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The Daily Insight Hub

How many years do you get for card fraud?

Author

William Jenkins

Updated on February 05, 2026

What is the average sentence for credit card fraud offences? A credit card fraud case that goes to court and results in a conviction will typically get a prison sentence of four or five years, and more for severe cases.

What happens when fraud is committed on a debit card?

When your debit card is used fraudulently, the money goes missing from your account instantly. Payments you’ve scheduled or checks you’ve mailed may bounce, and you may not be able to afford necessities. It can take a while for the fraud to be cleared up and the money restored to your account.

Is your debit card protected from fraud?

If a person used your debit card without your knowledge or authorization, your liability is protected by the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, which gives you the right to challenge fraudulent transactions. Even if you do report a fraudulent debit card charge in time, reimbursement can take up to two weeks.

How long do you go to jail for credit card fraud?

A credit card fraud case that goes to court and results in a conviction will typically get a prison sentence of four or five years, and more for severe cases. How does a court decide on the seriousness of the credit card fraud offence for sentencing purposes?

What are the statistics on credit card fraud?

Within identity theft reports, the report indicated that new account fraud was up 48% compared to the previous year, and was over 10 times the amount of fraud reported on existing accounts, which had only risen 9% year over year. There are several types of credit card fraud, including data breaches, credit card theft and card-not-present fraud.

What happens if you get arrested for credit card theft?

There are other ways that committing credit card theft or fraud can complicate your life. Once you’ve been arrested for fraud, it can be difficult to get a job or get approved for an apartment, Vacciana says. Depending on where you live you could lose the right to vote or the right to own a gun.

What’s the maximum fine for a fraud conviction?

Penalties. Fines for fraud convictions are very common, and like incarceration sentences they can differ significantly depending on the circumstances of the case. Fines for misdemeanor violations can be a few thousand dollars or less, while felony convictions can bring fines of well over $10,000. Restitution.