction card fraud charges also apply. You can also be charged with credit card fraud if the cardholder willingly shared his or her card information with you but did not authorize you to make the transaction that led to your criminal charges.

Penalties for Credit Card Fraud

Credit card fraud is a felony. If you are convicted, you could face a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of $5,000. The court might also order you to pay restitution to the cardholder.

Possible Defenses to Credit Card Fraud Charges

If you plead not guilty to credit card fraud, you may be able to argue that you were not the one who stole the card information or conducted the fraudulent transaction. You might also be able to argue that you made the transaction, but you did so with the consent of the cardholder.

Contact Zimmerman & Associates About Credit Card Fraud Cases in Georgia

An Atlanta criminal defense attorney can help you if you are facing criminal charges for financial crimes such as credit card fraud. Contact Zimmerman & Associates in Norcross, Georgia, to set up a consultation.