Use of scanning device, skimming device, or reencoder to defraud; possession of skimming device; penalties.
F.S. 817.625
in effect(1)
As used in this section, the term:
(a)
“Merchant” means a person who receives from an authorized user of a payment card, or someone the person believes to be an authorized user, a payment card or information from a payment card, or what the person believes to be a payment card or information from a payment card, as the instrument for obtaining, purchasing, or receiving goods, services, money, or anything else of value from the person.
(b)
“Payment card” means a credit card, charge card, debit card, or any other card that is issued to an authorized card user and that allows the user to obtain, purchase, or receive goods, services, money, or anything else of value from a merchant.
(c)
“Reencoder” means an electronic device that places encoded information from the computer chip, magnetic strip or stripe, or other storage mechanism of a payment card onto the computer chip, magnetic strip or stripe, or other storage mechanism of a different payment card. The term does not include a skimming device.
(d)
“Scanning device” means a scanner, reader, or any other electronic device that may be used to access, read, scan, obtain, memorize, or store, temporarily or permanently, information encoded on the computer chip, magnetic strip or stripe, or other storage mechanism of a payment card or from another device that directly reads the information from a payment card. The term does not include a skimming device.
(e)
“Skimming device” means a self-contained device that:
1.
Is designed to read and store in the device’s internal memory information encoded on the computer chip, magnetic strip or stripe, or other storage mechanism of a payment card or from another device that directly reads the information from a payment card; and
2.
Is incapable of processing the payment card information for the purpose of obtaining, purchasing, or receiving goods, services, money, or anything else of value from a merchant.
(2)(a)
It is a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, for a person to use:
1.
A scanning device or skimming device to access, read, obtain, memorize, or store, temporarily or permanently, information encoded on the computer chip, magnetic strip or stripe, or other storage mechanism of a payment card without the permission of the authorized user of the payment card and with the intent to defraud the authorized user, the issuer of the authorized user’s payment card, or a merchant.
2.
A reencoder to place information encoded on the computer chip, magnetic strip or stripe, or other storage mechanism of a payment card onto the computer chip, magnetic strip or stripe, or other storage mechanism of a different card without the permission of the authorized user of the card from which the information is being reencoded and with the intent to defraud the authorized user, the issuer of the authorized user’s payment card, or a merchant.
(b)
A person who violates subparagraph (a)1. or subparagraph (a)2. a second or subsequent time commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(c)
It is a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, for a person to knowingly possess, sell, or deliver a skimming device. This paragraph does not apply to the following individuals while acting within the scope of their official duties:
1.
An employee, officer, or agent of:
a.
A law enforcement agency or criminal prosecuting authority for the state or the Federal Government;
b.
The state courts system as defined in s. 25.382 or the federal court system; or
c.
An executive branch agency in this state.
2.
A financial or retail security investigator employed by a merchant.
(d)
A person who commits a violation of this subsection shall also be subject to ss. 932.701-932.7062.
Source: FL Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/Chapter817/AllFetched: 7/8/2026