Chapter 943

943.41(1)(a) (a) “Alter” means add information to, change information on or delete information from.

943.41(1)(am) (am) “Automated financial service facility” means a machine activated by a financial transaction card, personal identification code or both.

943.41(1)(b) (b) “Cardholder” means the person to whom or for whose benefit a financial transaction card is issued.

943.41(1)(c) (c) “Counterfeit” means to manufacture, produce or create by any means a financial transaction card or purported financial transaction card without the issuer’s consent or authorization.

943.41(1)(e) (e) “Expired financial transaction card” means a financial transaction card which is no longer valid because the term shown thereon has elapsed.

943.41(1)(em) (em) “Financial transaction card” means an instrument or device issued by an issuer for the use of the cardholder in any of the following:

943.41(1)(em)1. 1. Obtaining anything on credit.

943.41(1)(em)2. 2. Certifying or guaranteeing the availability of funds sufficient to honor a draft or check.

943.41(1)(em)3. 3. Gaining access to an account.

943.41(1)(f) (f) “Issuer” means the business organization or financial institution which issues a financial transaction card or its duly authorized agent.

943.41(1)(fm) (fm) “Personal identification code” means a numeric, alphabetic or alphanumeric code or other means of identification required by an issuer to permit a cardholder’s authorized use of a financial transaction card.

943.41(1)(g) (g) “Receives” or “receiving” means acquiring possession or control or accepting as security for a loan.

943.41(1)(h) (h) “Revoked financial transaction card” means a financial transaction card which is no longer valid because permission to use it has been suspended or terminated by the issuer.

943.41(2) (2) False statements. No person shall make or cause to be made, whether directly or indirectly, any false statements in writing, knowing it to be false and with intent that it be relied upon, respecting the person’s identity or that of any other person or the person’s financial condition or that of any other person or other entity for the purpose of procuring the issuance of a financial transaction card.

943.41(3) (3) Theft by taking card.

943.41(3)(a) (a) No person shall acquire a financial transaction card from the person, possession, custody or control of another without the cardholder’s consent or, with knowledge that it has been so acquired, receive the financial transaction card with intent to use it or sell it or to transfer it to a person other than the issuer. Acquiring a financial transaction card without consent includes obtaining it by conduct defined as statutory theft. If a person has in his or her possession or under his or her control financial transaction cards issued in the names of 2 or more other persons it is prima facie evidence that the person acquired them in violation of this subsection.

943.41(3)(b) (b) No person shall receive a financial transaction card that the person knows to have been lost, mislaid, or delivered under a mistake as to the identity or address of the cardholder, and retain possession thereof with intent to sell it, or to transfer it to a person other than the issuer or the cardholder, or to use it. The possession of such a financial transaction card for more than 7 days by a person other than the issuer or the cardholder is prima facie evidence that such person intended to sell, transfer or use it in violation of this subsection.

943.41(3)(c) (c) No person other than the issuer shall sell a financial transaction card. No person shall buy a financial transaction card from a person other than the issuer.

943.41(3)(d) (d) No person shall, with intent to defraud the issuer, a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value, or any other person, obtain control over a financial transaction card as security for debt.

943.41(3)(e) (e) No person other than the issuer may receive a financial transaction card issued in the name of another person which he or she has reason to know was taken or retained in violation of this subsection or sub. (2). Either of the following is prima facie evidence of a violation of this paragraph:

943.41(3)(e)1. 1. Possession of 3 or more financial transaction cards with reason to know that the financial transaction cards were taken or retained in violation of this subsection or sub. (2).

943.41(3)(e)2. 2. Possession of a financial transaction card with knowledge that the financial transaction card was taken or retained in violation of this subsection or sub. (2).

943.41(4) (4) Forgery of financial transaction card.

943.41(4)(a) (a) No person shall, with intent to defraud a purported issuer, a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value or any other person, alter or counterfeit a financial transaction card or purported financial transaction card or possess a financial transaction card or purported financial transaction card with knowledge that it has been altered or counterfeited. The possession by a person other than the purported issuer of 2 or more financial transaction cards which have been altered or counterfeited is prima facie evidence that the person intended to defraud or that the person knew the financial transaction cards to have been so altered or counterfeited.

943.41(4)(b) (b) No person other than the cardholder or a person authorized by the cardholder shall, with intent to defraud the issuer, a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value or any other person, sign a financial transaction card. Possession by a person other than the intended cardholder or one authorized by the intended cardholder of a financial transaction card signed by such person is prima facie evidence that such person intended to defraud in violation of this subsection.

943.41(5) (5) Fraudulent use.

943.41(5)(a) (a)

943.41(5)(a)1. 1. No person shall, with intent to defraud the issuer, a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value or any other person:

943.41(5)(a)1.a. a. Use, for the purpose of obtaining money, goods, services or anything else of value, a financial transaction card obtained or retained in violation of sub. (3) or a financial transaction card which the person knows is forged, expired or revoked; or

943.41(5)(a)1.b. b. Obtain money, goods, services or anything else of value by representing without the consent of the cardholder that the person is the holder of a specified card or by representing that the person is the holder of a card and such card has not in fact been issued.

943.41(5)(a)2. 2. Knowledge of revocation shall be presumed to have been received by a cardholder 4 days after it has been mailed to the cardholder at the address set forth on the financial transaction card or at the cardholder’s last-known address by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and if the address is more than 500 miles from the place of mailing, by air mail. If the address is located outside the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Canal Zone and Canada, notice shall be presumed to have been received 10 days after mailing by registered or certified mail.

943.41(5)(b) (b) No cardholder shall use a financial transaction card issued to the cardholder or allow another person to use a financial transaction card issued to the cardholder with intent to defraud the issuer, a person or organization providing money, goods, services or anything else of value or any other person.

943.41(5)(c) (c) No person may deposit a stolen or forged instrument by means of an automated financial service facility with knowledge of the character of the instrument.

943.41(5)(d) (d) No person may, with intent to defraud anyone:

943.41(5)(d)1. 1. Introduce information into an electronic funds transfer system.

943.41(5)(d)2. 2. Transmit information to or intercept or alter information from an automated financial service facility.

943.41(5)(e) (e) No person may knowingly receive anything of value from a violation of par. (c) or (d).

943.41(6) (6) Fraudulent use; other persons.

943.41(6)(a) (a) No person who is authorized by an issuer to furnish money, goods, services or anything else of value upon presentation of a financial transaction card by the cardholder, or any agent or employee of such person, shall, with intent to defraud the issuer or the cardholder, furnish money, goods, services or anything else of value upon presentation of a financial transaction card obtained or retained under circumstances prohibited by sub. (3) or a financial transaction card which the person knows is forged, expired or revoked.

943.41(6)(b) (b) No person who is authorized by an issuer to furnish money, goods, services or anything else of value upon presentation of a financial transaction card by the cardholder, or any agent or employee of such person, shall, with intent to defraud, fail to furnish money, goods, services or anything else of value which the person represents in writing to the issuer that the person has furnished.

943.41(6)(c) (c) No person other than the cardholder shall possess an incomplete financial transaction card with intent to complete it without the consent of the issuer. A financial transaction card is “incomplete” if part of the matter, other than the signature of the cardholder, which an issuer requires to appear on the financial transaction card before it can be used by a cardholder has not yet been stamped, embossed, imprinted or written on it.

943.41(6)(d) (d) No person shall receive money, goods, services or anything else of value obtained under circumstances prohibited by this section, knowing or believing that it was so obtained. Any person who obtains at a discount price a ticket issued by an airline, railroad, steamship or other transportation company which was acquired under circumstances prohibited by this section without reasonable inquiry to ascertain that the person from whom it was obtained had a legal right to possess it shall be presumed to know that such ticket was acquired under circumstances prohibited by this section.

943.41(6m) (6m) Factoring prohibited.

943.41(6m)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a person authorized to furnish money, goods, services or anything else of value upon presentation of a financial transaction card may not deposit, assign, endorse or present for payment to an issuer or to any other person authorized to acquire transaction records for presentation to an issuer a financial transaction card transaction record if the person did not furnish or agree to furnish the money, goods, services or anything else of value represented to be furnished by the transaction record.

943.41(6m)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any of the following:

943.41(6m)(b)1. 1. A franchisor, as defined in s. 553.03 (6), who presents for payment a financial transaction card transaction record of a franchisee, as defined in s. 553.03 (5), if the franchisor is authorized to present the transaction record on behalf of the franchisee and the franchisee furnished or agreed to furnish the money, goods, services or anything else of value represented to be furnished by the transaction record.

943.41(6m)(b)2. 2. A general merchandise retailer who presents for payment a financial transaction card transaction record of a person who furnishes money, goods, services or anything else of value on the business premises of the general merchandise retailer if the general merchandise retailer is authorized to present the transaction record on behalf of the person and the person furnished or agreed to furnish the money, goods, services or anything else of value represented to be furnished by the transaction record.

943.41(6m)(b)3. 3. An issuer or an organization of issuers who present a financial transaction card transaction record for the interchange and settlement of the transaction.

943.41(7) (7) Defenses not available. In any prosecution for violation of this section, it is not a defense:

943.41(7)(a) (a) That a person other than the defendant has not been convicted, apprehended or identified; or

943.41(7)(b) (b) That some of the acts constituting the crime did not occur in this state or were not a crime or elements of a crime where they did occur.

943.41(8) (8) Penalties.

943.41(8)(a) (a) Any person violating any provision of sub. (2), (3) (a) to (d) or (4) (b) is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

943.41(8)(b) (b) Any person violating any provision of sub. (3) (e), (4) (a), (6) (c) or (6m) is guilty of a Class I felony.

943.41(8)(c) (c) Any person violating any provision of sub. (5) or (6) (a), (b), or (d), if the value of the money, goods, services, or property illegally obtained does not exceed $2,500 is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor; if the value of the money, goods, services, or property exceeds $2,500 but does not exceed $5,000, in a single transaction or in separate transactions within a period not exceeding 6 months, the person is guilty of a Class I felony; if the value of the money, goods, services, or property exceeds $5,000 but does not exceed $10,000, in a single transaction or in separate transactions within a period not exceeding 6 months, the person is guilty of a Class H felony; or if the value of money, goods, services, or property exceeds $10,000, in a single transaction or in separate transactions within a period not exceeding 6 months, the person is guilty of a Class G felony.

943.41 History History: 1973 c. 219; 1977 c. 173; 1981 c. 288; 1989 a. 321; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 486; 1995 a. 225; 2001 a. 16, 109.

943.41 Annotation Fraudulent use of a credit card need not involve forgery. If forgery is involved, the prosecutor has discretion to charge under either this section or s. 943.38. Mack v. State, 93 Wis. 2d 287, 286 N.W.2d 563 (1980).

943.41 Annotation Actual possession of the financial transaction card is not required for a violation of sub. (5) (a) 1. a. State v. Shea, 221 Wis. 2d 418, 585 N.W.2d 662 (Ct. App. 1998), 97-2345.

943.45 943.45 Theft of telecommunications service.

943.45(1) (1) No person may intentionally obtain or attempt to obtain telecommunications service, as defined in s. 182.017 (1g) (cq), by any of the following means:

943.45(1)(a) (a) Charging such service to an existing telephone number or credit card number without the consent of the subscriber thereto or the legitimate holder thereof.

943.45(1)(b) (b) Charging such service to a false, fictitious, suspended, terminated, expired, canceled or revoked telephone number or credit card number.

943.45(1)(c) (c) Rearranging, tampering with or making connection with any facilities or equipment.

943.45(1)(d) (d) Using a code, prearranged scheme, or other stratagem or device whereby said person in effect sends or receives information.

943.45(1)(e) (e) Using any other contrivance, device or means to avoid payment of the lawful charges, in whole or in part, for such service.

943.45(2) (2) This section shall apply when the said telecommunications service either originates or terminates, or both, in this state, or when the charges for said telecommunications service would have been billable, in normal course, by a person providing telecommunications service in this state, but for the fact that said service was obtained, or attempted to be obtained, by one or more of the means set forth in sub. (1).

943.45(3) (3) The following penalties apply to violations of this section:

943.45(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (d), any person who violates sub. (1) is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.

943.45(3)(b) (b) Except as provided in pars. (c) and (d), any person who violates sub. (1) as a 2nd or subsequent offense is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

943.45(3)(c) (c) Except as provided in par. (d), any person who violates sub. (1) for direct or indirect commercial advantage or private financial gain is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

943.45(3)(d) (d) Any person who violates sub. (1) for direct or indirect commercial advantage or private financial gain as a 2nd or subsequent offense is guilty of a Class I felony.

943.45 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 496; 2001 a. 109; 2011 a. 22; 2013 a. 89.

943.45 Annotation Each separate plan or scheme to obtain service by fraud is a separate chargeable offense. State v. Davis, 171 Wis. 2d 711, 492 N.W.2d 174 (Ct. App. 1992).

943.455 943.455 Theft of commercial mobile service.

943.455(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

943.455(1)(a) (a) “Commercial mobile service” means commercial mobile service, as defined in s. 196.01 (2i), that is provided by a company for payment.

943.455(1)(b) (b) “Company” means a commercial mobile radio service provider, as defined in s. 196.01 (2g).

943.455(2) (2) Prohibitions. No person may intentionally do any of the following:

943.455(2)(a) (a) Obtain or attempt to obtain commercial mobile service from a company by trick, artifice, deception, use of an illegal device or other fraudulent means with the intent to deprive that company of any or all lawful compensation for rendering each type of service obtained. The intent required for a violation of this paragraph may be inferred from the presence on the property and in the actual possession of the defendant of a device not authorized by the company, the major purpose of which is to permit reception of commercial mobile services without payment. This inference is rebutted if the defendant demonstrates that he or she purchased that device for a legitimate use.

943.455(2)(b) (b) Give technical assistance or instruction to any person in obtaining or attempting to obtain any commercial mobile service without payment of all lawful compensation to the company providing that service. This paragraph does not apply if the defendant demonstrates that the technical assistance or instruction was given for a legitimate purpose.

943.455(2)(c) (c) Maintain an ability to connect, whether physical, electronic, by radio wave or by other means, with any facilities, components or other devices used for the transmission of commercial mobile services for the purpose of obtaining commercial mobile service without payment of all lawful compensation to the company providing that service. The intent required for a violation of this paragraph may be inferred from proof that the commercial mobile service to the defendant was authorized under a service agreement with the defendant and has been terminated by the company and that thereafter there exists in fact an ability to connect to the company’s commercial mobile service system.

943.455(2)(d) (d) Make or maintain any modification or alteration to any device installed with the authorization of a company for the purpose of obtaining any service offered by that company which that person is not authorized by that company to obtain. The intent required for a violation of this paragraph may be inferred from proof that, as a matter of standard procedure, the company places written warning labels on its telecommunications devices explaining that tampering with the device is a violation of law and the device is found to have been tampered with, altered or modified so as to allow the reception of services offered by the company without authority to do so.

943.455(2)(e) (e) Possess without authority any device designed to receive from a company any services offered for sale by that company, whether or not the services are encoded, filtered, scrambled or otherwise made unintelligible, or designed to perform or facilitate the performance of any of the acts under pars. (a) to (d) with the intent that that device be used to receive that company’s services without payment. Intent to violate this paragraph for direct or indirect commercial advantage or private financial gain may be inferred from proof of the existence on the property and in the actual possession of the defendant of a device if the totality of circumstances, including quantities or volumes, indicates possession for resale.

943.455(2)(f) (f) Manufacture, import into this state, distribute, publish, advertise, sell, lease or offer for sale or lease any device or any plan or kit for a device designed to receive commercial mobile services offered for sale by a company, whether or not the services are encoded, filtered, scrambled or otherwise made unintelligible, with the intent that that device, plan or kit be used for obtaining a company’s services without payment. The intent required for a violation of this paragraph may be inferred from proof that the defendant has sold, leased or offered for sale or lease any device, plan or kit for a device in violation of this paragraph and during the course of the transaction for sale or lease the defendant expressly states or implies to the buyer that the product will enable the buyer to obtain commercial mobile service without charge.

943.455(4) (4) Penalties. The following penalties apply for violations of this section:

943.455(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (d), any person who violates sub. (2) (a) to (f) is subject to a Class C forfeiture.

943.455(4)(b) (b) Except as provided in pars. (c) and (d), any person who violates sub. (2) (a) to (f) as a 2nd or subsequent offense is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

943.455(4)(c) (c) Except as provided in par. (d), any person who violates sub. (2) (a) to (f) for direct or indirect commercial advantage or private financial gain is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

943.455(4)(d) (d) Any person who violates sub. (2) (a) to (f) for direct or indirect commercial advantage or private financial gain as a 2nd or subsequent offense is guilty of a Class I felony.