Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 80 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 35, 35 Stat. 1095; Oct. 23, 1918, ch. 194, 40 Stat. 1015; June 18, 1934, ch. 587, 48 Stat. 996; Apr. 4, 1938, ch. 69, 52 Stat. 197).
Section 80 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., was divided into two parts. The provision relating to false claims was incorporated in
section 287 of this title. Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in
section 2 of this title. Words “or any corporation in which the United States of America is a stockholder” in said
section 80 were omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “agency” in
section 6 of this title. In addition to minor changes of phraseology, the maximum term of imprisonment was changed from 10 to 5 years to be consistent with comparable sections. (See reviser’s note under
section 287 of this title.)
Amendments
2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–248 inserted last sentence in concluding provisions. 2004—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–458 substituted “be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in
section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both” for “be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both” in concluding provisions. 1996—Pub. L. 104–292 reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of any department or agency of the United States knowingly and willfully falsifies, conceals or covers up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact, or makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statements or representations, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.” 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Reference to United States magistrate or to magistrate deemed to refer to United States magistrate judge pursuant to
section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under
section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Short Title
of 2004 Amendment Pub. L. 108–275, § 1, July 15, 2004, 118 Stat. 831, provided that: “This Act [enacting
section 1028A of this title, amending
section 641 and
1028 of this title, and enacting provisions listed in a table relating to sentencing guidelines set out as a note under
section 994 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act’.”
Short Title
of 2003 Amendment Pub. L. 108–21, title VI, § 607(a), Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 689, provided that: “This section [amending
section 1028 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Secure Authentication Feature and Enhanced Identification Defense Act of 2003’ or ‘SAFE ID Act’.”
Short Title
of 2000 Amendment Pub. L. 106–578, § 1, Dec. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 3075, provided that: “This Act [amending
section 1028 of this title, repealing
section 1738 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under
section 1028 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Internet False Identification Prevention Act of 2000’.”
Short Title
of 1998
Amendments
Pub. L. 105–318, § 1, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 3007, provided that: “This Act [amending
section 982, 1028, and 2516 of this title and
section 105 of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Pub. L. 95–521, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and enacting provisions set out as notes under
section 1028 of this title and
section 994 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998’.” Pub. L. 105–172, § 1, Apr. 24, 1998, 112 Stat. 53, provided that: “This Act [amending
section 1029 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under
section 994 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Wireless Telephone Protection Act’.”
Short Title
of 1996 Amendment Pub. L. 104–292, § 1, Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3459, provided that: “This Act [amending this section,
section 1515 and
6005 of this title, and
section 1365 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘False Statements Accountability Act of 1996’.”
Short Title
of 1994 Amendment Pub. L. 103–322, title XXIX, § 290001(a), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2097, as amended by Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(34), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3508, provided that: “This section [amending
section 1030 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Computer Abuse
Amendments
Act of 1994’.”
Short Title
of 1990 Amendment Pub. L. 101–647, title XXV, § 2500, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4859, provided that: “This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Comprehensive Thrift and Bank Fraud Prosecution and Taxpayer Recovery Act of 1990’.”
Short Title
of 1989 Amendment Pub. L. 101–123, § 1, Oct. 23, 1989, 103 Stat. 759, provided that: “This Act [amending
section 1031 of this title, repealing
section 293 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under
section 293 and
1031 of this title, and repealing provisions set out as a note under
section 293 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Major Fraud Act
Amendments
of 1989’.”
Short Title
of 1988 Amendment Pub. L. 100–700, § 1, Nov. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 4631, provided that: “This Act [enacting
section 293 and
1031 of this title and
section 256 of Title 41, Public Contracts, amending
section 2324 of Title 10, Armed Forces, and
section 3730 of Title 31, Money and Finance, enacting provisions set out as notes under
section 293 and
1031 of this title,
section 2324 of Title 10, and
section 522 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and repealing provisions set out as a note under
section 2324 of Title 10] may be cited as the ‘Major Fraud Act of 1988’.”
Short Title
of 1986 Amendment Pub. L. 99–474, § 1, Oct. 16, 1986, 100 Stat. 1213, provided that: “This Act [amending
section 1030 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986’.”
Short Title
of 1984 Amendment Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 1601, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2183, provided that: “This chapter [chapter XVI (§§ 1601–1603) of title II of Pub. L. 98–473, enacting
section 1029 of this title and provisions set out as a note under
section 1029 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Credit Card Fraud Act of 1984’.” Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 2101, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2190, provided that: “This chapter [chapter XXI (§§ 2101–2103) of title II of Pub. L. 98–473, enacting
section 1030 of this title and provisions set out as a note under
section 1030 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Counterfeit Access Device and Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1984’.”
Short Title
of 1982 Amendment Pub. L. 97–398, § 1, Dec. 31, 1982, 96 Stat. 2009, provided: “That this Act [enacting
section 1028 and
1738 of this title and amending
section 3001 of Title 39, Postal Service] may be cited as the ‘False Identification Crime Control Act of 1982’.”