---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 6102"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "6102"
heading: "Fraudulent acceptance of payments"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/6102"
units:
  - "Part IV — General Administrative Provisions"
  - "Chapter 61 — Penal and Forfeiture Provisions"
---

# §6102. Fraudulent acceptance of payments

- (a) Any person entitled to monetary benefits under any of the laws administered by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) whose right to payment thereof ceases upon the happening of any contingency, who thereafter fraudulently accepts any such payment, shall be fined in accordance with [title 18](/usc/18.md), or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
- (b) Whoever obtains or receives any money or check under any of the laws administered by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) without being entitled to it, and with intent to defraud the United States or any beneficiary of the United States, shall be fined in accordance with [title 18](/usc/18.md), or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1239, § 3502; renumbered § 6102, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102–54, § 14(d)(7), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 286; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 3502 of this title as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83 substituted “administered by the Secretary” for “administered by the Veterans’ Administration” in subsecs. (a) and (b).

Pub. L. 102–54 amended section as in effect immediately before the enactment of Pub. L. 102–40 by substituting “in accordance with title 18” for “not more than $2,000” in subsecs. (a) and (b).