<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73403</law_id><section_number>18.2-186.3</section_number><catch_line>Identity theft; penalty; restitution; victim assistance</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-152.5</reference><reference>18.2-152.5:1</reference><reference>18.2-186.3:1</reference><reference>18.2-186.4</reference><reference>18.2-186.5</reference><reference>18.2-59</reference><reference>19.2-327.15</reference><reference>19.2-349</reference><reference>19.2-70.3</reference><reference>19.2-8</reference><reference>2.2-2036</reference><reference>2.2-511</reference><reference>42.1-86.1</reference><reference>53.1-127.5</reference><reference>58.1-4018.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="6">Crimes Involving Fraud</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">False Representations to Obtain Property or Credit</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It shall be unlawful for any person, without the authorization or permission of the person or persons who are the subjects of the <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span>, with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to defraud, for his own use or the use of a third person, to: <a id="paragraph-264139" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Obtain, record, or access <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> which is not available to the general public that would assist in accessing financial resources, obtaining identification documents, or obtaining benefits of such other person; <a id="paragraph-264140" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Obtain money, credit, loans, goods, or services through the use of <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> of such other person; <a id="paragraph-264141" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Obtain identification documents in such other person&#x2019;s name; or <a id="paragraph-264142" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Obtain, record, or access <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> while impersonating a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer or an official of the government of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-264143" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It shall be unlawful for any person without the authorization or permission of the person who is the subject of the <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span>, with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to sell or distribute the information to another to: <a id="paragraph-264144" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Fraudulently obtain, record, or access <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> that is not available to the general public that would assist in accessing financial resources, obtaining identification documents, or obtaining benefits of such other person; <a id="paragraph-264145" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Obtain money, credit, loans, goods, or services through the use of <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> of such other person; <a id="paragraph-264146" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Obtain identification documents in such other person&#x2019;s name; or <a id="paragraph-264147" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Obtain, record, or access <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> while impersonating a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer or an official of the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-264148" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1"><p><span class="prefix-number">B1.</span> It shall be unlawful for any person to use identification documents or <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> of another person, whether that person is dead or alive, or of a false or fictitious person, to avoid <span class="dictionary">summons</span>, <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span>, or to impede a criminal investigation. <a id="paragraph-264149" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> As used in this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">identifying information</span>&#x201D; shall include but not be limited to: (i) name; (ii) date of birth; (iii) social security number; (iv) driver&#x2019;s license number; (v) bank account numbers; (vi) credit or debit card numbers; (vii) personal identification numbers (PIN); (viii) electronic identification codes; (ix) automated or electronic signatures; (x) biometric data; (xi) fingerprints; (xii) passwords; or (xiii) any other numbers or information that can be used to access a person&#x2019;s financial resources, obtain identification, act as identification, or obtain money, credit, loans, goods, or services. <a id="paragraph-264150" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Violations of this section shall be punishable as a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. Any violation resulting in financial loss of $1,000 or more shall be punishable as a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. Any second or subsequent <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> shall be punishable as a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. Any violation of subsection B where five or more persons&#x2019; <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> has been obtained, recorded, or accessed in the same transaction or occurrence shall be punishable as a Class 5 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. Any violation of subsection B where 50 or more persons&#x2019; <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> has been obtained, recorded, or accessed in the same transaction or occurrence shall be punishable as a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. Any violation resulting in the <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> and detention of the person whose identification documents or <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> were used to avoid <span class="dictionary">summons</span>, <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>, <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span>, or to impede a criminal investigation shall be punishable as a Class 5 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. In any proceeding brought pursuant to this section, the <span class="dictionary">crime</span> shall be considered to have been committed in any locality where the person whose <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> was appropriated resides, or in which any part of the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> took place, regardless of whether the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> was ever actually in such locality. <a id="paragraph-264151" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, in addition to any other punishment, a person found guilty of this <span class="dictionary">offense</span> shall be ordered by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to make <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> as the <span class="dictionary">court</span> deems appropriate to any person whose <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> was appropriated or to the estate of such person. Such <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> may include the person&#x2019;s or his estate&#x2019;s actual expenses associated with correcting inaccuracies or errors in his credit report or other <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span>. <a id="paragraph-264152" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Upon the request of a person whose <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span> was appropriated, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span> may provide assistance to the victim in obtaining information necessary to correct inaccuracies or errors in his credit report or other <span class="dictionary">identifying information</span>; however, no legal representation shall be afforded such person. <a id="paragraph-264153" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-186.3/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2000, c. 349; 2001, c. 423; 2003, cc. 847, 914, 918; 2004, c. 450; 2006, cc. 455, 496; 2007, c. 441; 2009, cc. 314, 380; 2013, cc. 420, 466; 2018, cc. 764, 765; 2020, cc. 89, 401.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
