Legalities of "Account & Gift Card Checking" in comparison to other illicit actions?

[Wage]

I am curious, and therefore looking to do research on the penalties if (somehow) arrested in relation to account or gift card checking. What are the crimes considered under the law? How would these compare in relation to something such as credit card fraud (carding), or warranty fraud (social engineering)? I am looking to base it primarily on the United States justice system, however I would be happy to learn or research into any country regarding this topic.

 

Perhaps someone may be able to contribute any articles related to an arrest or sentencing of someone inside of this community or scene?

[AngelDustSlave]

It's a special type of bruteforce hacking, so I think it counts as hacking. For gift cards I do not know if it's legal or not.

[Wage]

It's a special type of bruteforce hacking, so I think it counts as hacking. For gift cards I do not know if it's legal or not.

 

Neither form is considered legal, was just interested in the penalties.

[tabgui]

I’ve never heard of anybody getting prosecuted for “hacking”. Personally I was threatened by companies that they would report it to my local police but it was simply a bluff. The closest I heard to someone getting in trouble was in Canada in which someone got arrested for using $1000 cracked gift cards.

[Griffen294]

Nice