Criminal impersonation is the act of pretending to be another person or representing oneself falsely with the intent to obtain a benefit, injure, defraud, or deceive another person. This can include assuming a false identity, pretending to be a representative of a person or organization, or impersonating a public servant such as a law enforcement officer. The impersonator performs acts in this assumed character to gain some advantage or cause harm
. Key elements of criminal impersonation include:
- Assuming a false or fictitious identity or legal capacity.
- Performing an act in that assumed character with the intent to obtain a benefit or to injure or defraud another.
- Pretending to be a public servant or official, sometimes involving the unauthorized use of uniforms, badges, or insignia.
- Using electronic devices to impersonate another person, which results in personal injury, financial loss, or legal consequences for the victim
Examples of criminal impersonation include posing as a police officer to gain access to restricted areas, pretending to be a doctor to write prescriptions, or using someone else's identity to obtain credit or financial benefits
. The offense is generally classified as a misdemeanor or felony depending on jurisdiction and circumstances. For instance, in Connecticut, criminal impersonation is a class A misdemeanor, while in Colorado it can be a class 6 felony
. In summary, criminal impersonation involves deceitfully adopting another's identity or role to unlawfully benefit oneself or harm others, often with serious legal consequences.
