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ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
THE ELECTRONIC TRANSFER OF FUNDS CRIMES ACT, 2007
No. of 2007
The Electronic Transfer of Funds Crimes Act, 2007 No. of 2007
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THE ELECTRONIC TRANSFER OF FUNDS CRIMES ACT, 2007
ARRANGEMENT
PART I - Preliminary
1. Short title and commencement
2. Interpretation
PART II - Offences
3. False statement
4. Theft by taking or retaining possession of card
5. Card theft
6. Dealing in card of another
7. Purchase or sale of card of another
8. Obtaining control of card as security
9. Forgery
10. Signing a card of another
11. Fraudulent use of card
12. Fraud by person authorised to provide goods, services, etc.
13. Receipt of money, etc., obtained by fraudulent use of card
14. Defences not available
15. Obtaining goods, etc., by use of false, expired, or revoked card
16. Trafficking in counterfeit card
17. Possession of card-making equipment
18. Alteration of card invoice
19. General offence for fraudulent electronic funds transfer
PART III Miscellaneous
20. Territorial scope of offences under this Act
21. Liability for misuse of card
22. Card lists prohibited
23. Clearance functions
24. Regulations
Explanatory Memorandum
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AN ACT to provide for the smooth regulation of the transfer of money by electronic means by use of a card or data associated with a
card for the purpose of instructing or authorising a financial institution to debit or credit a cardholder’s account when anything of
value is purchased and for incidental and connected purposes.
ENACTED by the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda as follows:
PART I - PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and commencement
This Act may be cited as the Electronic Transfer of Funds Crimes Act, 2007, and shall come into force on a day to be appointed by
the Minister by Notice published in the Gazette.
2. Interpretation
In this Act—
“bank card” means any instrument, token, device, or card, whether known as a bank service card, banking card, check guarantee card,
credit card, debit card or token or by any other similar name, issued with or without a fee by an issuer for the use of the cardholder in
obtaining goods, services, or anything else of value or for use in an automated banking device or over the Internet to obtain money or
any of the services offered through the device or over the Internet;
“card” means a bank card, credit card, smart card, token or device or the number or data associated with a bank card, credit card ,
smart card, token or device;
“cardholder” means the person named on the face of a card to whom or for whose benefit such a card is issued by an issuer;
“counterfeit card” means a card which is fictitious, altered, or forged and includes any facsimile or false representation, depiction, or
component of such a card, or any such card which is stolen,
obtained as part of a scheme to defraud, or otherwise unlawfully obtained, and which may or may not be embossed with account
information or an issuer’s information;
“credit” includes a cash loan, or any other financial accommodation;
“credit card” means any instrument, token, device, or card, whether known as a charge card or by any other similar name, issued with
or without a fee by an issuer for the use of the cardholder in obtaining goods, services, or anything else of value on credit from a
creditor or for use in an
automated banking device to obtain money or any of the services offered through the
device;
“creditor” means a person or company that agrees or is authorised by an issuer to
supply goods, services, or anything else of value and to accept payment by use of a
bank card, credit card, or smart card for the supply of goods, services or
anything else of value to the cardholder;
“electronic” means relating to technology having electrical, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities,
whether digital, analogue or otherwise;
“electronic funds transfer” means any transfer of funds that is initiated through an electronic terminal, telephone, computer,
magnetic tape, the Internet, or through online services for the purpose of ordering, instructing, or authorizing a financial
institution to debit or credit an account;
“financial institution” means a company as defined in the Banking Act, 2005, (No 14 of 2005) or the Financial Institutions
(Non- Banking Act), Cap 169 or a foreign financial institution authorized under the law of its jurisdiction to issue cards;
“issuer” includes a financial institution which or any other person who issues a card;
“Minister” means the Minister with responsibility for electronic commerce;
“smart card” means any instrument, token, device, or card encoded with a stated money value and issued with or without a
fee by an issuer for use of the cardholder in obtaining goods, services, or anything else of value, except money.
PART II – OFFENCES
3. False statement
A person who makes or causes to be made, either directly or indirectly, any false be relied on
respecting his identity or that of any other person or his financial
condition or that of any other person for the purpose of procuring the issuance of a card to himself or another person commits
an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars.
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4. Theft by taking or retaining possession of card or details of card
(1) No person shall
(a) take a card from the possession, custody or control of a cardholder , or of a person holding or having possession of
the card with the consent of the cardholder, without the cardholder’s or the person’s consent; or
(b) with knowledge that a card has been taken, receive the card with intent to use, sell, or to transfer it to a person other
than the issuer or the cardholder.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and
(a) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to both; or
(b) is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of fifty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for five years or to both.
(3) For the purpose of this section, taking a card without consent includes obtaining it by
larceny or fraud, by false pretence, or by extortion.
5. Card theft
A person who receives a card that he knows or ought to reasonably know has been lost, mislaid, or delivered under a mistake as to
the identity or address of the cardholder and who retains possession with intent to use, sell, or to traffic it to a person other than
the issuer or the cardholder commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of twenty thousand dollars or to
imprisonment for one year or to both.
6. Dealing in card of another
A person, other than an issuer, who receives and retains possession of two or more cards issued in the name or names of different
cardholders knowing they were taken or retained under circumstances which constitute a card theft commits an offence and is
liable on summary conviction to a fine of twenty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for one year or to both.
7. Purchase or sale of card of another
A person other than an issuer who sells a card or a person who buys a card from a person other than an issuer commits an
offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of twenty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for one year or to both.
8. Obtaining control of card as security
A person who, with intent to defraud the issuer, a creditor, or any other person, obtains control over a card as security for a
debt commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of twenty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for one
year or to both.
9. Forgery
(1) A person who, with intent to defraud an issuer, a creditor, or any other person, falsely makes, embosses, or alters in
any manner a card or utters such a card or who, with intent to defraud, has a counterfeit card or any invoice, voucher, sales
draft, or other representation or manifestation of a counterfeit card in his possession, custody, or control commits an offence
and —
(a) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to
both; or
(b) is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of fifty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for five years or
to both.
(2) A person, other than an authorized manufacturer or issuer, who possesses a counterfeit card is presumed to have the
intent to defraud referred to in subsection (1).
(3) A person falsely makes a card when he makes or draws in whole or in part a device or instrument which purports to
be the card of a named issuer but which is not such a card because the issuer did not authorise the making or drawing, or
when he alters a card which was validly issued.
(4) A person falsely embosses a card when, without the authorisation of the named issuer, he completes a card by
adding any of the matters, including the signature of the cardholder, which an issuer requires to appear on the card before it
can be used by a cardholder.
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10. Signing a card of another
A person, other than the cardholder or a person authorised by him, who, with intent to defraud the issuer or a creditor, signs a bank
card, credit card or debit card commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars or to
imprisonment for three years or to both.
11. Fraudulent use of card
(1) No person shall, with intent to defraud an issuer or a creditor, uses, for the purpose of obtaining money, goods, services, or
anything else of value, a card obtained or retained fraudulently or a card which he knows is forged.
(2) No person shall obtain money, goods, services, or anything else of value
(a) by representing, without the consent or authorisation of the cardholder, that he is the holder of a specified card;
or
(b) by representing that he is the holder of a card when the card has not been validly issued.
(3) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) commits an offence and—
(a) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to
both; or
(b) is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of fifty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for five years or
to both.
12. Fraud by person authorised to provide goods, services, etc
(1) A creditor who, with intent to defraud an issuer or a cardholder, furnishes goods, services, or anything else of value upon
presentation of a card which he knows is obtained or retained fraudulently or illegally or a card which he knows is forged, expired, or
revoked commits an offence and—
(a) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to
both; or
(b) is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of fifty thousand dollars or to imprisonment
for five years or to both.
(2) A creditor who, with intent to defraud an issuer or a cardholder, fails to furnish goods, services, or anything else of
value which he represents in writing to the issuer or the cardholder that he has furnished commits an offence and is liable on
summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to both.
(3) A person who is authorised by a creditor to furnish goods, services, or anything else of value upon presentation of a
card or a card account number by a cardholder, or any agent or employee of such person, who, with intent to defraud the
issuer or the cardholder, presents to the issuer or the cardholder, for payment, a card transaction record of sale, when no sale
was made by the person or his agent or employee, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty
thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to both.
(4) A person who, without a creditor’s authorisation, employs, solicits or otherwise causes a person who is authorised
by the creditor to furnish goods, services or anything else of value upon presentation of a card account number by a
cardholder, or employs, solicits or otherwise causes an agent or employee of the authorised person to remit to the creditor a
card transaction record of a sale that was not made by the authorised person or his agent or employee commits an offence and
is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to both.
13. Receipt of money, etc., obtained by fraudulent use of card
A person who receives money, goods, services or anything else of value obtained in breach of section 12, knowing or
believing that it was so obtained, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars
or to imprisonment for two years or to both.
14. Defences not available
It shall not be a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this Act that a card that is not a counterfeit card is
offered for use or sale as a counterfeit card, and a person, other than the defendant, who has breached this Act has not been
convicted, arrested, or identified.
15. Obtaining goods, etc., by use of false, expired or revoked card
(1) No person shall knowingly obtain credit or purchase any goods, services or anything else of value –
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(a) by the use of a false, fictitious, counterfeit or expired card, card number or other credit device;
(b) by the use of another person’s card, card number, or other credit device without the authority of that other person; or
(c) by the use of any card, card number, or other credit device if it has been revoked and notice of the revocation has been
given to the person to whom it was issued.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and—
(a) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to
both; or
(b) is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of fifty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for five years or
to both.
(3) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(c), knowledge of revocation shall be presumed to have been received by a cardholder seven
clear days after it has been sent to him by post at his last known address.
16. Trafficking in counterfeit card
(1) No person shall traffic in counterfeit cards, invoices, vouchers, sales drafts or other representations or manifestations
of counterfeit cards or card account numbers of another person.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of fifty thousand dollars or to
imprisonment for five years or to both.
(3) A person who is in possession of three or more of the things referred to in subsection (1) is deemed to have them for
the purpose of trafficking, unless the contrary is proved, the burden of proof being on the accused.
17. Possession of card-making equipment
(1) A person who receives, possesses, transfers, buys, sells, controls or has custody of any card-making equipment with
intent that the equipment be used in the manufacture of counterfeit cards commits an offence and is liable on conviction on
indictment to a fine of fifty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for five years or to both.
(2) For the purposes of this section, “card-making equipment” means any equipment, machine, plate, mechanism,
impression, or any other device designed, used, or capable of being used to produce a card, a counterfeit card, or any aspect
or component of a card.
18. Alteration of card invoice
A person who, with intent to defraud another person, falsely alters any invoice for money, goods, services, or anything else of
value obtained by use of a card after the invoice has been signed by the cardholder or a person authorised by him commits an
offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to both.
19. General offence for fraudulent electronic funds transfer
A person who, in the course of an electronic funds transfer, uses, with intent to defraud an issuer or a creditor, the personal or
financial data or credit account numbers or card of another, or who obtains money, goods, services, or anything else of value
by using without authorisation the personal or financial data or credit account numbers or card of another or by representing
that he is another, where such an offence is not otherwise provided for under this Act, commits an offence and—
(a) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of thirty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to
both; or
(b) is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of fifty thousand dollars or to imprisonment for five years or
to both.
Part III – MISCELLANEOUS
20. Territorial scope of offences under this Act
(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act applies in relation to any person, whatever his nationality or citizenship, outside
as well as within Antigua and Barbuda; and where an offence under this Act is committed by a person in any place outside of
Antigua and Barbuda, he may be dealt with as if the offence had been committed within Antigua and Barbuda.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), this Act shall apply if, for the offence in question –
(a) the accused was in Antigua and Barbuda at the material time;
(b) the card, computer or data was in Antigua and Barbuda at the material time;
(c) the card was issued by a financial institution in Antigua and Barbuda; or
(d) the damage occurred within Antigua and Barbuda, whether or not paragraph (a), (b) or (c) applies.
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21. Liability for misuse of card
(1) A cardholder is not, unless he acts in collusion with another person, liable to the issuer for any loss arising from the
use of the card by any person not acting, or to be treated as acting, as the cardholder’s agent.
(2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the cardholder from being made liable to the extent of one hundred dollars for loss
to the issuer arising from use of the card by another person during a period beginning when the card ceases to be in the
possession of an authorised person and ending when the card is once more in the possession of an authorised person.
(3) Subsection (1) does not prevent the cardholder from being made liable for loss to the issuer from use of the card by a
person who acquired possession of it with the cardholder’s consent.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to any use of the card after the issuer has been given notice within two days of
discovering that the card is lost, stolen, or is for any other reason liable to misuse.
(5) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply unless the issuer provides the cardholder with particulars of the name, address
and telephone number of a person stated to be the person to whom notice is to be given under subsection (4).
(6) Notice under subsection (4) takes effect when received, but where it is given orally, it shall be confirmed in writing
within fourteen clear days.
(7) Any sum paid by the cardholder for the issue of the card, to the extent, if any, that it
has not been previously offset by use made of the card, shall be treated as paid towards satisfaction of any liability
under subsection (2) or (3).
(8) The cardholder, issuer or any person authorised by the cardholder to use the card shall be authorised
persons for the purpose of subsection (2).
22. Card lists prohibited
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a financial institution shall not make available, lend, donate, or sell any list or portion of a
list of any cardholders and their addresses and account numbers to any person without the prior written permission of the
cardholder.
(2) A financial institution may make available to another financial institution for the determination of the cardholder’s
credit rating, any list or portion of a list of any cardholders and their addresses without the permission of the cardholder but
must, within seven working days, give written notice of the disclosure to the cardholder.
(3) A financial institution which breaches subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a
fine of fifty thousand dollars.
23. Clearance functions
(1) A financial institution may contract third-parties to perform clearance functions.
(2) Financial institutions may form a clearing house on a collective or cooperative basis and the operation of the
clearing functions may be performed by the collective or by a third-party.
24. Regulations
The Minister may make the regulations with respect to the use of cards for electronic funds transfers including relating to
security, encryption and clearance functions that may be deemed necessary and any regulations necessary to give effect to
this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives on
the , 2007.
Passed the Senate on the , 2007.
Speaker.
President.
Clerk to the House of Representatives.
Clerk to the Senate.
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
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The main purpose of this Bill is to provide for the smooth regulation of the transfer of money through electronic means, including via
computers, over the Internet or an electronic terminal, by means of a card or number or data associated with a card for the purpose of
instructing or authorising a financial institution to debit or credit a cardholder’s account when anything of value is purchased.
The Bill would create a number of offences related to theft, forgery and other dishonest uses of a credit card, debit card, bank card,
smart card, or the number and data associated with such a card, and is intended to build user confidence in electronic commerce and
electronic transfers. The same offences, whether committed in a shop in Antigua and Barbuda, at an electronic terminal or with respect
to a purchase of goods or services over the Internet, would apply in a similar manner. This Bill thus would close a gap which exists in
the law with respect to the use of credit cards and debit cards, including for transactions over the Internet, while facilitating the uptake
in Antigua and Barbuda of new methods of doing business, including electronic commerce (e-commerce) and mobile commerce (m-
commerce).
The application of the Bill, save for clause 19, would be limited to bank cards, credit cards or smart cards or other similar type of cards
used for purchasing anything of value and includes the number or data associated with such cards.
.
Clause 2 defines certain key words used in the Bill. Note that a card is defined to include the number or data associated with a card.
Clause 3 would make it a summary offence for a person to knowingly give false information to a financial institution to procure the
issuance of a card.
Clause 4 would make it an offence for a person to take possession of a card or the number and data of such a card from another
without consent or knowingly to receive a stolen card.
Clause 5 would make it an offence for a person to receive and retain a card or the number and data of a card knowing that
it was lost, mislaid or mistakenly delivered to him.
Clause 6 would make it an offence for a person to receive and retain possession of two or more cards belonging to
other persons whom he knew were taken or retained under clause 5.
Clause 7 would make it an offence for a person who is not an issuer to sell a card to or for a person to buy a card from
another person who is not an issuer.
Clause 8 would make it an offence for a person to obtain control of a card as security for a debt with intent to commit fraud.
Clause 9 would make it an offence for a person to make or to alter a card, create a presumption of intent to defraud if he has
possession a counterfeit card.
Clause 10 would make it an offence for a person knowingly to sign the card of another person.
Clause 11 would make it an offence for a person to obtain anything of value by use of a forged card or a card or the number
and data of a card obtained or retained fraudulently.
Clause 12 would make it an offence for a creditor to furnish goods and services on a card transaction, if he knew that the
card, or the number and data of a card, was obtained or retained fraudulently or illegally or was forged, expired or revoked, or
to represent to the issuer that he has furnished goods and services when in fact he has not done so.
Clause 13 would make it an offence for a person to knowingly receive goods and services obtained in breach of clause 12.
Clause 14 would provide that certain defences are not available for a prosecution under this Act, for which this is the Bill.
Clause 15 would make it an offence for a person knowingly to obtain anything of value by use of a false, fictitious,
counterfeit, revoked or expired card, card number or other credit device.
Clause 16 would make it an offence to traffic in counterfeit cards and create a presumption when three or more counterfeit
cards, invoices or card account numbers of another person are found in a person’s possession.
Clause 17 would make it an offence to receive, possess, buy or sell card-making equipment with intent to use it to make counterfeit
cards.
Clause 18 would make it an offence to alter a card invoice after the cardholder has signed that invoice.
Clause 19 would make it an offence to use the personal or financial data or credit account numbers of another to effect an electronic
funds transfer where such an offence is not otherwise provided for under this Act, for which this is the Bill.
Clause 20 would provide the territorial scope of offences under this Act, for which this is the Bill, whether the offender is a citizen or
not, provided, however, that he or the card, data and computer was in the Antigua and Barbuda at the material time, or damage
occurred within Antigua and Barbuda or the card involved was issued by a financial institution in Antigua and Barbuda.
Clause 21 would restrict the liability of a cardholder who has lost possession of his card to one hundred dollars.
Clause 22 would prevent a financial institution from disclosing the names of cardholders, their addresses and their card numbers to
any other person without the written consent of the cardholder, except disclosures to other financial institutions for credit rating
purposes only.
Clause 23 allows for the formation and use of clearing houses by financial institutions.
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Clause 24 is a general regulation making power.
Justin L. Simon, Q.C.
Attorney General and
Minister of Legal Affairs