If charges you did not make appear
A cardholder's liability for unauthorized credit card charges is capped by federal law, and the major card networks layer their own zero-liability policies on top. The protection works most smoothly when you act quickly: call the issuer, report the charges as unauthorized, and follow up in writing so there is a record. Billing disputes have a set window that runs from the statement date, so do not wait for the next statement to arrive. Debit cards fall under a different federal framework, and there, how quickly you report can change how much of the loss you bear. If you handed your card or details to someone who then overspent, the issuer may treat the charges as authorized, and that is worth discussing before you write the dispute.
When you are the one accused
New York does not have one crime called credit card fraud. Cases are usually charged as forms of larceny, identity theft, criminal possession of stolen property, or forgery, and knowingly possessing a stolen card can be an offense in itself. Federal prosecutors use the access device fraud statute, along with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, especially when card numbers were bought online, skimmed, or used across state lines. The disputed issues are often whether you knew the card or numbers were stolen, whether you were the person using them, and how many transactions can fairly be tied to you. Do not contact the cardholder or the merchant, and do not post about the case.
What to bring to a first meeting
If you are a cardholder, bring statements, the dispute correspondence, and any police report or FTC identity theft report. If you are charged, bring the charging papers, release conditions, and any property voucher listing what was seized, and tell us at the start if you are not a U.S. citizen, since fraud convictions can carry serious immigration consequences. We then explain which agency or court is handling the matter, what happens next, and which decisions need to be made before the next date.
