Fairfax Credit Card Fraud Lawyer

You might be alarmed about being charged with a criminal credit card fraud charge. As a Fairfax credit card fraud lawyer, I can fight your case in court and defend your legal rights.

read below penalties and how to fight credit card fraud charges in fairfax virginia

What is Credit Card Fraud in Fairfax Virginia?

Under Virginia law section 18.2.195 credit card fraud penalties are defined and an explanation of them to follow.

Credit card fraud is a form of identity theft that involves using a person’s credit card or their credit card number without authorization or owner’s consent, with the intent to defraud and to charge purchases to the account or remove funds from it. 

It can be committed in several different ways such as a person may: 

1. Fraudulently obtaining or using someone else’s credit card information, 
2.  Using his or her credit card with the knowledge it is expired, or the account does not have sufficient funds to pay for the items or to sell goods and services to someone else fully aware that the credit card they used was illegally obtained and without proper authorization.

For the Commonwealth of Virginia to charge you with such a conviction, they must prove that: 

1. The accused illegally took a credit card or the credit card number that belonged to another 
2. The misappropriate was done with the sole intention to use, sell, or transfer it to a person other than the cardholder.
3. The accused used the credit card or credit card number to buy something of value.
4. The sole intention of the accused was to defraud the credit cardholder. 

In the event you or a loved one are facing such a charge, it is encouraged to contact an experienced Fairfax Credit Card Fraud Lawyer who can provide appropriate counsel and guidance.

Penalties of Credit Card Fraud in Fairfax

The penalties for credit card fraud in Fairfax depend on the value of the fraud involved in the case.

Regardless of whether you are facing a conviction for misdemeanor fraud or a felony offense, the consequences will be unpleasant. 

Felonies are more serious crimes as compared to misdemeanors.

These crimes can have significant punishments that can range from minor fines starting at $2500 to more harsh penalties such as imprisonment for 20 years maximum.

According to the theft laws in Virginia, credit card fraud is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor if the value of the goods and services involved is less than $500.

Normally, any Class 1 misdemeanor includes 12 months of imprisonment and a fine of $2,500. 

On the other hand, to be convicted of a felony offense, the value of credit card fraud has to exceed $500.

A Class 6 felony normally includes 5 years in prison along with expensive fines.

How to Prevent Credit Card Fraud

Falling a victim to credit card schemes can negatively affect your credit, especially if it takes you a while to notice what is happening.

It is possible that if a fraudster creates a new credit card using your personal information with no intention to pay the bill for the things bought, this will lead to that credit card score being reported to the credit card bureau under your name. 

And although it may not be possible to eliminate the chance that you may fall victim to these credit card fraud schemes, there are steps one can take to reduce the risk of such theft which includes:

•  Carrying only the credit cards you need and use daily and never carry your Social Security card with you. 
• When online shopping, try your best to buy from reputable companies or those whose security measures you can verify. 
• It’s encouraged to only give your credit card information or any personal information (such as social security number) over the phone when you can verify you are speaking to a trusted source

Why Should You Hire a Fairfax Credit Card Fraud Lawyer?

Credit fraud is one of the most damaging forms of theft because it leads to the victim’s personal identifying information being used to carry out numerous fraudulent activities under their names.

If you have been a victim of credit card fraud or have been charged with such an offense, please contact an experienced Fairfax Credit Card Fraud Lawyer to schedule a consultation regarding your case. 

The lawyers here at American Lawyers Group have years of experience successfully handling thousands of cases on behalf of clients and can provide you with the efficient legal representation that you need.