Credit Card Fraud

Being arrested for, or charged with, credit card fraud can be very serious, with the potential for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison if you are convicted. Ensuring you receive specialist legal advice from the outset is essential to ensure your rights are protected and that you have the best chance of securing a favourable outcome.

Our expert credit card fraud defence lawyers can advise and represent you from the point of arrest through to charge and prosecution, giving you sympathetic, expert, and highly practical support every step of the way.

With our particular experience in handling credit card fraud cases, we can present your side to the best possible effect, helping you to avoid charges if possible and to secure the best available outcome if prosecution cannot be avoided.

While you can choose to be represented by the duty solicitor when you are arrested, we strongly recommend using our specialist fraud defence lawyers to ensure no detail is overlooked and that every possible angle of defence is considered from the earliest stage.

For a free initial consultation on your legal position and the available options, contact our local offices in London, Birmingham or Manchester.

You should never answer any police questions without a solicitor present.

With a wide range of languages spoken across our team, we can provide effective legal advice and representation for people from all backgrounds, giving you confidence that your best interests are protected at all times.

For a free initial consultation on your legal position and the available options, contact our local offices in London, Birmingham or Manchester.

If you have been charged with credit card fraud, you can contact us 24 hours a day, seven days a week for immediate advice and representation.

Our expertise with credit card fraud charges

With our 40 years’ experiencing defending clients against all types of fraud charges, including credit card fraud, we have the skills and specialist expertise to provide a highly effective defence against even the most serious and complex cases.

Our criminal defence team includes several accredited police station representatives meaning we can provide advice and representation 24/7 for anyone arrested for credit card fraud.

Having secured positive outcomes for clients in both the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court on many occasions, our team can provide the strong representation you need at every stage of proceedings. We also have established relationships with some of the country’s leading specialist fraud barristers, so we can also offer you access to the skills and expertise needed to get you the best available outcome.

We are accredited by the Law Society for Criminal Litigation and have also achieved Lexcel accreditation, reflecting the high standards of our legal practice.

Common questions about credit card fraud offences

What is credit card fraud?

There are various types of credit card fraud, including:

• Using lost or stolen cards without their owner’s knowledge or consent
• Creating and using copies of a credit card (sometimes called credit card cloning)
• Stealing, selling or using people’s credit card details (i.e. the card holder’s name, card number, date of birth and address)
• Fraudulent credit card applications (e.g. applying for a card under someone else’s name without their knowledge)
• Misusing the credit card system through the use of ‘chargebacks’

Credit card fraud may be carried out by individuals acting alone or as part of a conspiracy to commit credit card fraud involving two or more people working together.

What are the penalties for credit card fraud?

Credit card fraud will normally be prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006. However, where two or more people worked together to commit credit card fraud, they can be charged under the common law offence of Conspiracy to Defraud.

In either case, the maximum sentence is up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The actual sentence received will depend on two main factors:

1. The level of harm caused, intended or risked (i.e. the financial losses experienced by the victim or victims).
2. The role the defendant is alleged to have played in the crime (i.e. whether they played a leading role, a significant role or merely a peripheral role in the offence).

What are my rights when arrested on suspicion of credit card fraud?

If you are arrested for or charged with a credit card fraud offence, you need to be clear about your legal rights; you must ensure that you avoid saying or doing anything which unintentionally undermines your defence.

If you are arrested for credit card fraud, please remember:

• You must be told the offence you are being arrested for by the arresting officer
• You do not have to answer any questions you are asked
• You should never answer police questions without a solicitor present

When arresting you for a credit card fraud offence, the police are required to caution you with the following words:

“You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court.  Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

You and/or your home or work address may be searched by the police for evidence.  Police search powers can be complex and you should seek advice.

Following a police interview for an offence related to credit card fraud, you may be:

• Charged with a specific offence
• Released under investigation
• Release with no further action

If you are charged with a fraud offence, you will either be released on bail or remanded in custody to await trial.

Contact our credit card fraud lawyers now

For urgent specialist advice, immediate police station representation or to speak to us confidentially about a charge of credit card fraud or any other criminal matter, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

You can contact a member of our dedicated team of criminal defence lawyers in London, Birmingham, and Manchester by telephone on:

Camden Office: 020 7624 7771

Manchester Office: 0161 835 1638

Birmingham Office: 0121 614 3333

City of London: 0207 624 7771 – our senior Solicitors and Partners can meet by appointment in the City.

Or email: solicitors@jdspicer.co.uk

Alternatively, you can fill out our quick online enquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

24/7 legal representation for credit card fraud

For immediate representation and advice, you can contact our Emergency Number: 07836 577 556, and we will provide you with the urgent assistance you need.