18 USC § 1342 - Fictitious name or address

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1342"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1342 - Fictitious name or address"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1342"
section_name: "Fictitious name or address"
chapter_number: 63
chapter_name: "MAIL FRAUD AND OTHER FRAUD OFFENSES"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 763; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(12), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)"
---


# § 1342. Fictitious name or address

section 1341 of this title

Whoever, for the purpose of conducting, promoting, or carrying on by means of the Postal Service, any scheme or device mentioned in  or any other unlawful business, uses or assumes, or requests to be addressed by, any fictitious, false, or assumed title, name, or address or name other than his own proper name, or takes or receives from any post office or authorized depository of mail matter, any letter, postal card, package, or other mail matter addressed to any such fictitious, false, or assumed title, name, or address, or name other than his own proper name, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 763; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(j)(12), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 778; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 339 (, ).

The punishment language used in  was substituted in lieu of the reference to it in this section.

Minor changes in phraseology were made.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.

1970— substituted “Postal Service” for “Post Office Department of the United States”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Amendment by  effective within 1 year after , on date established therefor by Board of Governors of United States Postal Service and published by it in Federal Register, see , set out as an Effective Date note preceding , Postal Service.