Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60
§915 Foreign Diplomats, Consuls or Officers
Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 43— FALSE PERSONATION › § 915
Summary
In the U.S., pretending to be an accredited foreign official to defraud, obtain money, papers, or valuables is punishable by a fine, up to 10 years' prison, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §915
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, with intent to defraud within the United States, falsely assumes or pretends to be a diplomatic, consular or other official of a foreign government duly accredited as such to the United States and acts as such, or in such pretended character, demands or obtains or attempts to obtain any money, paper, document, or other thing of value, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 232 of title 22, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Foreign Relations and Intercourse (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title VIII, § 2, 40 Stat. 226; Mar. 28, 1940, ch. 72, § 6, 54 Stat. 80). Reference to “jurisdiction” of the United States was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “United States” in section 5 of this title. Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative. Minor changes were made in phraseology.
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. § 915
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60