Financial institution accounts fraud, offense of
This law makes it a crime to trick or deceive a bank or its customers to steal money from their accounts. Someone can break this law by using lies, fake information, devices, or schemes to move money away from a bank or customer without permission. The punishment depends on how much money was stolen and whether the person did it on purpose, knowingly, recklessly, or carelessly — ranging from a misdemeanor for under $500 up to a class B felony for $500 or more done on purpose.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
570.148. accounts , of — penalties. — 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "Financial institution", includes any financial institution as defined in section 570.010 as well as a broker or mutual company;
(2) "Financial institution account", includes any account, , or .
2. Any person commits the offense of financial institution accounts fraud if that person uses any false or , representations, or promises, or any physical device, any electronic device or means of any kind, or any scheme or to cause moneys to be withdrawn or taken from a financial institution or a customer account at a financial institution or to cause moneys to be transferred or paid by the financial institution to another person or another financial institution with the purpose to the financial institution or the financial institution's customer of the or control of the moneys.
3. The offense of financial institution accounts fraud is a if the fraud amount is less than five hundred dollars.
4. The offense of financial institution accounts fraud shall be as follows if the fraud amount is five hundred dollars or more:
(1) If a person acts with , the offense of financial institution accounts fraud is a ;
(2) If a person acts , the offense of financial institution accounts fraud is a ;
(3) If a person acts , the offense of financial institution accounts fraud is a ;
(4) If a person acts , the offense of financial institution accounts fraud is a .
5. A may charge alternative offenses under this chapter, provided no person shall be under this section and another section related to the same theft of moneys.
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Source & history notes
(L. 2025 S.B. 98)
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