Credit Card

[callie3]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA
A person I know used another persons ssn to open a credit card. The person it was opened under is deceased and the credit card company found the person who opened the credit card and the credit card company wants to do a restitution and for the person to take over payments. Is there any other trouble the person can get in if they pay the debt back?

 

[ShyCat]

And if a bank robber returns the money, does that mean no crime was committed and the robber should walk free?

Restitution does not mean "no harm, no foul".

 

[FlyingRon]

Yep, if the amount spent on the card is more than $2000 it's a felony. Even if it is less than $2000, identiy theft is a first degree misdemeanor which is enough to screw you up pretty bad (it carries a federal firearms prohibition). What he can expect at the minimum is a lot of court costs (for the misdemeanor he can expect it to be about $2500) plus he'll get probation for a year or two plus he'll have to make restitution. This is nothing to sneeze at. I'd recommend he reimburse the bank before they get an inclination to report his criminal activity. If the police or the district attorney's office come knocking, decline to talk to them and get a lawyer fast.