§1029 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

It is a crime to knowingly and on purpose make, use, sell, or deal in fake or stolen ways to get money, goods, services, or phone/telcom service. The law covers many acts, including using or selling counterfeit or unauthorized cards, numbers, codes, or other account identifiers; using someone else’s access device to get $1,000 or more in value in any one-year period; having 15 or more fake or stolen devices; making or keeping equipment used to make fake devices; asking people to buy access devices or information to get them; and using or selling devices or software that alter phone or electronic identifiers or let people get service without permission. Trying or conspiring to do these things is also punishable. Some of these crimes can bring up to 10 years in prison, others up to 15 years, and if the offender has a prior conviction under the same law the maximum is 20 years. Fines and seizure (forfeiture) of property used in the crime are also allowed. The U.S. Secret Service may investigate these crimes under an agreement between the Treasury and the Attorney General. Key terms in one line each: access device — any card, code, account number, electronic serial number, PIN, or similar thing used to get money, goods, or services or start a funds transfer; counterfeit access device — a fake, altered, or forged device; unauthorized access device — a lost, stolen, expired, revoked, canceled, or fraudulently obtained device; produce — make, alter, or duplicate; traffic — transfer or dispose of; device-making equipment — machines or tools made mainly to create access devices; scanning receiver — a device that can intercept identifiers or communications; telecommunication identifying information — numbers or signals that identify a specific phone or account. Lawful government investigations and certain carrier protections or research activities are not banned. Acts done outside the U.S. can be punished if they involve U.S.-issued or U.S.-controlled access devices.

Title 18, §1029

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever—

(1)knowingly and with intent to defraud produces, uses, or traffics in one or more counterfeit access devices;

(2)knowingly and with intent to defraud traffics in or uses one or more unauthorized access devices during any one-year period, and by such conduct obtains anything of value aggregating $1,000 or more during that period;

(3)knowingly and with intent to defraud possesses fifteen or more devices which are counterfeit or unauthorized access devices;

(4)knowingly, and with intent to defraud, produces, traffics in, has control or custody of, or possesses device-making equipment;

(5)knowingly and with intent to defraud effects transactions, with 1 or more access devices issued to another person or persons, to receive payment or any other thing of value during any 1-year period the aggregate value of which is equal to or greater than $1,000;

(6)without the authorization of the issuer of the access device, knowingly and with intent to defraud solicits a person for the purpose of—

(A)offering an access device; or

(B)selling information regarding or an application to obtain an access device;

(7)knowingly and with intent to defraud uses, produces, traffics in, has control or custody of, or possesses a telecommunications instrument that has been modified or altered to obtain unauthorized use of telecommunications services;

(8)knowingly and with intent to defraud uses, produces, traffics in, has control or custody of, or possesses a scanning receiver;

(9)knowingly uses, produces, traffics in, has control or custody of, or possesses hardware or software, knowing it has been configured to insert or modify telecommunication identifying information associated with or contained in a telecommunications instrument so that such instrument may be used to obtain telecommunications service without authorization; or

(10)without the authorization of the credit card system member or its agent, knowingly and with intent to defraud causes or arranges for another person to present to the member or its agent, for payment, 1 or more evidences or records of transactions made by an access device;

(b)(1)Whoever attempts to commit an offense under subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense attempted.

(2)Whoever is a party to a conspiracy of two or more persons to commit an offense under subsection (a) of this section, if any of the parties engages in any conduct in furtherance of such offense, shall be fined an amount not greater than the amount provided as the maximum fine for such offense under subsection (c) of this section or imprisoned not longer than one-half the period provided as the maximum imprisonment for such offense under subsection (c) of this section, or both.

(c)(1)The punishment for an offense under subsection (a) of this section is—

(A)in the case of an offense that does not occur after a conviction for another offense under this section—

(i)if the offense is under paragraph (1), (2), (3), (6), (7), or (10) of subsection (a), a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both; and

(ii)if the offense is under paragraph (4), (5), (8), or (9) of subsection (a), a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 15 years, or both;

(B)in the case of an offense that occurs after a conviction for another offense under this section, a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both; and

(C)in either case, forfeiture to the United States of any personal property used or intended to be used to commit the offense.

(2)The forfeiture of property under this section, including any seizure and disposition of the property and any related administrative and judicial proceeding, shall be governed by section 413 of the Controlled Substances Act, except for subsection (d) of that section.

(d)The United States Secret Service shall, in addition to any other agency having such authority, have the authority to investigate offenses under this section. Such authority of the United States Secret Service shall be exercised in accordance with an agreement which shall be entered into by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General.

(e)As used in this section—

(1)the term “access device” means any card, plate, code, account number, electronic serial number, mobile identification number, personal identification number, or other telecommunications service, equipment, or instrument identifier, or other means of account access that can be used, alone or in conjunction with another access device, to obtain money, goods, services, or any other thing of value, or that can be used to initiate a transfer of funds (other than a transfer originated solely by paper instrument);

(2)the term “counterfeit access device” means any access device that is counterfeit, fictitious, altered, or forged, or an identifiable component of an access device or a counterfeit access device;

(3)the term “unauthorized access device” means any access device that is lost, stolen, expired, revoked, canceled, or obtained with intent to defraud;

(4)the term “produce” includes design, alter, authenticate, duplicate, or assemble;

(5)the term “traffic” means transfer, or otherwise dispose of, to another, or obtain control of with intent to transfer or dispose of;

(6)the term “device-making equipment” means any equipment, mechanism, or impression designed or primarily used for making an access device or a counterfeit access device;

(7)the term “credit card system member” means a financial institution or other entity that is a member of a credit card system, including an entity, whether affiliated with or identical to the credit card issuer, that is the sole member of a credit card system;

(8)the term “scanning receiver” means a device or apparatus that can be used to intercept a wire or electronic communication in violation of chapter 119 or to intercept an electronic serial number, mobile identification number, or other identifier of any telecommunications service, equipment, or instrument;

(9)the term “telecommunications service” has the meaning given such term in section 3 of title I of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153);

(10)the term “facilities-based carrier” means an entity that owns communications transmission facilities, is responsible for the operation and maintenance of those facilities, and holds an operating license issued by the Federal Communications Commission under the authority of title III of the Communications Act of 1934; and

(11)the term “telecommunication identifying information” means electronic serial number or any other number or signal that identifies a specific telecommunications instrument or account, or a specific communication transmitted from a telecommunications instrument.

(f)This section does not prohibit any lawfully authorized investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a law enforcement agency of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State, or of an intelligence agency of the United States, or any activity authorized under chapter 224 of this title. For purposes of this subsection, the term “State” includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

(g)(1)It is not a violation of subsection (a)(9) for an officer, employee, or agent of, or a person engaged in business with, a facilities-based carrier, to engage in conduct (other than trafficking) otherwise prohibited by that subsection for the purpose of protecting the property or legal rights of that carrier, unless such conduct is for the purpose of obtaining telecommunications service provided by another facilities-based carrier without the authorization of such carrier.

(2)In a prosecution for a violation of subsection (a)(9), (other than a violation consisting of producing or trafficking) it is an affirmative defense (which the defendant must establish by a preponderance of the evidence) that the conduct charged was engaged in for research or development in connection with a lawful purpose.

(h)Any person who, outside the jurisdiction of the United States, engages in any act that, if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States, would constitute an offense under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, shall be subject to the fines, penalties, imprisonment, and forfeiture provided in this title if the offense involves an access device issued, owned, managed, or controlled by a financial institution, account issuer, credit card system member, or other entity organized under the laws of the United States, or any State, the District of Columbia, or other territory of the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 413 of the Controlled Substances Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is classified to section 853 of Title 21, Food and Drugs. The Communications Act of 1934, referred to in subsec. (e)(10), is act June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1964. Title III of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 301 et seq.) of chapter 5 of Title 47, Telecommunications. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 609 of Title 47 and Tables.

Amendments

2015—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 114–113 substituted “title if the offense involves an access device issued, owned, managed, or controlled by a financial institution, account issuer, credit card system member, or other entity organized under the laws of the United States, or any State, the District of Columbia, or other territory of the United States.” for “title if— “(1) the offense involves an access device issued, owned, managed, or controlled by a financial institution, account issuer, credit card system member, or other entity within the jurisdiction of the United States; and “(2) the person transports, delivers, conveys, transfers to or through, or otherwise stores, secrets, or holds within the jurisdiction of the United States, any article used to assist in the commission of the offense or the proceeds of such offense or property derived therefrom.” 2002—Subsec. (c)(1)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 107–273, § 4002(b)(11)(A), substituted “(9)” for “(9),”. Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 107–273, § 4002(b)(11)(B), inserted semicolon at end. 2001—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107–56 added subsec. (h). 1998—Subsec. (a)(8) to (10). Pub. L. 105–172, § 2(a), added pars. (8) and (9), redesignated former par. (9) as (10), and struck out former par. (8) which read as follows: “knowingly and with intent to defraud uses, produces, traffics in, has control or custody of, or possesses— “(A) a scanning receiver; or “(B) hardware or software used for altering or modifying telecommunications instruments to obtain unauthorized access to telecommunications services, or”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–172, § 2(b)(2), substituted “subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense attempted” for “punished as provided in subsection (c) of this section”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–172, § 2(b)(1), amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: “The punishment for an offense under subsection (a) or (b)(1) of this section is— “(1) a fine under this title or twice the value obtained by the offense, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not more than ten years, or both, in the case of an offense under subsection (a)(2), (3), (5), (6), (7), (8), or (9) of this section which does not occur after a conviction for another offense under either such subsection, or an attempt to commit an offense punishable under this paragraph; “(2) a fine under this title or twice the value obtained by the offense, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not more than fifteen years, or both, in the case of an offense under subsection (a)(1), (4), (5), (6), (7), or (8) of this section which does not occur after a conviction for another offense under either such subsection, or an attempt to commit an offense punishable under this paragraph; and “(3) a fine under this title or twice the value obtained by the offense, whichever is greater, or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both, in the case of an offense under subsection (a) of this section which occurs after a conviction for another offense under such subsection, or an attempt to commit an offense punishable under this paragraph.” Subsec. (e)(8). Pub. L. 105–172, § 2(c), inserted “or to intercept an electronic serial number, mobile identification number, or other identifier of any telecommunications service, equipment, or instrument” before the period at end. Subsec. (e)(9) to (11). Pub. L. 105–172, § 2(d)(2), added pars. (9) to (11). Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–172, § 2(d)(1), added subsec. (g). 1996—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(l)(1)(A), redesignated par. (5), relating to instruments that have been modified or altered to obtain unauthorized access to telecommunications services, as (7). Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(l)(1)(C), in par. (6) relating to solicitations, struck out “or” at end. Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(l)(1)(A), redesignated par. (6), relating to scanning receivers or other hardware or software used to obtain unauthorized access to telecommunications services, as (8). Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(l)(1)(A), (C), redesignated par. (5), relating to instruments that have been modified or altered to obtain unauthorized access to telecommunications services, as (7), and struck out “or” at end. Par. transferred to appear in numerical order to reflect probable intent of Congress. Former par. (7) redesignated (9). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(l)(1)(B), redesignated par. (7) as (9). Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(l)(1)(A), (D), redesignated par. (6), relating to scanning receivers or other hardware or software used to obtain unauthorized access to telecommunications services, as (8) and inserted “or” at end. Par. transferred to appear in numerical order to reflect probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(l)(1)(B), redesignated par. (7) as (9). Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(l)(3)(A), substituted “(7), (8), or (9)” for “or (7)”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(l)(3)(B), substituted “(6), (7), or (8)” for “or (6)”. Subsec. (e)(7), (8). Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(l)(2), redesignated par. (7), defining “scanning receiver”, as (8). 1994—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 103–322, § 250007(1)(A), and Pub. L. 103–414, § 206(a)(1), amended par. (3) identically, striking “or” at end. Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 103–414, § 206(a)(2), added par. (5) relating to instruments that have been modified or altered to obtain unauthorized use of telecommunications services. Pub. L. 103–322, § 250007(1)(B), added par. (5) relating to transactions involving use of access devices issued to persons other than user. Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 103–414, § 206(a)(2), added par. (6) relating to scanning receivers or other hardware or software used to obtain unauthorized access to telecommunications services. Pub. L. 103–322, § 250007(1)(B), added par. (6) relating to solicitations which offer access devices or information regarding access devices. Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 103–322, § 250007(1)(B), added par. (7). Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(I), substituted “fine under this title or twice the value obtained by the offense, whichever is greater, or imprisonment” for “fine of not more than the greater of $10,000 or twice the value obtained by the offense or imprisonment”. Pub. L. 103–322, § 250007(2), substituted “(a)(2), (3), (5), (6), or (7)” for “(a)(2) or (a)(3)”. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 103–414, § 206(b), substituted “(a)(1), (4), (5), or (6)” for “(a)(1) or (a)(4)”. Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(I), substituted “fine under this title or twice the value obtained by the offense, whichever is greater, or imprisonment” for “fine of not more than the greater of $50,000 or twice the value obtained by the offense or imprisonment”. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(2)(I), substituted “fine under this title or twice the value obtained by the offense, whichever is greater, or imprisonment” for “fine of not more than the greater of $100,000 or twice the value obtained by the offense or imprisonment”. Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 103–414, § 206(c)(1), inserted “electronic serial number, mobile identification number, personal identification number, or other telecommunications service, equipment, or instrument identifier,” after “account number,”. Subsec. (e)(5), (6). Pub. L. 103–322, § 250007(3)(A), (B), and Pub. L. 103–414, § 206(c)(2), (3), amended subsec. (e) identically, striking “and” at end of par. (5) and substituting “; and” for period at end of par. (6). Subsec. (e)(7). Pub. L. 103–414, § 206(c)(4), added par. (7) defining “scanning receiver”. Pub. L. 103–322, § 250007(3)(C), added par. (7) defining “credit card system member”. 1990—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–647 inserted at end “For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘State’ includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.” 1986—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–646 which directed that subsec. (f) be amended by substituting “chapter 224 of this title” for “title V of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 (18 U.S.C. note prec. 3481)” was executed by making the substitution for “title V of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970) 18 U.S.C. note prec. 3481)” to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of the functions, personnel, assets, and obligations of the United States Secret Service, including the functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see section 381, 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. Report to Congress Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 1603, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2184, directed Attorney General to report to Congress annually, during first three years following Oct. 12, 1984, concerning prosecutions under this section.

§1029 Fraud and related activity in connection with access devices