Fraud

Forgery

 

False Pretenses

False pretenses in Virginia (Va. Code §18.2-178) is making a factual misrepresentation of a past or existing fact with the intent to defraud which causes someone to part with his property.  False Pretenses can be charged as Obtaining Money or Property by False Pretenses or Obtaining a Signature by False Pretenses.

Obtaining Money or a Signature by False Pretenses (Va. Code §18.2-178) is a form of larceny in Virginia and is punished the same way.  This means that the punishment for a false pretenses charge depends on the value of property the offender obtaining-money-by-false-pretenses-in-virginia-can-be-punished-with-up-to-20-years-in-prisonobtained.  Additionally, Va. Code §18.2-104 provides enhanced penalties for multiple convictions of false pretenses or any other offenses “deemed” larceny.

For more information on obtaining money or property by false pretenses, click here. 

For more information on obtaining a signature by false pretenses, click here.

For more general information on the crime of false pretenses in Virginia, click here.

Credit Card Offenses

Virginia credit card offenses criminalize the theft or fraudulent use of credit cards. The most common credit card offenses include credit card theft, credit card fraud, and credit card forgery.

  • Credit Card Theft in Virginia (Va. Code §18.2-192) is committed when an offender takes or receiCommon Virginia Theft Charges Include Credit Card Offfensesves another person’s credit card with intent to defraud.  It is a felony punished with up to 20 years in prison.  Click here for more information on credit card theft charges in Virginia.
  • Credit Card Fraud (Va.  Code §18.2-195) in Virginia is the knowing use of a stolen or lost credit card to obtain something of value with intent to defraud.  The crime is a misdemeanor if the value of goods furnished as a result of the fraud was less than $200 in a 6 month period.  If the value exceeded $200 it is a felony.  For more information on Virginia credit card fraud, click here.
  • Credit Card Forgery (Va. Code §18.2-193) in Virginia criminalizes making a fake credit card, altering an existing credit card, or attempting to use a fake or altered credit card.  Credit card forgery is a felony in Virginia and is punished with up to 10 years in prison.  Click here for more information on credit card forgery in Virginia.

Other credit card offenses in Virginia include credit card factoring (Va. Code §18.2-195.1), receiving goods or services obtained by credit card fraud (Va. Code §18.2-197), possession of credit card forgery devices (Va. Code §18.2-196), unlawful use of credit card scanners and re-encoders (Va. Code §18.2-196.1), and fraudulent credit card applications (Va. Code §18.2-195.2).

For more information on other Virginia theft charges involving credit cards, click here.

Identity Theft

identity-theft-charges-in-virginia-can-have-serious-consequencesIdentity theft in Virginia under Va. Code §18.2-186.3 is the unauthorized use of another person’s identifying information with intent to defraud, distribute the information, or avoid criminal process.  Virginia identity theft charges under Va. Code §18.2-186.3 are Class 1 misdemeanors if the value of the financial loss to the victim was less than $200.  If the financial loss was more than $200, the offense is punished with up to 5 years in prison.  Obtaining identifying information of large numbers of people in one transaction increases these penalties.  A second or subsequent offense is a Class 5 felony, punished with up to 10 years in prison.  The offender can also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim.  If a victim of identity theft has been arrested or detained due to the fraud to avoid criminal process, the crime is a Class 5 felony punished with up to 10 years in prison Va. Code §18.2-186(D).

For more information on Virginia theft charges stemming from identity theft, click here.