California Penal Code §484g — Credit Card Fraud
PC §484g punishes anyone who, with intent to defraud, uses an access card (credit or debit card) that is forged, expired, revoked, cancelled, or belongs to another person to obtain money, goods, services, or anything else of value. Distinct from §484f (which punishes making the counterfeit card), §484g punishes USING a card known to be invalid. Wobbler: up to 3 years state prison as a felony, or up to 1 year county jail as a misdemeanor. Aggregate-loss threshold: felony filing typically requires cumulative value over $950 within six months.
Reviewed by Daniel S. Rubin, CA Bar 302093 · Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney · Credit Card Fraud Cases in All LA County Courts
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01 — Quick Facts
PC §484g — Credit Card Fraud at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | California Penal Code §484g — Fraudulent Use of Access Card |
| Code Type | Penal Code (PC) |
| Classification | Wobbler |
| Felony Penalty | 16 months, 2, or 3 years county jail (PC §1170(h)) |
| Misdemeanor Penalty | Up to 1 year county jail + $1,000 fine |
| Aggregate Threshold | $950 in six months for felony filing |
| Moral Turpitude | Yes — CIMT for immigration |
| Restitution | Mandatory to cardholder and issuing institution |
| Free Consultation | (213) 723-2337 — 24/7 |
01 — What Is PC §484g?
What Is California Penal Code §484g?
PC §484g Reads:
"Every person who, with the intent to defraud, (a) uses, for the purpose of obtaining money, goods, services, or anything else of value, an access card or access card account information that has been altered, obtained, or retained in violation of Section 484e or 484f, or an access card which he or she knows is forged, expired, or revoked, or (b) obtains money, goods, services, or anything else of value by representing without the consent of the cardholder that he or she is the holder of an access card and the card has not in fact been issued, is guilty of theft."
— California Penal Code §484g
PC §484g is California's use-side credit card statute. Where §484f punishes making or forging the card, §484g punishes the person who presents a card that is forged, expired, cancelled, revoked, or unauthorized. Prosecutors must prove knowledge of invalidity plus specific intent to defraud. Aggregate value over $950 in any consecutive six-month period supports felony filing; below that threshold the offense is petty theft.
PC §484f vs. §484g vs. §530.5
§484f = forging/counterfeiting the card or signature. §484g = using a forged, expired, revoked, or unauthorized card. §530.5 = using another's personal identifying information (broader). Cases typically involve multiple counts across these statutes.
PC §484g — Fraudulent Use
Uses a card known to be forged, expired, or unauthorized. Wobbler.
PC §484f — Card Forgery
Makes, alters, or embosses the counterfeit card itself. Wobbler.
Knowledge and Intent Are the Battleground
The People must prove the defendant KNEW the card was invalid and INTENDED to defraud. Recruited "mules," first-time users of a card believed authorized, and cardholders using a technically-expired card in good faith all present viable defenses. Rubin Law, P.C. attacks knowledge and intent with digital-forensics review of texts, chats, and communications surrounding the transactions.
Official Sources
02 — Elements of the Crime
Elements the Prosecution Must Prove Under PC §484g
The prosecution must prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt.
Used an Access Card
Defendant presented or attempted to use a credit/debit card or account information to obtain value.
Card Was Invalid
Card was forged, altered, expired, revoked, cancelled, or belonged to another without consent.
Knowledge of Invalidity
Defendant knew, at the moment of use, that the card was invalid.
Intent to Defraud
Defendant acted with specific purpose to deceive the merchant and obtain value.
03 — Degrees
PC §484g — Tiers & Degrees
Charging levels and sentencing tiers.
§484g Felony
Aggregate value over $950 in any six-month period, prior record, or aggravated facts.
§484g Misdemeanor
Aggregate under $950 or negotiated wobbler filing.
§490.2 Petty Theft
Post-Prop 47 alternative when total value is $950 or less and no disqualifying priors.
04 — Penalties
Penalties for PC §484g Credit Card Fraud in California
Sentencing exposure and commonly stacked charges.
| Charge | Code | Prison Term | Probation | Strike |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fraudulent Card Use | PC §484g | 16 mo, 2, or 3 yrs prison | Available | No |
| Fraudulent Card Use (misd.) | PC §484g | Up to 1 yr jail | Available | No |
| Petty Theft (≤$950) | PC §490.2 | Up to 6 mo jail | Available | No |
| Identity Theft (companion) | PC §530.5 | 16 mo, 2, or 3 yrs prison | Available | No |
| Grand Theft (companion) | PC §487 | 16 mo, 2, or 3 yrs prison | Available | No |
Aggravating Enhancements & Companion Charges
Aggregated Loss >$100,000
PC §186.11
White-collar enhancement adds 1–5 years for aggregate loss over $100,000 in a pattern of related fraud.
Identity Theft
PC §530.5
Common companion when card contains real victim's personal information.
Grand Theft
PC §487
Charged when aggregate loss exceeds $950.
Elder Victim
PC §368
Enhanced exposure when victim (or cardholder) is 65+ or a dependent adult.
Federal Access Device Fraud
18 U.S.C. §1029
Federal parallel charge — up to 10 years for trafficking, 15 for production.
Collateral Consequences
- Crime of moral turpitude — deportation and inadmissibility for non-citizens
- Aggravated felony under INA §101(a)(43)(M) at loss >$10,000
- Professional-license discipline (CPA, real estate, banking, brokers)
- Ineligibility for many banking-industry positions
- Mandatory restitution to cardholder and issuer
- FICO and civil-liability exposure
Sentencing References
05 — Defense Strategies
How Rubin Law Defends PC §484g Credit Card Fraud Charges
Rubin Law, P.C. defense strategies for this charge.
No Knowledge of Invalidity
Defendant reasonably believed the card was authorized — gift from family, employer-issued corporate card, or good-faith reliance on a scammer's representation.
Mule / Recruited Victim
Work-from-home, romance-scam, or online-recruit mule cases regularly resolve with dismissals when digital forensics confirm defendant was misled about card status.
People v. Beaver
No Intent to Defraud
Testing a card, using an expired card in an emergency with intent to reimburse, or civil-dispute presentation lacks fraudulent intent.
CALCRIM 1953
Authorization Defense
Actual or apparent authorization from the cardholder (spouse, employer, family) is a complete defense — even when written policy prohibits use.
People v. Curtin
Prop 47 / §490.2 Reduction
Aggregate value $950 or less requires charging as petty theft under §490.2 — misdemeanor with limited collateral consequences.
Prop 47
Illegal Search / Miranda
Suppress bank records obtained without §1524 warrant. Suppress custodial statements without Miranda.
Miranda v. Arizona
Diversion / Civil Compromise
First-offense misdemeanor filings frequently resolve via PC §1001.95 diversion or §1377 civil compromise with full restitution.
Constitutional Sources
07 — Court Process
How PC §484g Credit Card Fraud Cases Move Through Los Angeles Courts
How this case moves through LA County criminal courts.
- 1
Step 1 — Merchant/Bank Report
Fraud alert triggers merchant or bank fraud unit to refer to law enforcement or Secret Service task force.
- 2
Step 2 — Investigation
Financial Crimes detectives review POS surveillance, chip-card data, IP logs, and social-media communications.
- 3
Step 3 — Arrest / Warrant
Search warrants target phones, laptops, mail-drop addresses, and card-writing devices.
- 4
Step 4 — Arraignment / Bail
Bail on §484g felony typically $20,000–$75,000. Federal §1029 parallel filings possible.
- 5
Step 5 — Preliminary Hearing
Contest knowledge and intent elements. Cross-examine forensic-accountant and merchant witnesses.
- 6
Step 6 — Trial, Diversion, or Plea
Common outcomes: PC §1001.95 diversion, misdemeanor reduction with restitution, or negotiated plea avoiding CIMT.
Los Angeles Courts That Handle PC §484g Credit Card Fraud Cases
LA-area courts most commonly handling filings of this offense.
Clara Shortridge Foltz CJC
Downtown LA — DA Financial Crimes Division.
Van Nuys Courthouse
San Fernando Valley card-fraud filings.
Long Beach Courthouse
Harbor-area card-fraud filings.
Airport Courthouse
LAX-area card-fraud and skimmer filings.
US District Court, Central District of CA
Federal parallel filings under 18 U.S.C. §1029.
Reviewed by Your Attorney
Daniel S. Rubin — Los Angeles Credit Card Fraud Defense Attorney
Daniel S. Rubin has defended clients charged with credit card fraud and related offenses in Los Angeles County courts — including Clara Shortridge Foltz, Van Nuys, Compton, and Pomona. He understands that these cases are won in the details: the suppression hearing that eliminates key evidence, the preliminary hearing cross-examination that exposes a weak witness, the penalty phase argument that keeps a client out of the worst outcome.
This page was written and reviewed by Daniel A. Rubin, Los Angeles criminal defense attorney, CA State Bar 302093, with 10+ years of experience defending clients charged under PC §484g in Los Angeles County. Last reviewed: July 2026.
CA Bar 302093 | Whittier Law School | Rising Star — Super Lawyers 2019–2023 | Credit Card Fraud Cases Throughout LA County
09 — FAQs
PC §484g Credit Card Fraud Questions — Los Angeles
What is the difference between §484f and §484g?
§484f punishes making, altering, or forging the card or signature. §484g punishes USING a card known to be counterfeit, expired, revoked, or unauthorized. Both are wobblers and are frequently charged together.
What is the penalty for PC §484g?
Felony: 16 months, 2, or 3 years county jail (PC §1170(h)), plus fines and mandatory restitution. Misdemeanor: up to 1 year county jail. Aggregate loss $950 or less is charged as petty theft under §490.2.
What if I did not know the card was invalid?
Complete defense. §484g requires actual knowledge that the card was forged, expired, revoked, or unauthorized. Reasonable good-faith belief in authorization defeats the charge.
Can §484g be reduced under Prop 47?
Yes. Aggregate value $950 or less must be charged as §490.2 petty theft — a misdemeanor. Prior felony §484g convictions with under-$950 loss can be resentenced retroactively under PC §1170.18.
Are there immigration consequences?
Yes, severe. §484g is a crime of moral turpitude — deportable and inadmissible. At loss >$10,000, aggravated felony under INA §101(a)(43)(M) attaches — mandatory removal.
Can there be federal charges?
Possibly. Card-fraud rings with interstate transactions, skimmers, or federally-insured-institution targets frequently draw federal §1029 (access device fraud) parallel prosecution — up to 10 years for trafficking, 15 for production.
What is the aggregation rule for §484g?
Multiple transactions in any consecutive six-month period aggregate into a single count for felony/misdemeanor threshold determination. Over $950 aggregate supports felony filing.
What should I do if I am being investigated for card fraud?
Do not speak to Secret Service, LAPD Commercial Crimes, or bank fraud investigators without counsel. Preserve devices under attorney-directed forensic hold. Call Rubin Law, P.C. immediately.
Available 24/7 — Free Consultation
Charged With PC §484g Credit Card Fraud in Los Angeles?
PC §484g is a wobbler with felony jail exposure, CIMT immigration risk, and federal §1029 parallel risk. Rubin Law, P.C. defends card-fraud cases with mule-victim, no-knowledge, and Prop 47 strategies. Call 24/7.