The Criminal Misuse of Cheque Cards and Credit Cards

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the law governing the misuse of cheque cards and credit cards in the context of possible reform. The civil law in relation to credit cards and cheque cards is reviewed, although the civil law gives little guidance about the latter. The article focuses on the criminal law, looking at fraud by both unauthorized and authorized possessors of credit cards and cheque cards. The current law of criminal deception combined with the law of theft allows adequate protection and means that new offenses do not urgently need to be created.

Abstract by Rose Goss.

Keywords: Credit cards, cheque cards, fraud, misuse, criminal deception

JEL Classification: K1, K14