Iowa Credit and Debit Card Fraud

Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016

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Credit and debit cards have made purchasing items and services very easy. Unfortunately, it's also easy for people to steal credit or debit card information and use that information to purchase items or services illegally. The crime of stealing and using someone else's credit or debit card is known as credit or debit card fraud. The Federal Trade Commission offers helpful information about protecting yourself from credit card fraud.

Most states classify credit or debit card fraud as a serious offense. In Iowa, the penalty for credit card fraud depends on the value of the property or services that were involved in the crime.

Iowa Credit and Debit Card Fraud Statute

The following is a quick summary of Iowa's credit and debit card fraud laws.

Code Sections Iowa Code Annotated § 715A.6, Credit Cards
What is Prohibited?

It's prohibited for a person to use a credit card to obtain property or services knowing:

  1. The credit card is forged or stolen;
  2. The credit card has been canceled or revoked; or
  3. Any other reason the use of the credit card is unauthorized.
Penalties
  • It's a class C felony if the value of the property or services secured (or sought to be secured) is more than $10,000. Conviction will result in a minimum fine of $1,000 and a maximum fine of $10,000, and a maximum prison term of 10 years.
  • It's a class D felony if the value of the property or services secured (or sought to be secured) is more than $1,000 but not more than $10,000. Conviction will result in a minimum fine of $750 and a maximum fine of $7,500, and a maximum prison term of 5 years.
  • It's an aggravated misdemeanor if the value of the property or services secured (or sought to be secured) is $1,000 or less. Conviction will result in a minimum fine of $625 and a maximum fine of $6,250 and/or a maximum prison term of 2 years.
Defenses If the person can prove that he or she had the intent and ability to meet all obligations to the issuer arising out of the credit card use, it's an affirmative defense to #3 above.

Iowa Credit and Debit Card Fraud: Related Resources

You can visit FindLaw's section on Identity Theft for more information and articles regarding this topic. If you or someone close to you is facing a credit or debit card fraud charge, it's in your best interest to contact a local criminal defense attorney.

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