720 ILCS 5/17-3 – Forgery
This law makes it illegal to make, use, or possess fake documents or signatures to trick or cheat someone.
This law says a person breaks the law when they make, use, or hold a fake document or electronic signature on purpose to deceive someone. It also explains what counts as a false document and lists the possible punishments.
(a) A person commits forgery if they intentionally do any of the following to cheat or trick someone :
- Make or change a document so that it becomes false and could be used to fool someone.
- Give or send a false document to someone, knowing it is fake.
- Have a fake document with plans to give or send it to someone.
- Use another person’s digital signature without permission.
- Create a fake electronic signature pretending to be another person.
(b) (Blank.)
(c) A document that could trick or cheat someone includes anything that can change someone’s rights or property. This can be a paper record, an electronic record, a price label, or a coin.
(c-5) A “false document” includes one with fake information, one that was made by someone pretending to be another person, or one made without real permission or at a different time than claimed.
(d) Sentence:
- Forgery is usually a Class 3 felony.
- Forgery is a Class 4 felony if only one price tag (UPC label) is forged.
- Forgery is a Class A misdemeanor if the fake item is a school degree or a coin.
(e) It’s not against the law if a fake degree clearly says “for novelty purposes only.”
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