Theft, Use and Forgery of a Credit Card (Offence). I need to know why a few McDonalds restaurants in the GTA have been used to foment Asian hegemony with assaults perpetrated on Non Asian customers by Asian McDonalds employees. It goes beyond the occasional incident that might have happened in Whitby or Ajax in the McDonalds culture as the warning in the farm boy's culture; the farm boy who tells you to beware of the milk shakes since we don't know who is in the restaurant at any time who might put drano in the cup and beware of the French fries that could be dipped in tea and toilet water.
Contents
| This page was last substantively updated or reviewed July 2019. (Rev. # 102125) |
| Theft and Forgery of a Credit Card | |
|---|---|
| Section 342 of the Crim. Code | |
| Election / Plea | |
| Crown Election | Hybrid summary proceedings must initiate within 12 months of the offence (786(2)) |
| Jurisdiction | Prov. Court Sup. Court w/ Jury (*) |
| Summary Dispositions | |
| Avail. Disp. | Discharge (730) Suspended Sentence (731(1)(a)) |
| Minimum | None |
| Maximum | same as summary |
| Indictable Dispositions | |
| Avail. Disp. | same as summary |
| Minimum | None |
| Maximum | 10 years incarceration |
| Reference | |
| Offence Elements Sentence Digests | |
Overview
Offences relating to theft and forgery of a credit card are found in Part IX of the Criminal Code relating to "Offences Against Rights of Property".
- Pleadings
| Offence Section | Offence Type | Crown Election | Defence Election s. 536(2) | Preliminary Inquiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| s. 342(1) [theft, forgery, etc., of credit card] and s. 342(3) [unauthorized use of credit card data] | Hybrid Offence(s) |  | (* only if Crown proceeds by Indictment) |  (under 14 years max) |
Offences under s. 342(1) [theft, forgery, etc., of credit card] and s. 342(3) [unauthorized use of credit card data] are hybrid with a Crown election. If prosecuted by indictment, there is a Defence election of Court under s. 536(2) to trial by provincial court, superior court judge-alone or superior court judge-and-jury.
- Release
When charged under s. 342, the accused can be given an appearance notice without arrest under s. 497 or a summons. If arrested, he can be released by the arresting officer under s. 498 or 499 on an undertaking with or without conditions. He can also be released by a justice under s. 515.
- Reverse Onus Bail
If police decide to bring the accused before a Justice pursuant to s. 503, there will be a presumption against bail (i.e. a reverse onus) if the offence, prosecuted by indictment, was committed:
- while at large under s. 515 [bail release], 679 or 680 [release pending appeal or review of appeal] (s. 515(6)(a)(i));
- "for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association" with a criminal organization (s. 515(6)(a)(ii));
- where the offence involved a weapon, being a firearm, cross-bow, prohibited weapon restricted weapon, prohibited device, ammunition, prohibited ammunition or explosive substance, while the accused was subject to a prohibition order preventing possession of these items (s. 515(6)(a)(viii)); or
- where the accused is not "ordinarily a resident in Canada" (s. 515(6)(b)).
And, regardless of Crown election, if the offence alleged was one:
- where the offence was an allegation of violence against an "intimate partner" and the accused had been previously convicted of an offence of violence against an "intimate partner" (s. 515(6)(b.1));
- where the offence alleged is a breach under s. 145(2) to (5) (s. 515(6)(c));
- where the offence committed (or conspired to commit) was an offence under s. 5 to 7 of the CDSA that is punishable by life imprisonment (s. 515(6)(d));
- Publication Bans
For all criminal or regulatory prosecutions, there is a discretionary general publication ban available on application of the Crown, victim or witness to prohibit the publishing of "any information that could identify the victim or witness" under s. 486.5(1) where it is "necessary" for the "proper administration of justice". Other available publication bans include prohibitions for publishing evidence or other information arising from a bail hearing (s. 517), preliminary inquiry (s. 539) or jury trial (s. 648). There is a mandatory publication ban in all youth prosecutions on information tending to identify young accused under s. 110 of the YCJA or young victims under s. 111 of the YCJA.
- Offence Designations
| Offence(s) | Wiretap Eligible s. 183 | Dangerous Offender Designated Offence s. 752 | Serious Personal Injury Offence s. 752 | AG Consent Required | Serious Criminality Offence s. 36 IRPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s. s. 342(1) [theft, forgery, etc., of credit card] and s. 342(3) [unauthorized use of credit card data] | | | | | |
See below in Ancillary Sentencing Orders for details on designations relating to sentencing orders.
Offence Wording
- Theft, forgery, etc., of credit card
342 (1) Every person who
- (a) steals a credit card,
- (b) forges or falsifies a credit card,
- (c) possesses, uses or traffics in a credit card or a forged or falsified credit card, knowing that it was obtained, made or altered
- (i) by the commission in Canada of an offence, or
- (ii) by an act or omission anywhere that, if it had occurred in Canada, would have constituted an offence,
or- (d) uses a credit card knowing that it has been revoked or cancelled,
is guilty of
- (e) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or
- (f) an offence punishable on summary conviction.
[omitted (2)]
- Unauthorized use of credit card data
(3) Every person who, fraudulently and without colour of right, possesses, uses, traffics in or permits another person to use credit card data, including personal authentication information, whether or not the data is authentic, that would enable a person to use a credit card or to obtain the services that are provided by the issuer of a credit card to credit card holders is guilty of
- (a) an indictable offence and is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years; or
- (b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.
[omitted (4)]
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 342; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), ss. 44, 185(F); 1997, c. 18, s. 16; 2009, c. 28, s. 4.
[annotation(s) added]
- Instruments for copying credit card data or forging or falsifying credit cards
342.01 (1) Every person is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years, or is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction, who, without lawful justification or excuse, makes, repairs, buys, sells, exports from Canada, imports into Canada or possesses any instrument, device, apparatus, material or thing that they know has been used or know is adapted or intended for use
- (a) in the copying of credit card data for use in the commission of an offence under subsection 342(3) [unauthorized use of credit card data – offence]; or
- (b) in the forging or falsifying of credit cards.
- Forfeiture
(2) Where a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1) [instruments for copying credit card data or forging or falsifying credit cards], any instrument, device, apparatus, material or thing in relation to which the offence was committed or the possession of which constituted the offence may, in addition to any other punishment that may be imposed, be ordered forfeited to Her Majesty, whereupon it may be disposed of as the Attorney General directs.
- Limitation
(3) No order of forfeiture may be made under subsection (2) [Instruments for copying credit card data or forging or falsifying credit cards – forfeiture] in respect of any thing that is the property of a person who was not a party to the offence under subsection (1) [Instruments for copying credit card data or forging or falsifying credit cards – forfeiture].
1997, c. 18, s. 17; 2009, c. 28, s. 5.
[annotation(s) added]
Draft Form of Charges
| Pre-ambles | ||
|---|---|---|
| "THAT [accused full name] stands charged that, between the <DATE> day of <MONTH>, <YEAR> and <DATE> day of <MONTH>, <YEAR>***, at or near <COMMUNITY/TOWN/CITY>, <PROVINCE>, he [or she]..." OR | ||
| "THAT [accused full name] stands charged that, on or about the <DATE> day of <MONTH>, <YEAR>, at or near <COMMUNITY/TOWN/CITY>, <PROVINCE>, he [or she]..." OR | ||
| "AND FURTHER at the same time and place aforesaid, he [or she]..." | ||
| Code Section | Subject of Offence | Draft Wording |
| "..., contrary to section XXX of the Criminal Code. |
Proof of the Offence
Proving unauthorized use of a credit card under s. 342(1) should include:
| Proving unauthorized use of credit card data under s. 342(3) should include:
|
Interpretation of the Offence
The offence is made out where a credit card is "first innocently obtained" and then forms "the intention to covert the credit card to his own."[1]
- R v Costello, 1982 CanLII 354 (BC CA), 1 CCC (3d) 403, per MacFarlane JA
Jurisdiction
342
[omitted (1)]
- Jurisdiction
(2) An accused who is charged with an offence under subsection (1) [Theft, forgery, etc., of credit card – offence] may be tried and punished by any court having jurisdiction to try that offence in the place where the offence is alleged to have been committed or in the place where the accused is found, is arrested or is in custody, but where the place where the accused is found, is arrested or is in custody is outside the province in which the offence is alleged to have been committed, no proceedings in respect of that offence shall be commenced in that place without the consent of the Attorney General of that province.
[omitted (3) and (4)]
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 342; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), ss. 44, 185(F); 1997, c. 18, s. 16; 2009, c. 28, s. 4.
Misc Definitions
Section 321 defines "credit card."[1]
Section 2 defines "steal". Section 322 defines theft generally.
Under s. 359, where the accused was found in possession of the stolen property in the last 12 months, it may be used to prove knowledge.
342
[omitted (1), (2) and (3)]
- Definitions
(4) In this section,
"personal authentication information" means a personal identification number or any other password or information that a credit card holder creates or adopts to be used to authenticate his or her identity in relation to the credit card;
"traffic" means, in relation to a credit card or credit card data, to sell, export from or import into Canada, distribute or deal with in any other way.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 342; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), ss. 44, 185(F); 1997, c. 18, s. 16; 2009, c. 28, s. 4.
Consent of Attorney General
Section 2 defines "attorney general". Under s. 583, an indictment is still valid regardless of whether it that the required consent was obtained.
Special Shortcut to Proof
- Evidence
359 (1) Where an accused is charged with an offence under section 342 [theft and forgery of credit card] or 354 [possession of stolen property] or paragraph 356(1)(b) [possession of stolen mail], evidence is admissible at any stage of the proceedings to show that property other than the property that is the subject-matter of the proceedings
- (a) was found in the possession of the accused, and
- (b) was stolen within twelve months before the proceedings were commenced,
and that evidence may be considered for the purpose of proving that the accused knew that the property that forms the subject-matter of the proceedings was stolen property.
- Notice to accused
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply unless
- (a) at least three days notice in writing is given to the accused that in the proceedings it is intended to prove that property other than the property that is the subject-matter of the proceedings was found in his possession; and
- (b) the notice sets out the nature or description of the property and describes the person from whom it is alleged to have been stolen.
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 359; R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 51.
[annotation(s) added]
See Theft (Offence) for more details.
Participation of Third Parties
- Testimonial Aids
Certain persons who testify are entitled to make application for the use of testimonial aids: Exclusion of Public (s. 486), Use of a Testimonial Screen (s. 486), Access to Support Person While Testifying (s. 486.1), Close Proximity Video-link Testimony (s. 486.2), Self-Represented Cross-Examination Prohibition Order (s. 486.3), and Witness Security Order (s. 486.7).
A witness, victim or complainant may also request publication bans (s. 486.4, 486.5) and/or a Witness Identity Non-disclosure Order (s. 486.31). See also, Publication Bans, above.
- On Finding of Guilt
| Offence(s) | Victim Notice of Agreement s. 606(4.1) [SPIO] | Victim Queried for Interest in Agreement s. 606(4.2) [5+ years] | Victim Notice for Restitution s. 737.1 | Victim Notice of Impact Statement s. 722(2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| s. x [x] |
For any indictable offence with a maximum penalty no less than 5 years (including offences under s. 342), but are not serious personal injury offences, s. 606(4.2) requires that after accepting a guilty plea, the judge must inquire whether "any of the victims had advised the prosecutor of their desire to be informed if such an agreement were entered into, and, if so, whether reasonable steps were taken to inform that victim of the agreement". Failing to take reasonable steps at guilty plea requires the prosecutor to "as soon as feasible, take reasonable steps to inform the victim of the agreement and the acceptance of the plea" (s. 606(4.3)).
Under s. 738, a judge must inquire from the Crown before sentencing whether "reasonable steps have been taken to provide the victims with an opportunity to indicate whether they are seeking restitution for their losses and damages".
Under s. 722(2), the judge must inquire "[a]s soon as feasible" before sentencing with the Crown "if reasonable steps have been taken to provide the victim with an opportunity to prepare" a victim impact statement. This will include any person "who has suffered, or is alleged to have suffered, physical or emotional harm, property damage or economic loss" as a result of the offence. Individuals representing a community impacted by the crime may file a statement under s. 722.2.
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