New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 190.25 — Criminal impersonation in the second degree
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 190: Other Frauds, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 190.25
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
190.25 Criminal impersonation in the second degree.
A person is guilty of criminal impersonation in the second degree when
he:
1. Impersonates another and does an act in such assumed character with
intent to obtain a benefit or to injure or defraud another; or
2. Pretends to be a representative of some person or organization and
does an act in such pretended capacity with intent to obtain a benefit
or to injure or defraud another; or
3. (a) Pretends to be a public servant, or wears or displays without
authority any uniform, badge, insignia or facsimile thereof by which
such public servant is lawfully distinguished, or falsely expresses by
his words or actions that he is a public servant or is acting with
approval or authority of a public agency or department; and (b) so acts
with intent to induce another to submit to such pretended official
authority, to solicit funds or to otherwise cause another to act in
reliance upon that pretense; or
4. Impersonates another by communication by internet website or
electronic means with intent to obtain a benefit or injure or defraud
another, or by such communication pretends to be a public servant in
order to induce another to submit to such authority or act in reliance
on such pretense; or
5. Impersonates another person, without such other person's
permission, by using the other person's electronic signature with intent
to obtain a benefit or injure or defraud the other person or another
person. For the purposes of this subdivision, electronic signature shall
have the same meaning as set forth in subdivision three of section three
hundred two of the state technology law.
Criminal impersonation in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.