View source for Identity Theft (Offence)

{{Currency2|May|2020}}
{{LevelOne}}{{HeaderOffences}}

{{OffenceBox 
|OffenceTitle=Identity Theft 
|OffencePage=Identity Theft 
|Section=402.2 
|Act={{OBCCC}} 
|CrownElection={{OBHybridElection}} 
|Jurisdiction={{OBJurisdictionAll-Under14}} 
|Bail={{OBBailAll}} 
|SummaryDisp= {{OBDispAll}} 
|SummaryMin= {{OBMinNone}} 
|SummaryMax= {{OBSConviction}} 
|IndictableDisp= {{OBDispSame}} 
|IndictableMin= {{OBMinNone}} 
|IndictableMax= {{OBTime|5 years}} }}

==Overview==
{{OverviewX|identity theft}}

; Pleadings
{{PleadingsHeader-N}}
{{PleadingsHybridList-N|s. 402.2(1) {{DescrSec|402.2(1)}} and <br>s. 402.2(2) {{DescrSec|402.2(2)}} | {{Yes}} | {{Yes-IfCrown}} | {{No-Under14}} }}
{{PleadingsEnd}}

{{PleadingsHybridElection-Under14|s. 402.2}}

; Release
{{ReleaseOptions-Hybrid|s. 402.2}}

:''<u>Reverse Onus Bail</u>''
{{ReverseOnusCirc}}

; Publication Bans
{{GeneralPubBan}}

; Offence Designations
{{DesignationHeader}}
|-
|s. 402.2(1) {{DescrSec|402.2(1)}} and <br>s. 402.2(2) {{DescrSec|402.2(2)}} || {{OKMark}} <!--wire--> || {{XMark}} <!--DO-->||{{XMark-Under10}} <!--SPIO--> || {{XMark}} <!--consent--> || {{XMark}}
{{DesignationEnd}}
{{WiretapDesignation|s. 402.2}}

{{SeeBelowForAncillary}}

==Offence Wording==
{{quotation2|
; Identity Theft and Identity Fraud
{{ellipsis}}
; Identity theft
402.‍2 (1) Every person commits an offence who obtains or possesses another person’s identity information with intent to use it to commit an indictable offence that includes fraud, deceit or falsehood as an element of the offence.
<br>
; Trafficking in identity information
(2) Everyone commits an offence who transmits, makes available, distributes, sells or offers for sale another person’s identity information, or has it in their possession for any of those purposes, knowing that or being reckless as to whether the information will be used to commit an indictable offence that includes fraud, deceit or falsehood as an element of the offence.
<br>
; Clarification
(3) For the purposes of subsections (1) {{AnnSec4|402.2(1)A}} and (2) {{AnnSec4|402.2(2)A}}, an indictable offence referred to in either of those subsections includes an offence under any of the following sections:
:(a) section 57 ([[Miscellaneous Offences Against Public Order|forgery of or uttering forged passport]]);
:(b) section 58 ([[Miscellaneous Offences Against Public Order|fraudulent use of certificate of citizenship]]);
:(c) section 130 ([[Personating a Peace Officer (Offence)|personating peace officer]]);
:(d) section 131 ([[Perjury (Offence)|perjury]]);
:(e) section 342 ([[Theft and Forgery of a Credit Card (Offence)|theft, forgery, etc., of credit card]]);
:(f) section 362 ([[Obtaining Property by False Pretences (Offence)|false pretence or false statement]]);
:(g) section 366 ([[Forgery (Offence)|forgery]]);
:(h) section 368 ([[Forgery (Offence)|use, trafficking or possession of forged document]]);
:(i) section 380 ([[Fraud (Offence)|fraud]]); and
:(j) section 403 ([[Identity Fraud (Offence)|identity fraud]]).<br>

; Jurisdiction
(4) An accused who is charged with an offence under subsection (1) {{AnnSec4|402.2(1)A}} or (2) {{AnnSec4|402.2(2)A}} may be tried and punished by any court having jurisdiction to try that offence in the place where the offence is alleged to have been committed or in the place where the accused is found, is arrested or is in custody. However, no proceeding in respect of the offence shall be commenced in a province without the consent of the Attorney General of that province if the offence is alleged to have been committed outside that province.
<br>
; Punishment
(5) Everyone who commits an offence under subsection (1) {{AnnSec4|402.2(1)A}} or (2) {{AnnSec4|402.2(2)A}}
:(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or
:(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.<br>

{{LegHistory00s|2009, c. 28}}, s. 10; 
{{LegHistory10s|2018, c. 29}}, s. 45.
{{Annotation}}
|{{CCCSec2|402.2}}
|{{NoteUp|402.2|1|2|3|4|5}}
}}

===Draft Form of Charges===
{{seealso|Draft Form of Charges}}
{{DraftHeader}}
|-
| 402.‍2(1)
| Identity theft
|"{{ellipsis1}}, did knowingly obtain or possess [name1]'s identity information [specifics] with intent to use it to commit an indictable offence, to wit: [name offence, e.g. fraud, theft of specific items, etc.] {{Contrary|402.2(1)}}."
|-
| 402.‍2(2)
| 
|"{{ellipsis1}}, did transmit, make available, distribute, sell, or offer to sell [name1]'s identity informioant [specifics] {{contrary|402.‍2(2)}}."

{{DraftEnd}}

==Proof of the Offence==
Sections 402.2 outlines two offences. 
{{ElementHeader}}
{{ElementLeft}}
{{Proving|Identity Theft|402.2(1)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit obtained or possessed another persons' identity information;
# {{box}} the circumstances of the act give rise "to a reasonable inference that the information [was] intended to be used to commit an indictable offence that includes fraud, deceit or falsehood as an element of the offence"
# {{box}} the culprit was aware of the circumstances that give rise to the inference.
# {{box}} the indictable offence was one or more of the following: 
## {{box}} section 57 (forgery of or uttering forged passport);
## {{box}} section 58 (fraudulent use of certificate of citizenship);
## {{box}} section 130 (personating peace officer);
## {{box}} section 131 (perjury);
## {{box}} section 342 (theft, forgery, etc., of credit card);
## {{box}} section 362 (false pretence or false statement);
## {{box}} section 366 (forgery);
## {{box}} section 368 (use, trafficking or possession of forged document);
## {{box}} section 380 (fraud); and
## {{box}} section 403 (identity fraud).

{{ElementRight}}

{{Proving|Trafficking in Identity Information|402.2(2)}}
{{InitialElements}}
# {{box}} the culprit did at least one of the prohibited acts in relation to a thing:
## {{box}} transmitted;
## {{box}} made available;
## {{box}} distributed;
## {{box}} sold; or 
## {{box}} offered 
# {{box}} if none of the prohibited acts apply, possession of the thing "for any of those purposes"; 
# {{box}} the thing was another person's identity information;
# {{box}} the culprit was aware or "reckless" as to "whether the information will be used to commit an indictable offence"
# {{box}} the indictable offence was one or more of the following: 
## {{box}} section 57 (forgery of or uttering forged passport);
## {{box}} section 58 (fraudulent use of certificate of citizenship);
## {{box}} section 130 (personating peace officer);
## {{box}} section 131 (perjury);
## {{box}} section 342 (theft, forgery, etc., of credit card);
## {{box}} section 362 (false pretence or false statement);
## {{box}} section 366 (forgery);
## {{box}} section 368 (use, trafficking or possession of forged document);
## {{box}} section 380 (fraud); and
## {{box}} section 403 (identity fraud).

{{ElementEnd}}

==Interpretation of the Offence==

===Identity Defined===
{{quotation2|
; Definition of “identity information”
402.1 For the purposes of sections 402.2 {{AnnSec4|402.2A}} and 403 {{AnnSec4|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>
{{LegHistory00s|2009, c. 28}}, s. 10.
{{Annotation}}
|{{CCCSec2|402.1}}
|{{NoteUp|402.1}}
}}


==="Personation"===

A person does not commit the offence of "personation" merely by adopting a false identity or the use of a pseudonym.<ref>
{{CanLIIRP|Northrup|gbflk|1982 CanLII 3710 (NB CA)|1 CCC (3d) 210}}{{perNBCA|Angers JA}}<br>
{{CanLIIRx|Jahanrakhshan|fx732|2013 BCCA 196 (CanLII)}}{{perBCCA|Groberman JA}}{{atL|fx732|24}}<br>
</ref>
The offence requires a fraudulent purpose.<ref>
{{supra1|Northrup}}, cited positively by {{CanLIIRP|Hall|gbh40|1984 CanLII 3573 (ON CA)| , 12 CCC (3d) 93}}{{perONCA-H|Martin JA}}</ref>

The person being assumed should be real, either alive or dead, and not simply a fictitious creation.<ref>
{{supra1|Jahanrakhshan}}{{atL|fx732|25}}</ref> 
The accused must be shown to have attempted to take on the identity of the person, and not simply use a name of a person living or dead.<ref>
{{supra1|Jahanrakhshan}}{{atL|fx732|28}} citing {{CanLIIR-N|Westerdahl|, (1988), 82 NSR (2d) 178 (NSCA)}}
</ref> 
Often this can be proven by inference.<ref>
{{supra1|Jahanrakhshan}} {{atL|fx732|29}}
</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

==="Transmits, Makes Available, etc"===
* See [[Definition of Terms Relating to Transactions and Transferences]]

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

; Testimonial Aids
{{3rdPTestimonyAids}}

; On Finding of Guilt 
{{VictimHeader}} <!-- Sections / Notice of Agree / Notice of Restitution / Notice of VIS --> 
|s. x {{DescrSec|x}} || || || 
|- 
{{VictimEnd}}

{{606Notice5Y|s. 402.2}}

{{RestitutionNotice}}

{{VISNotice}}

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

===Sentencing Profile===
; Maximum Penalties
{{SProfileMaxHeader‎}}

{{SProfileMax|s. 402.2| {{Summary}} |{{summaryconviction}} }}
{{SProfileMax|s. 402.2| {{Indictable}} |{{Max5Years}}}}

{{SProfileEnd}}

{{MaxPenaltyHybrid|s. 402.2|'''{{Max5Years}}'''| '''{{summaryconviction}}'''}}

; Minimum Penalties
{{NoMinimumPenalties}}

; Available Dispositions
{{SProfileAvailHeader}}
|s. 402.2(1) {{DescrSec|402.2(1)}} and<br> s. 402.2(2) {{DescrSec|402.2(2)}} || any || {{SProfileAll}}
|-
{{SProfileEnd}}

{{AllDispositionsAvailable}}

; Consecutive Sentences
{{NoConsecutive}}

==Ancillary Sentencing Orders==
{{seealso|Ancillary Orders}}
	
; Offence-specific Orders
{{AOrderHeader}}
|-
| [[DNA Orders]]||s. 402.2 {{DescrSec|402.2}}||
* {{SecondDNA(AorB)Hybrid|s. 402.2}}
{{AOrderEnd}}

; General Sentencing Orders
{{GeneralSentencingOrders}}

; General Forfeiture Orders
{{GeneralForfeitureOrders}}

==Record Suspensions and Pardons==
{{RecordSuspension|s. 402.2 {{DescrSec|402.2}} }}

==See Also==
* [[Identity Fraud (Offence)]]
* [[Procuring and Trafficking Government Documents (Offence)]]

; References
* [[Pre-Trial and Trial Motions Checklist]]

{{OffencesNavBar/Property}}