Fraud in Virginia Part 2
Since there are so many kinds of fraud in Virginia, it is impossible to cover even the tip of the iceberg of common fraud charges in one post.
Identity Theft
Many people have heard about identity theft. It has become much more common over the recent decade because of the rise of computers and internet shopping. Virginia breaks up its identity theft laws into three sections based on the purpose behind the identity theft. The first section is when identifying information is used for the perpetrators or someone else’s use. The second section covers when someone acquires the identifying information for the purposes of selling the information. Finally, the third section addresses when someone takes another person’s identifying information to use to interfere with a criminal investigation. For all of these sections, identifying information includes Social Security numbers, name, date of birth, account numbers, driver’s license numbers, PIN numbers, passwords, or any other kind of personal information used for the purposes of fraud.
Under the first two sections, it is illegal to use identifying information not publicly available to obtain access to documents, get credit or other money or goods. It is also illegal under these sections to obtain false identification using another person’s identity or impersonating a law enforcement officer. The third section involves a person impersonating someone else to avoid arrest, summons, or other kinds of legal consequences.
Identity theft where the loss is over $200 is a Class 6 felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $2,500. Subsequent offenses come with increased penalties.
Credit Card Fraud
There are a couple different kinds of credit card fraud based on whom the perpetrators are trying to defraud. If someone is trying to defraud the merchant or cardholder, that is one kind of credit card fraud. This includes using a credit card number that someone knows is stolen or invalid to get money or goods. It also includes using someone else’s credit card without permission or a number that has not been issued to buy things. It is also illegal under this section to give someone a credit card for collateral or knowingly using a credit card beyond its cash advance or credit limit.
The other kind of credit card fraud involves someone trying to defraud the credit card issuer such as through giving money or goods to someone when they know the credit card is stolen or revoked, or charging something to a credit card without giving the person the goods. It also includes charging the credit card for more than is allowed by the credit card company.
If the amount of stolen money or goods is over $200 then it is a Class 6 felony with the punishment the same as with identity theft.
Contact Us for Help Today
If you are charged with fraud in Northern Virginia, you should talk to a skilled fraud defense attorney as soon as possible to help defend you against the fraud charges. Our experienced fraud defense attorneys at Simms Showers, LLP in Leesburg, Virginia can help to launch a vigorous defense against your fraud charges.
Resource:
consumer.ftc.gov/topics/identity-theft
