NCJ Number
105907
Date Published
1986
Length
53 pages
Annotation
This report discusses credit card fraud (CCF), tracks CCF offenders through the Hawaii criminal justice system, and presents survey results on the extent of CCF in the State in 1984.
Abstract
CCF ranges from stealing bank credit cards to illegally using the account number of a cardholder. State CCF laws vary from lenient to strict. Recent Federal law has toughened the stance on CCF and provides for severe penalties. Both financial institutions and cardholders can take steps to prevent CCF. In Hawaii, the majority of CCF cases involved males. Of 328 arrests, the most common charge was fraudulent use of credit cards. Of 107 offenders convicted and sentenced, 55 were incarcerated, 67 received probation, 15 were fined, and 9 were assigned community service work. In general, CCF rates decreased between 1980 and 1984. A survey of 16 (44-percent response) financial and commercial institutions indicate that dollar losses to CCF are not high. However, respondents felt CCF was increasing, and perceived it as a major concern. The survey instrument is appended. 19 tables, 29 notes, and 34 references.