Dallas Credit Card Fraud Lawyers

Former Federal Prosecutor on Your Side

A growing area of crime over the past twenty years is that of credit card fraud and abuse. Credit card and debit card fraud can be committed (or alleged) in a variety of ways.

Texas is one of many states throughout the country that has a specific criminal statute dealing with credit card fraud and credit card abuse. 

Under Texas’s statute, a person violates the credit card fraud and abuse statute if they:

• Use another’s debit or credit card without consent and intends to fraudulently receive a benefit
• Uses a fake card or card number
• Steals, receives, buys, or sells a card or number with the intent to use it for their gain
• Forces a cardholder to pay for something they are unable to repay

It is important to recognize available defense strategies for people accused of credit or debit card fraud or abuse. Notable defenses to these charges include of lack of intent to obtain a benefit, lack of knowledge of having possession of the card, or mistakenly believing that one had authorization to use the card.

We highly recommend retaining the services of a Dallas credit card fraud lawyer if you are facing allegations like this. Call the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC at (214) 238-9392 now.

Texas' Penalties for Credit Card Fraud Convictions

Credit card fraud in Texas is a state jail felony. A state jail felony is punished by imprisonment in a state facility for six months to two years. What is more, an individual may receive a fine of up to $10,000.

The penalties for credit card fraud, however, are different if the crime was committed against an elderly individual. In this situation, the crime is considered a third degree felony. In Texas, a third degree felony is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years, but not less than 2 years. What is more, the individual may also be fined up to $10,000.

How to Defend Against Credit Card Fraud Charges

Anyone who is facing credit card fraud charges in Texas needs to take these allegations extremely seriously. Although credit card fraud is a white-collar offense, it can come with serious penalties in the event of a conviction, especially when you are facing federal criminal charges. 

First, it is critical to understand whether you are facing charges under Texas state or federal law. In some situations, you may face charges under both state and federal law. It is also important to learn about the specific elements of the offense that a prosecutor must be able to prove in order to get a conviction.

Examples of scenarios that may lead to credit card fraud charges include:

• ​Using another person’s credit card number to make an online purchase;
• ​Stealing a physical credit card and attempting to use it in person to make a purchase;
• ​Creating a fake credit card and attempting to use it either online or in person;
• ​Attempting to use a credit card that you know has expired;
• ​Buying a credit card from someone other than the issuer;
• ​Selling a credit card for money or other benefits; or
• ​Making unauthorized purchases on a business credit card or on another account for which you are an authorized user for specific purchases.

Any strong defense will be tailored to the particular facts of the case. Accordingly, you will need to work with an attorney to determine what specific defense strategy or strategies will work best for you. Our firm has years of experience handling a variety of federal and state fraud cases, and we can evaluate your case today to help you determine which defense strategies may be most effective in your case.

Contact a Dallas Credit Card Fraud Attorney

If you have been charged with credit card fraud, it is important to have an experienced defense attorney in Dallas on your side who has experience defending credit card fraud charges in Texas. At the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC, we have extensive experience helping defendants fight a variety of fraud charges.

Contact us now to schedule an initial consultation. We are available by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (214) 238-9392. Se habla español.