Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§914 Creditors of the United States
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 43— - FALSE PERSONATION › § 914
Summary
Makes it a crime to pretend to be someone who owns U.S. public stock or who is entitled to U.S. payments (like annuities, dividends, pensions, wages) and then try to transfer that stock or collect their money. The offense can be punished by a federal fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §914
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever falsely personates any true and lawful holder of any share or sum in the public stocks or debt of the United States, or any person entitled to any annuity, dividend, pension, wages, or other debt due from the United States, and, under color of such false personation, transfers or endeavors to transfer such public stock or any part thereof, or receives or endeavors to receive the money of such true and lawful holder thereof, or the money of any person really entitled to receive such annuity, dividend, pension, wages, or other debt, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 78 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 33, 35 Stat. 1095). Words “prize money” after “pension” were deleted as repealed by act Mar. 3, 1899, ch. 413, 30 Stat. 1007, repealing all laws authorizing prize money distribution. Mandatory punishment was rephrased in the alternative. In the punishment provision the words “five years” were substituted for “ten years” to harmonize it with the punishment provisions in section 287 and 1001 of this title, covering similar offenses. (See reviser’s note under section 287 of this title.)
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 914
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73