Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§1342 Fictitious Name or Address
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 63 — MAIL FRAUD AND OTHER FRAUD OFFENSES › § 1342
Summary
Using a fake or assumed name, title, or address to run a scheme listed in section 1341 or any other illegal business through the Postal Service is a federal crime. That includes asking to be addressed by a false name or receiving mail sent to a fake name or address. You can be fined under federal law, jailed for up to five years, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §1342
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, for the purpose of conducting, promoting, or carrying on by means of the Postal Service, any scheme or device mentioned in section 1341 of this title or any other unlawful business, uses or assumes, or requests to be addressed by, any fictitious, false, or assumed title, name, or address or name other than his own proper name, or takes or receives from any post office or authorized depository of mail matter, any letter, postal card, package, or other mail matter addressed to any such fictitious, false, or assumed title, name, or address, or name other than his own proper name, 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., § 339 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 216, 35 Stat. 1131). The punishment language used in section 1341 of this title was substituted in lieu of the reference to it in this section. Minor changes in phraseology were made.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”. 1970—Pub. L. 91–375 substituted “Postal Service” for “Post Office Department of the United States”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1970 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–375 effective within 1 year after Aug. 12, 1970, on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as an
Effective Date
note preceding section 101 of Title 39, Postal Service.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 1342
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102