Credit Card Fraud Lawyer in Mercer County NJ
New Jersey Credit Card Fraud Defense Lawyers The Scardella Law Firm LLC Handles White Collar Crimes
If you’ve been arrested for credit card fraud in Mercer County, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side to guide you through the complex and daunting criminal justice process. A conviction for credit card fraud will have serious repercussions for the rest of your life. It is critical that you have legal representation that will aggressively defend you against your charges and fight to protect your rights.
Dedicated credit card fraud defense attorneys The Scardella Law Firm LLC defend clients across Mercer County facing criminal credit card fraud charges and work tirelessly to achieve the best outcome for each and every client. The Scardella Law Firm LLC has handled criminal cases at both the municipal and superior court levels in Mercer County and across New Jersey for two decades. As a result, they have the experience and knowledge necessary to vigorously advocate for your rights and for the best outcome, striving to have your charges reduced or dismissed where possible. The Scardella Law Firm LLC provides each of its clients with tailored, strategic legal advice and a strong defense against credit card fraud charges.
What Is Considered Credit Card Fraud in Mercer County?
New Jersey has several criminal statutes relating to credit card fraud. New Jersey criminal laws against credit card fraud broadly fall into one of two categories: one, how the credit card is obtained, and two, how the credit card is used. The types of activities that New Jersey considered criminal credit card fraud include:
- Fraud in credit card application: New Jersey makes it a crime for anyone to make a knowingly false statement in a credit card application with respect to his or her identity or the identity of another person or entity, or with respect to his or her or another person’s or entity’s financial condition, with intent that the false statement be relied upon to secure a credit card.
- Creation of fake credit cards: It is also a crime for anyone other than a cardholder possessing two or more incomplete credit cards to make or emboss a credit card, including an incomplete credit card, and/or to use such card for the purposes of defrauding the purported credit card issuer.
- Credit card theft: The most common kind of credit card fraud, it is, of course, illegal for anyone to take another person’s credit card or credit card information without their permission. A person can also be guilty of credit card theft if he or she receives a credit card or credit card information he or she knows to be stolen and intends to use, sell, or transfer it to another person. If a person has two or more credit cards that are stolen or issued in the name of another person, the statute creates a presumption of guilt.
- Intent of cardholder to defraud: Once someone has a stolen credit card or credit card information, it is illegal for that person to use the credit card.
- Intent of merchant to defraud: It is also illegal for a merchant or anyone else to accept a credit card for payment knowing the credit card is stolen, or to represent to the issuer that goods or services purchased with a credit card were delivered when in fact they were not.
How The Scardella Law Firm LLC Helps Clients Charged with Credit Card Fraud
Credit card fraud defense lawyers The Scardella Law Firm LLC understand that being charged with a crime as serious as credit card fraud can be traumatic and disorienting. When you’ve been charged with a crime, you may not know exactly where or who to turn to for help. The Scardella Law Firm LLC provides vigorous legal representation to try to keep your criminal record clean and, where possible, reduce the severity of criminal charges and prison time you are facing. Our firm will work tirelessly to gather all the evidence in your case to develop an effective defense strategy and use that strategy to negotiate with the prosecutors for a dismissal or reduction of your charges and potential prison time. If necessary, The Scardella Law Firm LLC will take your case to trial and advocate your innocence before a jury.
Criminal Conviction for Credit Card Fraud Can Impose Significant Consequences
If you’ve been charged with credit card fraud in Mercer County or anywhere in New Jersey, you could be facing serious, life-altering consequences if you are convicted. In addition to prison time, fines, or a requirement to pay restitution, you may also have to deal with other consequences from your conviction that will follow you for the rest of your life, including:
- Loss of employment
- Inability to secure future employment
- Inability to secure housing
- Loss of professional licenses
- Inability to obtain higher education
- Denial of credit and other banking services
- Loss of visa or permanent residency and deportation
Contact a Dedicated Mercer County Credit Card Fraud Attorney for a Free, Confidential Consultation
If you are facing criminal charges for credit card fraud in Mercer County and elsewhere in New Jersey, don’t wait another day to seek out the services of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Criminal proceedings move fast and you will need legal representation to obtain the best possible outcome for you. Contact The Scardella Law Firm LLC today for a free consultation to discuss your charges and to learn how they can assist you in your criminal matter.
Frequently Asked Question in Mercer County about Credit Card Fraud Charges
You should not offer any statements to the police without first speaking to an experienced criminal defense attorney. An experienced attorney will be able to evaluate the police’s evidence to determine whether the state has a viable case — it may be possible to have your charges dismissed if you say nothing to the police. If you decide you do want to cooperate with law enforcement, your attorney may be able to negotiate a dismissal or reduction of your charges in exchange for your cooperation with further investigation by law enforcement.
Depending on the type of activity, credit card fraud can violate both state and federal criminal laws. Typically, federal laws are implicated if credit card fraud involves interstate or foreign commerce. However, given the national and international character of the credit card industry, it is very easy for credit card fraud to become interstate or international in nature. Thus, a person charged with card fraud may face both state and federal criminal charges.
