Section 13A-9-14.1

Fraud by persons authorized to provide goods and services; definitions.

(a) Definitions. - For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed by this subsection:

(1) ACQUIRER. A business organization including without limitation a merchant, financial institution, or an agent of a business organization or financial institution that authorizes a merchant to accept payment by credit card for money, goods, services, or anything else of value.

(2) CARDHOLDER. The person or organization named on the face of a credit card to whom or for whose benefit the credit card is issued by an issuer.

(3) CREDIT CARD TRANSACTION RECORD. Credit card slips, electronically recorded information or other documentation or evidence evidencing a transaction involving a credit card.

(4) CREDIT CARD. Any instrument or device, whether known as a credit card, credit plate, bank service card, banking card, check guarantee card, or debit card or by any other name, including an account number, issued with or without fee by an issuer for the use of the cardholder in obtaining money, goods, services, or anything else of value on credit or for use in an automated banking device to obtain any of the services offered through the device.

(5) EXPIRED CREDIT CARD. A credit card which is no longer valid because the term shown on it has elapsed.

(6) ISSUER. The business organization or financial institution, or its duly authorized agent, which issues a credit card.

(7) REVOKED CREDIT CARD. A credit card which is no longer valid because permission to use it has been suspended or terminated by the issuer.

(b) Illegally obtained or illegally possessed credit card; forged, revoked, or expired credit card. - A person who is authorized by an issuer or an acquirer to furnish money, goods, services, or anything else of value upon presentation of a credit card by the cardholder, or any agent or employee of such person, who, with intent to defraud the issuer, the acquirer, or the cardholder, furnishes money, goods, services, or anything else of value upon presentation of a credit card obtained or retained in violation of Section 13A-9-14 or a credit card which such person knows is forged, expired, or revoked violates this subsection (b) and such violation is a Class B felony.

(c) Misrepresentation to issuer or acquirer. - A person who is authorized by an issuer or an acquirer to furnish money, goods, services, or anything else of value upon presentation of a credit card by the cardholder, or any agent or employee of such person, who, with intent to defraud the issuer, the acquirer, or the cardholder, fails to furnish money, goods, services, or anything else of value which such person represents in writing, electronically or otherwise to the issuer or the acquirer that such person has furnished violates this subsection (c) and such violation is a Class B felony.

(d) Illegally laundering credit card transactions. - A person who is authorized by an issuer or an acquirer to furnish money, goods, services, or anything else of value upon presentation of a credit card by a cardholder, or any agent or employee of such person, who, with intent to defraud the issuer, the acquirer or the cardholder, presents for payment a credit card transaction record to the issuer, acquirer or any other person violates this subsection (d) and such violation is a Class B felony.

(e) Provisions not exclusive. - This section shall not be construed to preclude the applicability of any other provisions of the criminal laws of this state to any transaction which violates this section, unless such provision is inconsistent with the terms of this section.

(Acts 1989, No. 89-521, p. 1067.)