Table of Contents
Is lying about your last name illegal?
Lying to protect your anonymity is not illegal. If you lie to protect your identity, that’s not illegal. But when you lie for personal gain, then you are committing fraud, even if the fraud might not be prosecuted.
What happens if you lie about your name?
If you are questioned by the police or arrested, you might be tempted to give the officers a fake name instead of your own. But if you actually do give them false identifying information, you can be charged with false identification to law enforcement authorities and you will risk years in prison and heavy fines.
Can you have a legal alias name?
An alias is a name other than the legal one of a person that can be used for many different reasons. Generally, a person is entitled to using an alias if they choose to do so. However, most legal documents that require proof or validity of identity may be necessary and often a legal name change is also legally needed.
Is lying about your name a crime?
It is a crime to lie about your identity to a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop or while being placed under arrest. Filing a false police report is also a crime. The most serious offense, however, is perjury, which can be a felony.
Is it OK to have an alias?
Using an alias or fictitious characters in business is a common practice. Using an alias or pseudonym is generally fine, as long as within the intrinsic nature of the alias there’s no false or misleading information, mentioned or implied, meant to induce the consumer to buy based on that information.
Is it legal to use a false name for writing?
However, you can use a false name if there is no illicit purpose behind it. Dr Suess was a fake name of Theodor Seuss Geisel – he used the name to write his books. Many authors use fake or ‘pen’ names.
Is it illegal to use a false name to defraud someone?
On the other hand, if I contact the wealthy billionaire, Harry Hoople Henderson, claim to be Henry Hoople Henderson, a shirttail relative of his, and ask for a loan of $120,000 for my college education, It is generally against the law everywhere to use a false name with the intent to defraud someone.
Is it legal for actors to use fake names?
Many authors use fake or ‘pen’ names. Cary Grant’s real name was Archibald Alec Leach, Bob Hopes real name was Leslie Towns “Bob” Hope, Rock Hudson’s real name was Roy Harold Scherer Jr. Many actors choose another name during their career. As long as there is no fraud attempted, its fine.
Why is it so common to use your legal name?
The only reason it’s more common to use your legal name is because facebook and google made big pushes to make people use their legal names, and now other sites are hanging off their coat tails.