Credit card fraud is a crime of deception. It occurs when someone pretends to be the cardholder and tricks a merchant (business, service provider, seller, etc.) into exchanging merchandise or rendering services while maintaining the belief that the credit card account will provide payment for services. Almost always the merchant eventually learns that they will not be paid, or the payment they received will be reclaimed by the card’s issuing bank because they have been the victim of credit card fraud. This is why most merchants are becoming more vigilant then ever when it comes to verifying credit card numbers.