Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-102
§1681q Obtaining Information Under False Pretenses
Title 15 › CHAPTER 41 — CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION › SUBCHAPTER III — CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES › § 1681q
Summary
Anyone who lies to get a consumer’s information from a consumer reporting agency can be fined under Title 18, jailed for up to 2 years, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §1681q
Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Any person who knowingly and willfully obtains information on a consumer from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Pub. L. 104–208 substituted “fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both” for “fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–208 effective 365 days after Sept. 30, 1996, with special rule for early compliance, see section 2420 of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1681a of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective upon the expiration of one hundred and eighty days following Oct. 26, 1970, see section 504(d) of Pub. L. 90–321, as added by Pub. L. 91–508, set out as a note under section 1681 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 1681q
Title 15, Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102