---
kind: "section"
citation: "45 C.F.R. § 2508.18"
title: "45"
number: "2508.18"
heading: "What are the penalties for obtaining a record under false pretenses?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/45/2508.18"
---

# §2508.18. What are the penalties for obtaining a record under false pretenses?


The Privacy Act provides, in pertinent part that:

- (a) Any person who knowingly and willfully requests to obtain any record concerning an individual from the Corporation under false pretenses shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $5,000 ([5 U.S.C. 552a(I)(3)](/usc/5/552a.md?p=I-3)).
- (b) A person who falsely or fraudulently attempts to obtain records under the Privacy Act also may be subject to prosecution under such other criminal statutes as 18 U.S.C. [494](/usc/18/494.md), [495](/usc/18/495.md) and [1001](/usc/18/1001.md).

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552a; 42 U.S.C. 12501 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.

### Source

Source: 64 FR 19294, Apr. 20, 1999, unless otherwise noted.