---
title: "What is the difference between identity theft and credit card fraud?"
description: "Identity theft is using another person's full identity - name, date of birth, Social Security number, biometric data, or electronic credentials - to obtain value, open accounts, or evade detection...."
url: https://bankandmunns.com/faq-items/what-is-the-difference-between-identity-theft-and-credit-card-fraud/
date: 2026-04-22
modified: 2026-04-22
author: "Bank and Munns"
type: avada_faq
lang: en
---

# What is the difference between identity theft and credit card fraud?

Identity theft is using another person's full identity - name, date of birth, Social Security number, biometric data, or electronic credentials - to obtain value, open accounts, or evade detection. Credit card fraud is narrower: using a physical or digital card, or card number, that does not belong to you. Most identity theft cases that involve spending also get charged with credit card fraud as a stacked count. The practical difference matters at sentencing - credit card fraud alone resolves more easily in state court, while identity theft paired with new-account fraud draws federal attention and often pulls in aggravated identity theft under 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. If your case is purely card misuse, see our (/rhode-island-credit-card-fraud-lawyer/) page.