Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in New York

Disputed credit card charges

Recently I have discovered that one of my relatives who was paying my credit card balance while I was in school was actually using the credit card on their own. Approx 95% (two large payments) of the outstanding balance is based on charges they incurred. It did not come to my attention until recently that they had done this. The charges occurred 3-4 years ago and the bills were going to my relative's address not mine, so I never got a chance to see the statement. Now the credit card is in collections and I am being told that I am the sole signer on the account, even though I never applied for the card. While it is true I had a copy of the card I was told by my relative that it was merely an extra card on their account that I could use in case of emergencies and they sent the card to me. The credit card company is telling me since I had possession of the card (or at least one of them) that I am liable for the full amount. I don't mind paying for my own charges, but should I be paying for charges I never incurred or authorized? This same relative opened up other credit card accounts in my name and maxed them out and I never even knew those cards existed until they went into collections. Do I have any options or am I on the hook?

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