Credit card fraud is when someone uses your credit card or credit account to make a purchase you didn't authorize. This activity can happen in different ways. For example, if you lose your credit card or have it stolen, it can be used to make purchases or other transactions, either in person or online. And fraudsters can also steal your credit card account number, PIN and security code to make unauthorized transactions, without needing your physical credit card—unlawful transactions like these are known as card-not-present fraud.

Identity theft involves the use of illegally obtained information about you, like your name, birthday, Social Security number, credit card numbers and more, in order to use existing credit accounts or open new ones in your name. When this happens, criminals capture the spending power of your credit while you get stuck with the bill.

In Nebraska, credit card fraud and identity theft are criminal offenses under various statutes. Credit card fraud may involve unauthorized use of someone's credit card or account information to make purchases or withdraw funds. Nebraska Revised Statute 28-619 prohibits the fraudulent use of a financial transaction device, which includes credit cards, debit cards, and any other instrument used to access a financial account. Penalties for credit card fraud vary depending on the amount of money involved and can range from a Class II misdemeanor for amounts under $500 to a Class IIA felony for amounts over $5,000. Identity theft is addressed under Nebraska Revised Statute 28-639, which makes it illegal to use another person's personal identifying information to fraudulently obtain credit, goods, services, or anything else of value. Identity theft can be charged as a felony, with the severity of the charge depending on the financial loss caused by the theft. Victims of credit card fraud or identity theft in Nebraska are encouraged to report the crime to law enforcement and may also need to contact their financial institutions and credit reporting agencies to mitigate the damage and prevent further fraudulent activity.