What action constitutes financial transaction card theft?

Financial transaction card theft occurs when an individual takes and uses a financial transaction card—such as a credit or debit card—without the consent of the cardholder. This unauthorized use is illegal and constitutes theft because it involves both the act of taking the card and the subsequent action of utilizing it for transactions, violating the property rights of the cardholder.

The action of taking a card without consent is central to understanding financial transaction card theft, as it emphasizes the element of unlawfulness in acquiring the card. Consent is a critical component in differentiating between legal and illegal use of someone else's financial transaction card.

In contrast, other actions, such as following a legal acquisition process or reporting a lost card to the issuer, do not involve any element of theft or unauthorized activity. Moreover, helping someone retrieve their lost card is a supportive action rather than a theft-related activity.