Unintentionally illegal? Some more stress
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: NY, NY
Posts: 32
Unintentionally illegal? Some more stress
Stress has always been my downfall. When I am nervous or anxious, I used to drink. I don't anymore, but something came up today that I am concerned about. A friend of mine is doing some fundraising and was looking for ideas. I told her about a fundraiser a friend of mine held on a college campus several years back (5 years to be exact) for a group I was president of in professional school in Maryland (USA).
This fundraiser was called base marketing, and for each credit card application we returned completely filled out, we received $5 for our organization whether they were approved or not. Well, people would fill them out but occasionally, they would leave out their SS #, their phone number or their signature. We only received $ if EVERYTHING was filled out... so when the others in the group returned their share of the forms that were not completed, my friend filled in the missing spaces.
This means only that this friend added in false information where things were missing.. ie she made up SS #s, she made up phone numbers or she signed the application for them. They had provided the majority of the info so she figured that was like giving consent to the application. She did not get the credit card for them, charge things on them etc... this was just the application form.
My friend was mortified. She said that this is credit card fraud. This was never her intention but now I am concerned for her that someone may find out. Is this true? Does anyone know if this is illegal or how to find out? She did not do it with malicious intent but I am concerned.
Thanks
This fundraiser was called base marketing, and for each credit card application we returned completely filled out, we received $5 for our organization whether they were approved or not. Well, people would fill them out but occasionally, they would leave out their SS #, their phone number or their signature. We only received $ if EVERYTHING was filled out... so when the others in the group returned their share of the forms that were not completed, my friend filled in the missing spaces.
This means only that this friend added in false information where things were missing.. ie she made up SS #s, she made up phone numbers or she signed the application for them. They had provided the majority of the info so she figured that was like giving consent to the application. She did not get the credit card for them, charge things on them etc... this was just the application form.
My friend was mortified. She said that this is credit card fraud. This was never her intention but now I am concerned for her that someone may find out. Is this true? Does anyone know if this is illegal or how to find out? She did not do it with malicious intent but I am concerned.
Thanks
Sobriety is Traditional
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Orcas Island, Washington
Posts: 9,067
It only takes a few seconds to check a Social Security number for validity. The applications with false SS #'s will be rejected, and it will probably be assumed that the applicant supplied erroneous or false information. I am not sure if credit authorization agencies check phone numbers or signatures, but it is probably unlikely to be traced back to you.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 2,126
"...Does anyone know if this is illegal or how to find out? She did not do it with malicious intent..."
Although this is not credit card fraud, it is fraud, and yes it's illegal. She received monies to which she was not entitled (thus it is consiered stolen); this is kind of like when folks fill out voter registration cards for non-existant folks---voter registration fraud.
(o:
NoelleR
Although this is not credit card fraud, it is fraud, and yes it's illegal. She received monies to which she was not entitled (thus it is consiered stolen); this is kind of like when folks fill out voter registration cards for non-existant folks---voter registration fraud.
(o:
NoelleR
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: in the city by the bay
Posts: 605
It would be the credit card company who would need to file charges and hiring lawyers and opening a case is very expensive and more than likely the statute of limitations is up. Even if it wasn't, I don't think they would bother. Now relax and have a nice, cold...ginger ale! lol
Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LA - Lower Alabama
Posts: 5,068
Originally Posted by Soberr 
Phew... So what I'm hearing is technically illegal, but unlikely that anyone would ever take interest in it. Thanks, guys.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Ireland
Posts: 25,826
5 years on, I would doubt there will be any comeback, if the College was processing the payments and they were keen for donations, they would have probably called the people to confirm the details, that's the only way it could have been flagged up, but if they didn't follow the details up they're probably long gone by now.
But yes, making up credit card details to put on a form, is not a great way forward!!
But yes, making up credit card details to put on a form, is not a great way forward!!
Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PA
Posts: 12,000
Joe walked into a bank with a toy pistol. Told the teller to give him all the money. She gave him a bag that was full of blank papers and he ran out.
Was it illegal? He didn't have a real gun and he didn't steal any money.
Here is a different example of what you did. Going into a hockey game the credit card pushers were always there. Get a free beach towel or team hat just for filling out a credit application. Sure, I'll take a free hat. Joe Bagadonuts got another free hat. He lives at 1313 Mockingbird Lane, and his SS# is 555-555-5555. They get thousands upon thousands of invalid credit apps every single day.
Was it illegal? He didn't have a real gun and he didn't steal any money.
Here is a different example of what you did. Going into a hockey game the credit card pushers were always there. Get a free beach towel or team hat just for filling out a credit application. Sure, I'll take a free hat. Joe Bagadonuts got another free hat. He lives at 1313 Mockingbird Lane, and his SS# is 555-555-5555. They get thousands upon thousands of invalid credit apps every single day.
Self recovered Self discovered
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Toronto Canada
Posts: 5,148
Stress is stressful only if you decide to take it on. You made a mistake a long time ago, but another mistake is the fretting and hankie twisting now. This was five years ago so shake your head and move on. What's the plan for today?
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: in the city by the bay
Posts: 605
I don't think they will come knocking at your door, but if they do, you'll deal with it then. Seriously, they would probably need to show that they were somehow damaged by what you did and I don't know how much you made but do you know what the going rate for an attorney is? I'm sure they have in-house attorneys but they want them handling the most pressing things. The idea that they don't know that people make up stuff on applications is far-fetched. I'm sure they assume x-number of applications will be bogus in some way.
As Elsa says in Frozen "Let It Go"...
As Elsa says in Frozen "Let It Go"...
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