N.Y. Penal Law Section 190.25
Criminal impersonation in the second degree

A person is guilty of criminal impersonation in the second degree when he:

1.

Impersonates another and does an act in such assumed character with intent to obtain a benefit or to injure or defraud another; or

2.

Pretends to be a representative of some person or organization and does an act in such pretended capacity with intent to obtain a benefit or to injure or defraud another; or

3.

(a) Pretends to be a public servant, or wears or displays without authority any uniform, badge, insignia or facsimile thereof by which such public servant is lawfully distinguished, or falsely expresses by his words or actions that he is a public servant or is acting with approval or authority of a public agency or department; and

(b)

so acts with intent to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority, to solicit funds or to otherwise cause another to act in reliance upon that pretense; or

4.

Impersonates another by communication by internet website or electronic means with intent to obtain a benefit or injure or defraud another, or by such communication pretends to be a public servant in order to induce another to submit to such authority or act in reliance on such pretense; or

5.

Impersonates another person, without such other person’s permission, by using the other person’s electronic signature with intent to obtain a benefit or injure or defraud the other person or another person. For the purposes of this subdivision, electronic signature shall have the same meaning as set forth in subdivision three of State Technology Law § 302 (Definitions)section three hundred two of the state technology law. Criminal impersonation in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.

Source: Section 190.25 — Criminal impersonation in the second degree, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/PEN/190.­25 (updated Dec. 31, 2021; accessed Dec. 13, 2025).

190.00
Issuing a bad check 190.05
Issuing a bad check 190.10
Issuing a bad check 190.15
Issuing a bad check 190.20
False advertising 190.23
False personation 190.25
Criminal impersonation in the second degree 190.26
Criminal impersonation in the first degree 190.27
Criminal sale of a police uniform 190.30
Unlawfully concealing a will 190.35
Misconduct by corporate official 190.40
Criminal usury in the second degree 190.42
Criminal usury in the first degree 190.45
Possession of usurious loan records 190.50
Unlawful collection practices 190.55
Making a false statement of credit terms 190.60
Scheme to defraud in the second degree 190.65
Scheme to defraud in the first degree 190.70
Scheme to defraud the state by unlawfully selling prescriptions 190.72
Unauthorized radio transmission 190.75
Criminal use of an access device in the second degree 190.76
Criminal use of an access device in the first degree 190.77
Offenses involving theft of identity 190.78
Identity theft in the third degree 190.79
Identity theft in the second degree 190.80
Identity theft in the first degree 190.80–A
Aggravated identity theft 190.81
Unlawful possession of personal identification information in the third degree 190.82
Unlawful possession of personal identification information in the second degree 190.83
Unlawful possession of personal identification information in the first degree 190.84
Defenses 190.85
Unlawful possession of a skimmer device in the second degree 190.86
Unlawful possession of a skimmer device in the first degree 190.87
Immigrant assistant services fraud in the second degree 190.89
Immigrant assistance services fraud in the first degree 190.90
Unlawful compensation in a veterans’ benefits matter
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Dec. 13, 2025

Last modified:
Dec. 31, 2021

§ 190.25. Crim. impersonation in the second degree's source at nysenate​.gov

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