Credit Card Forgery

Credit Card Forgery in Virginia, charged under Va. Code §18.2-193, is a felony punished with up to 10 years in prison.  Credit card forgery in Virginia is essentially making a fake credit card, altering a valid credit card, or attempting to use a fake or altered credit card.

There are a number of ways that credit card forgery in Virginia can be charged.  Common credit card forgery charges in Virginia include making fake credit cards, falsely embossing a credit card, uttering a fake credit card, signing another person’s credit card, and forging a sales draft, cash advance, or withdrawal receipt.

Credit Card Forgery Charges in Virginia

False Making of Credit Card

It is a Class 5 felony under Va. Code §18.2-193(1)(a) to make a false credit card.  False making of a credit card means making a new object that is meant to look like a real credit card, with intent to defraud, and the creation of this “card” was not authorized by the purported credit card issuer.  Va. Code §18.2-193(3) states that “a person falsely makes a credit card when he makes or draws, in whole or in part, a device or instrument which purports to be the credit card of a named issuer but which is not such a credit card because the issuer did not authorize the making or drawing, or alters a credit card which was validly issued.”  Altering an otherwise valid credit card is also considered making a fake credit card.

Embossing Credit Card

False embossing of a credit card under §18.2-193(1)(a) is another form of credit card forgery in Virginia.  A credit card is “embossed” when an offender, with intent to defraud, adds something physical to an already existing credit card.  Va. Code §18.2-193(3) states that “a person falsely embosses a credit card when, without the authorization of the named issuer, he completes a credit card by adding any of the matter, other than the signature of the cardholder, which an issuer requires to appear on the credit card before it can be used by a cardholder.”

Uttering a False Credit Card

Another form of credit card forgery in Virginia is uttering a false credit card.  Uttering a false credit card, criminalized under §18.2-193(1)(a), prohibits knowingly presenting a fake credit card as real, with intent to defraud, to obtain some benefit.

Signing Another Person’s Credit Card

Signing a credit card without the cardholder’s permission, intending to defraud, is another form of credit card forgery in Virginia.  This form of credit card forgery is found in Va. Code §18.2-193(1)(b).

Forging Sales Draft/Cash Advance

Va. Code §18.2-193(1)(c) makes it a crime to forge a sales draft or cash advance/withdrawal slip without the cardholder’s permission, with intent to defraud.  It is also a form of credit card forgery in Virginia to utter a forged sale draft, advance receipt or withdrawal receipt.

Penalties for Credit Card Forgery in Virginia

Credit card forgery in Virginia is a Class 5 felony, punished with up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $2500.  There could also be penalties related to lost employment, lost educational opportunities, and immigration consequences.

Credit Card Forgery in Virginia: Statute

§ 18.2-193. Credit card forgery.

(1) A person is guilty of credit card forgery when:

(a) With intent to defraud a purported issuer, a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value, or any other person, he falsely makes or falsely embosses a purported credit card or utters such a credit card; or

(b) He, not being the cardholder or a person authorized by him, with intent to defraud the issuer, or a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value, or any other person, signs a credit card; or

(c) He, not being the cardholder or a person authorized by him, with intent to defraud the issuer, or a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value, or any other person, forges a sales draft or cash advance/withdrawal draft, or uses a credit card number of a card of which he is not the cardholder, or utters, or attempts to employ as true, such forged draft knowing it to be forged.

(2) A person falsely makes a credit card when he makes or draws, in whole or in part, a device or instrument which purports to be the credit card of a named issuer but which is not such a credit card because the issuer did not authorize the making or drawing, or alters a credit card which was validly issued.

(3) A person falsely embosses a credit card when, without the authorization of the named issuer, he completes a credit card by adding any of the matter, other than the signature of the cardholder, which an issuer requires to appear on the credit card before it can be used by a cardholder. Conviction of credit card forgery shall be punishable as a Class 5 felony.