15 USC § 1681q - Obtaining information under false pretenses

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s1681q"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "15 USC § 1681q - Obtaining information under false pretenses"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
section_number: "1681q"
section_name: "Obtaining information under false pretenses"
chapter_number: 41
chapter_name: "CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 90–321, title VI, § 619, as added Pub. L. 91–508, title VI, § 601, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1134; amended Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title II, § 2415(a), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–450.)"
---


# § 1681q. Obtaining information under false pretenses

Any person who knowingly and willfully obtains information on a consumer from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 90–321, title VI, § 619, as added Pub. L. 91–508, title VI, § 601, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1134; amended Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title II, § 2415(a), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–450.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1996— substituted “fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both” for “fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Amendment by  effective 365 days after , with special rule for early compliance, see , set out as a note under .

### Effective Date

Section effective upon the expiration of one hundred and eighty days following , see , as added by , set out as a note under .