View source for Identity Fraud (Offence)

{{LevelZero}}{{HeaderOffences}}

{{OffenceBox |OffenceTitle=Identity Fraud |OffencePage=Identity Fraud |Section=403 |Act={{OBCCC}} |CrownElection={{OBHybridElection}} |Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll}}|Bail={{OBBailAll}}|SummaryDisp={{OBDispAll}}  |SummaryMin= {{OBMinNone}}|SummaryMax= {{OBSConviction}} |IndictableDisp={{OBDispSame}} |IndictableMin= {{OBMinNone}}|IndictableMax= {{OBTime|10 years}} }}

==Overview==
{{OverviewX|identity fraud}}

'''Pleadings'''<br>
{{PleadingsHeader}}
{{PleadingsHybridList|s. 403 [identity fraud] | Yes | {{YesIfCrown}} }} 
{{PleadingsEnd}}

{{PleadingsHybridElection|s. 403}}

'''Release'''<Br>
{{ReleaseAllOptions|s. 403}}

{{ReverseOnusCirc}}

'''Publication Bans'''<br>
{{GeneralPubBan}}

'''Offence Designations'''<br>
{{WiretapDesignation|s. 403}}

{{SeeBelowForAncillary}}

==Offence Wording==
{{quotation|
'''Identity fraud'''<br>
403. (1) Everyone commits an offence who fraudulently personates another person, living or dead,
:(a) with intent to gain advantage for themselves or another person;
:(b) with intent to obtain any property or an interest in any property;
:(c) with intent to cause disadvantage to the person being personated or another person; or
:(d) with intent to avoid arrest or prosecution or to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice.<br>

'''Clarification'''<br>
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), personating a person includes pretending to be the person or using the person’s identity information — whether by itself or in combination with identity information pertaining to any person — as if it pertains to the person using it.
<br>
'''Punishment'''<br>
(3) Everyone who commits an offence under subsection (1)
:(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years; or
:(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 403; 1994, c. 44, s. 27; 2009, c. 28, s. 10.
|[http://www.canlii.ca/t/7vf2#sec403 CCC]
}}

==Proof of the Offence==
{{ElementHeader}}
{{ElementLeft}}

{{Proving|identity fraud|403(1)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# the culprit personated another person, including "pretending to be the person or using the person’s identity information"
# the other person was either living or dead
# the personation was in a "fraudulent" manner
# the personation was with the intent to do any of the following:
##to "gain advantage for themselves or another person";
##to "obtain any property or an interest in any property";
##to "cause disadvantage to the person being personated or another person"; or
##to "avoid arrest or prosecution or to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice."

{{ElementEnd}}

==Interpretation of the Offence==

'''Purpose'''<br>
The purpose of the offence is "to prevent individuals from assuming the identity of someone else with the intention of gaining an advantage which the individual would not otherwise be enabled to obtain."<ref>
R v Boyle, [http://canlii.ca/t/1m1sx 2005 BCCA 537] (CanLII){{perBCCA|Hall JA}}, at para 5<br>
</ref>

'''Fictitious Identities'''<Br>
This offence does not include impersonations that involve the use of fictious identities.<Ref>
R v Northrup (1982) 1 CCC (3d) 210, [http://canlii.ca/t/gbflk 1982 CanLII 3710] (NB CA){{perNBCA|Angers JA}}<br>
R v Westerdahl (1988) 82 N.S.R. (2d) 178{{NOCANLII}}<br>
R v Carew, [http://canlii.ca/t/1df24 1992 CanLII 1530] (BC SC){{perBCSC|Shaw J}}<br>
</ref>

'''"Fraudulently"'''<br>
The word "fraudulently" refers to dishonest or morally wrong conduct.<Ref>
R v DeMarco (1973), 13 CCC (2d) 369 (Ont. C.A.), [http://canlii.ca/t/hv028 1973 CanLII 1542] (ON CA){{perONCA|Martin JA}}<br>
R v Anderson, [http://canlii.ca/t/gcnjx 1991 CanLII 7831] (SK QB){{perSKQB|Baynton J}} at para 7<br>
</reF>

'''Advantage'''<br>
The meaning of "advantage" is broad. It can include simply benefiting from the ability to disguise one's past.<ref>
{{supra1|Boyle}}
</ref>
It is not limited to financial benefit.<Ref>
R v Hetsberger (1980), 51 CCC (2d) 257 (Ont. C.A.), [http://canlii.ca/t/gc3gb 1980 CanLII 2986] (ON CA){{perONCA|Blair JA}}<br>
</ref>

It can include avoidance of arrest<Ref>
{{supra1|Northrup}}<br>
R v Rozon (1974), 28 CRNS 232 (Que. C.A.){{NOCANLII}} <br>
</ref>, escape from detection<Ref>
R v Marsh (1975), 31 CRNS 232 (Ont. C.C.) {{NOCANLII}}
</ref>

'''Identity Information'''<br>
{{quotation|
'''Definition of “identity information”'''<br>
402.1 For the purposes of sections 402.2 and 403, “identity information” means any information — including biological or physiological information — of a type that is commonly used alone or in combination with other information to identify or purport to identify an individual, including a fingerprint, voice print, retina image, iris image, DNA profile, name, address, date of birth, written signature, electronic signature, digital signature, user name, credit card number, debit card number, financial institution account number, passport number, Social Insurance Number, health insurance number, driver’s licence number or password.
<br>
2009, c. 28, s. 10.
|[http://canlii.ca/t/7vf2#sec402.1 CCC]
}}

{{reflist|2}}

==Participation of Third Parties==
{{seealso|Role of the Victim and Third Parties|Testimonial Aids for Young, Disabled or Vulnerable Witnesses}}

'''Testimonial Aids'''<br>
{{3rdPTestimonyAids}}

'''On Finding of Guilt'''<br>

{{606Notice5Y|s. 403}}

{{RestitutionNotice}}

{{VISNotice}}

==Sentencing Principles and Ranges==
{{seealsoSentencing}}

'''Maximum Penalties'''<br>
{{SProfileMaxHeader}}
{{SProfileMax|s. 403 [identity fraud]| Summary Election | {{summaryconviction}} }}
{{SProfileMax|s. 403 [identity fraud] | Indictable Election | 10 years custody }}
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{MaxPenaltyHybrid|s. 403|'''10 years incarceration'''|'''{{summaryconviction}}'''}}

'''Minimum Penalties'''<br>
{{NoMinimumPenalties}}

'''Available dispositions'''<br>
{{SProfileAvailHeader}}
|s. 403 || any || {{SProfileAll}}
|-
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{AllDispositionsAvailable}}

'''Consecutive Sentences'''<Br>
{{NoConsecutive}}

==Ancillary Sentencing Orders==
'''Offence-related Orders'''
{{AOrderHeader}}
|-
| [[DNA Orders]] ||s. 403 ||
* {{SecondDNA(AorB)Hybrid|s. 403}}
{{AOrderEnd}}

'''General Sentencing Orders'''
{{GeneralSentencingOrders}}

'''General Forfeiture Orders'''
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders}}

==History==
{{seealso|List of Criminal Code Amendments}}

===1994 to 2009===
{{quotation|
'''Personation with intent'''<br>
403. Every one who fraudulently personates any person, living or dead,
:(a) with intent to gain advantage for himself or another person,
:(b) with intent to obtain any property or an interest in any property, or
:(c) with intent to cause disadvantage to the person whom he personates or another person,

is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or an offence punishable on summary conviction.
<br>
R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 403; 1994, c. 44, s. 27.
|[http://canlii.ca/t/hzc3#sec403 CCC]
}}

==See Also==
* [[Identity Theft (Offence)]]
* [[Personating a Peace Officer (Offence)]]
'''References'''<br>
* [[Pre-Trial and Trial Motions Checklist]]

{{OffencesNavBar/Property}}

[[Category:Offences Punishable on Summary Conviction]]
[[Category:Offences with Maximum Penalty of 10 Years]]