Even though people can be anonymous online, it does not mean you can pretend to be someone you are not. There are instances where it’s perfectly legal to assume a fictional identity online. For example, you may use a profile name on social media that is not your legal name.
The question is whether it’s illegal to misrepresent yourself online, and if so, what are the penalties for doing so? The answer is not as straightforward as you may think. Technically, there are state and federal laws that prohibit this sort of behavior. However, the odds of the police banging your door down because you lied about your age on social media is slim.
The last thing anybody wants is to face criminal charges for impersonating someone on the internet. It makes sense to wonder what kind of trouble you can get into for misrepresenting yourself online.
Whether you’ll face jail time for lying about who you are online depends on the actual misrepresentations you make. Exaggerating how often you go to the gym on a social media account isn’t going to garner the same kind of attention from the authorities as claiming you’re a licensed attorney when you’re not.
The laws against fraudulent online impersonation exist to prevent people from committing fraud, identity theft, and similar crimes for financial gain. Law enforcement isn’t concerned about people lying about how much they weigh on a dating site or creating a fake profile on Instagram. While this may be hurtful to the person receiving false information, it isn’t a crime.
While pretending to be something you’re not on a social media platform may be morally wrong, it isn’t necessarily a crime. It is a crime, however, to misrepresent that you hold professional credentials or qualifications. For instance, the law requires that you hold specific licenses and qualifications to practice medicine or law. The unauthorized practice of either of these disciplines can result in criminal penalties.
The same is true if you misrepresent yourself as a public servant, such as a police officer or FBI agent. If you engage in this behavior, there is a good chance you’ll face jail time and fines. In many states, including California, it is illegal to impersonate an actual person online with the intent of harming, intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person.
If the person who receives the misrepresentation reasonably believes that the information or communication came from the actual person, you may face criminal and legal consequences.If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a criminal charge, immediately contact a Seattle Criminal Attorney. A Criminal lawyer is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makes mistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can help direct people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and many times even get them dismissed. So, it should go without saying that someone cited for a misdemeanor or felony should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon as possible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with a crime in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer. SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 359-3791 and/or (206) 441-0900.