California Penal Code Sections 484e, 484f, 484g, 484h, 484i and 484j define and punish the crimes that comprise credit card and debit card fraud and specifically prohibit forging, altering, stealing, counterfeiting or publishing information about credit or debit cards.
PC Section 484e covers the acts of stealing, transferring or acquiring another person’s credit/debit card or account information without the cardholder’s consent.
PC Section 484e is a “wobbler” offense and can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony depending on the case facts and defendant’s criminal history.
Felony conviction is likely in case the defendant used the card or its information and acquired property or goods worth more than $950, which is grand theft.
PC Section 484f covers the act of forging credit card information. Defendant can be convicted in case he altered or counterfeited a credit card, or forged a signature on it.
Penalties for violating PC Section 484e
PC Section 484 e is charged as either a misdemeanor or felony pursuant to PC 470 California’s forgery law.
PC Section 484g involves using a fake, stolen, altered, forged, revoked or expired credit card to procure goods or cash while knowing that it is not valid.
This crime takes place when a retailer knowingly accepts payment through a stolen, revoked and expired credit card. Retailer can also be charges under PC 484h when he presents a fake evidence of a transaction for services or goods that were never delivered.
California PC Sections 484g and 484h are treated like petty theft misdemeanors in case the total amount of stolen funds is $950 or less, punishable by six months in a county jail. In case the total amount of stolen funds exceeds$950, the offenses are treated like grand theft and are “wobblers” which can be punished by up to three years in a prison.
This crime involves:
Defendant will face a misdemeanor conviction for possession of an incomplete credit card with intention to complete it, punishable by:
In case the defendant changed the card or information contained within the card then the crime becomes forgery under Penal Code Section 470.
If defendant is convicted for possession of tools for making counterfeit credit cards, he will face a wobbler.
This crime involves deliberately sharing credit card information, including PIN numbers, passwords or other private account information with intention to defraud an entity or person.
PC Section 484j is a misdemeanor, punishable by:
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