New Jersey § 2c:21-17

§ 2c:21-17.

Impersonation; Theft of identity; crime. a. A person is guilty of a crime if the person engages in one or more of the following

actions by any means including, but not limited to, the use of electronic communications

or an Internet website: (1) Impersonates another or assumes a false identity and does an act in such assumed

character or false identity for the purpose of obtaining a benefit for himself or

another or to injure or defraud another; (2) Pretends to be a representative of some person or organization and does an act

in such pretended capacity for the purpose of obtaining a benefit for himself or another

or to injure or defraud another; (3) Impersonates another, assumes a false identity or makes a false or misleading

statement regarding the identity of any person, in an oral or written application

for services, for the purpose of obtaining services; (4) Obtains any personal identifying information pertaining to another person and

uses that information, or assists another person in using the information, in order

to assume the identity of or represent himself as another person, without that person's

authorization and with the purpose to fraudulently obtain or attempt to obtain a benefit

or services, or avoid the payment of debt or other legal obligation or avoid prosecution

for a crime by using the name of the other person; or (5) Impersonates another, assumes a false identity or makes a false or misleading

statement, in the course of making an oral or written application for services, with

the purpose of avoiding payment for prior services. Purpose to avoid payment for prior services may be presumed upon proof that the

person has not made full payment for prior services and has impersonated another,

assumed a false identity or made a false or misleading statement regarding the identity

of any person in the course of making oral or written application for services. As used in this section: “ Benefit ” means, but is not limited to, any property, any pecuniary amount, any services,

any pecuniary amount sought to be avoided or any injury or harm perpetrated on another

where there is no pecuniary value. b. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2005, c. 224 ). c. A person who violates subsection a. of this section is guilty of a crime as follows: (1) If the actor obtains a benefit or deprives another of a benefit in an amount less

than $500 and the offense involves the identity of one victim, the actor shall be

guilty of a crime of the fourth degree except that a second or subsequent conviction

for such an offense constitutes a crime of the third degree; or (2) If the actor obtains a benefit or deprives another of a benefit in an amount of

at least $500 but less than $75,000, or the offense involves the identity of at least

two but less than five victims, the actor shall be guilty of a crime of the third

degree; or (3) If the actor obtains a benefit or deprives another of a benefit in the amount

of $75,000 or more, or the offense involves the identity of five or more victims,

the actor shall be guilty of a crime of the second degree. d. A violation of N.J.S.2C:28-7 , constituting a disorderly persons offense, section 1 of P.L.1979, c. 264 ( C.2C:33-15 ), section 64 of P.L.2021, c. 16 ( C.2C:35-10d ), R.S.33:1-81 or section 6 of P.L.1968, c. 313 ( C.33:1-81.7 ) in a case where the person uses the personal identifying information of another

to illegally purchase an alcoholic beverage or for using the personal identifying

information of another to misrepresent the person's age for the purpose of obtaining

tobacco , any cannabis item, or other consumer product denied to persons under 21 years of age shall not constitute an offense under this section if the actor received only that benefit

or service and did not perpetrate or attempt to perpetrate any additional injury or

fraud on another. e. The sentencing court shall issue such orders as are necessary to correct any public

record or government document that contains false information as a result of a theft

of identity. The sentencing court may provide restitution to the victim in accordance with the

provisions of section 4 of P.L.2002, c. 85 ( C.2C:21-17.1 ).