Cybercrimes in New Jersey are punishable by law. Some examples of cybercrime include credit card fraud, identity theft, cyberstalking, internet sex crimes, and wrongful access. Continue reading to discover what entails these crimes and the potential penalties for cybercrime in New Jersey. Reach out to a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney to discuss your options if you are facing cybercrime penalties. Reach out to our firm today to learn the next steps you should take regarding your upcoming legal process.
Penalties for Cybercrimes
The penalties for cybercrimes in New Jersey will depend on the type of cybercrime committed, the victim of the cybercrime, and if the defendant has prior criminal charges. The penalties for cybercrime in New Jersey are as follows:
- First-Degree Crime: Fines up to $200,000 and 10 to 20-year prison sentence
- Third-Degree Crime: Fines up to $150,000 and 5 to 10-year prison sentence
- Fourth-Degree Crime: Fines up to $10,000 and up to 18 months imprisonment
Types of Cybercrimes
The following types of cybercrime are punishable by law in New Jersey:
- Credit Card Fraud:
- Credit card theft
- Receiving anything of value as a result of credit card fraud
- Making a false statement to obtain a credit card
- Using or accepting payment from a credit card knowing it was revoked, expired, or forged
- Fraudulent use of a credit card
- Signing a credit card without authorization
- Counterfeiting a credit card, selling or buying a credit card from anyone other than the issuer
- Receiving a lost credit card
- Using a credit card to secure a debt
- Identity Theft:
- Pretending to be a representative of a person or organization to benefit, injure, or defraud another person
- Impersonating someone else to obtain a benefit, injure, or defraud another
- Obtaining identifying information with the purpose of assuming their identity to fraudulently avoid payment of a debt, avoid prosecution for a crime, or obtain a benefit
- Impersonating someone else for their benefit or to injure or defraud another
- Impersonating someone or assuming a false identity to avoid payment for prior services
- Cyberstalking: Purposefully engaging in a court of conduct directed at a specific person causing fear by engaging in visual or physical proximity to the victim on at least two occasions. This can include calling, writing, or confronting the victim in person by conveying threats
- Internet Sex Crimes: Looking at, downloading, or distributing child pornography
- Wrongful Access: Purposefully and knowing accessing any data, computer, computer storage medium, computer equipment, computer system, or software without authorization to knowingly disclose any data, software, or personal identifying information. This is a third-degree crime that can sometimes be upgraded to a second-degree offense in the case that the disclosed data or info was protected by the law, rule of court, or court order
Contact our Firm
Our firm understands how serious criminal and personal injury cases are. We are prepared to guide you towards a favorable outcome because we believe false accusations or preventable injuries should never cause a person harm. This is why those who require experienced legal counsel in New Jersey should do themselves a favor and contact The Law Office of Andrew S. Maze today for any criminal and personal injury matters.
