---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 495"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "495"
heading: "Contracts, deeds, and powers of attorney"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/495"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 25 — Counterfeiting and Forgery"
---

# §495. Contracts, deeds, and powers of attorney


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) falsely makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits any deed, power of attorney, order, certificate, receipt, contract, or other writing, for the purpose of obtaining or receiving, or of enabling any other [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), either directly or indirectly, to obtain or receive from the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) or any [officers](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) or agents thereof, any sum of money; or

[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) utters or publishes as true any such false, forged, altered, or counterfeited writing, with intent to defraud the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), knowing the same to be false, altered, forged, or counterfeited; or

[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) transmits to, or presents at any office or [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), any such writing in support of, or in relation to, any account or claim, with intent to defraud the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), knowing the same to be false, altered, forged, or counterfeited—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.


## Source credit

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 711; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 73 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 29, 35 Stat. 1094).

Reference in first paragraph to persons causing, procuring, aiding or assisting was omitted as unnecessary as such persons are made principals by section 2 of this title.

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Changes were made in phraseology.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.