What are the Penalties for Credit Card Fraud in New York?

Credit card fraud is a broad term that encompasses many crimes related to the misuse of credit and debit cards. The victims of credit card fraud are commonly innocent people and vulnerable classes such as the elderly or disabled. Because of the potential for extensive monetary losses, the penalties for credit card fraud can be severe. If you are facing charges related to theft or fraud you will want to acquire the services of a skilled attorney to help you navigate your case. Contact a Stony Point, NY criminal defense attorney to speak with an experienced lawyer.

What Are the Types of Credit Card Fraud and their Associated Penalties?

New York state law generally recognizes two different categories of credit card fraud that encompass multiple types of crimes. The first category related to stolen, revoked, or canceled cards. New York Penal Law states that it is illegal to attempt to obtain goods and/or services using a credit card that you are aware has been stolen, revoked, or canceled.

The second category is related to forging credit cards. You can be charged if you possess a credit card that has been forged or altered in any way.

Theft of services by fraudulent use of a credit card will result in a class A misdemeanor. Penalties can include up to a year in jail and fines of up to $1,000.

Possessing stolen credit cards is considered a class E felony and can result in up to four years in prison and fines of up to $5,000.

Other penalties may be given depending on the circumstances of your case. You may face probation, mandatory community service, victim restitution, and more. Depending on what fraud crime you committed, how, against whom, and the amount lost, your sentencing may be more or less severe.

Should I Hire a Lawyer for My Case?

So you are facing credit card fraud charges. Is it worth it to hire a lawyer? The answer is yes, you should hire a lawyer when being charged with credit card fraud of any kind. It is always wise to hire legal counsel when facing criminal charges. Being convicted of something so serious can change your life permanently. Besides having to pay a significant amount of money and waste years of your life in jail, a conviction can potentially result in a criminal record.

Having a criminal record can have a serious detrimental impact on your daily life. Because of the common use of criminal background checks, having a record can make it difficult to obtain employment, rent a house or apartment, and more. You will want to formulate the best defense possible when facing credit card fraud charges so you can avoid the issues that come with a conviction.

Your attorney will be well-equipped with extensive knowledge of the law and an understanding of the legal proceedings. They will be able to evaluate your case and determine the best angle to take when defending you.