California Penal Code

§ 528.5

PEN § 528.5 Effective Jan 1, 2011Title 13 · Part 1 · Ch. 8

Statute text

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person who knowingly and without consent credibly impersonates another actual person through or on an Internet Web site or by other electronic means for purposes of harming, intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person is guilty of a public offense punishable pursuant to subdivision (d).

(b)For purposes of this section, an impersonation is credible if another person would reasonably believe, or did reasonably believe, that the defendant was or is the person who was impersonated.

(c)For purposes of this section, “electronic means” shall include opening an e-mail account or an account or profile on a social networking Internet Web site in another person’s name.

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Legislative history

Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 335, Sec. 1. (SB 1411) Effective January 1, 2011.