8.90 Access Devices—Defined

8.90 ACCESS DEVICE—DEFINED
(18 U.S.C. § 1029)

An “access device” means any card, plate, code, account number, electronic serial number, mobile identification number, personal identification number, or other telecommunications service, equipment, or instrument identifier, or other means of account access, that can be used alone or in conjunction with another access device, to obtain money, goods, services, or any other thing of value, or that can be used to initiate a transfer of funds (other than a transfer originated solely by paper instrument).

Comment

            18 U.S.C. § 1029(e)(1) contains the definition of what constitutes an “access device.”  See also United States v. Gainza, 982 F.3d 762, 764 (9th Cir. 2020) (“The term ‘access device’ includes the information needed to access funds from a debit or credit card, such as the account number and the PIN.”).  Use this instruction in conjunction with Instructions 8.84 to 8.89. 

Approved 3/2021