When Someone Uses Your Name
N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17 — impersonation and theft of identity, graded by benefit and victims
In New Jersey, by any means including online, impersonating another or assuming a false identity to get a benefit or to injure or defraud someone, or using another person's identifying information without authorization to get a benefit or services, avoid a debt, or avoid prosecution in their name, is a crime.
| The benefit, or the victims | The degree |
|---|---|
| The benefit, or the victimsLess than $500, one victim | The degreeFourth degree, and third for a second conviction |
| The benefit, or the victims$500 to less than $75,000, or two to four victims | The degreeThird degree |
| The benefit, or the victims$75,000 or more, or five or more victims | The degreeSecond degree |
The sentencing court orders any public record or government document with false information from the theft corrected. Using someone's ID only to buy alcohol, tobacco or cannabis under 21, with no further fraud, is outside this section.
Sources for this section (1)
- N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17 — Impersonation; theft of identity; crime
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New Jersey attorney.