{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "190.25", "citation": "Penal Law § 190.25", "heading": "Criminal impersonation in the second degree", "text": ["§ 190.25 Criminal impersonation in the second degree.", "A person is guilty of criminal impersonation in the second degree when he:", "1. Impersonates another and does an act in such assumed character with intent to obtain a benefit or to injure or defraud another; or", "2. Pretends to be a representative of some person or organization and does an act in such pretended capacity with intent to obtain a benefit or to injure or defraud another; or", "3. (a) Pretends to be a public servant, or wears or displays without authority any uniform, badge, insignia or facsimile thereof by which such public servant is lawfully distinguished, or falsely expresses by his words or actions that he is a public servant or is acting with approval or authority of a public agency or department; and (b) so acts with intent to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority, to solicit funds or to otherwise cause another to act in reliance upon that pretense; or", "4. Impersonates another by communication by internet website or electronic means with intent to obtain a benefit or injure or defraud another, or by such communication pretends to be a public servant in order to induce another to submit to such authority or act in reliance on such pretense; or", "5. Impersonates another person, without such other person's permission, by using the other person's electronic signature with intent to obtain a benefit or injure or defraud the other person or another person. For the purposes of this subdivision, electronic signature shall have the same meaning as set forth in subdivision three of section three hundred two of the state technology law.", "Criminal impersonation in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/190.25", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "A person commits second-degree criminal impersonation by:\n- **(1)** impersonating someone and acting as that person to **obtain a benefit or injure or defraud**;\n- **(2)** falsely claiming to represent a person or organization and acting for the same purpose;\n- **(3)** falsely claiming public authority, or using its uniform or insignia, to make another person submit, give funds, or rely on the pretense;\n- **(4)** impersonating someone online or electronically to obtain a benefit, injure, or defraud, or posing there as a public servant to induce submission or reliance; or\n- **(5)** using another person’s **electronic signature without permission** to obtain a benefit, injure, or defraud. ★\nIt is a **class A misdemeanor**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/190.25", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}