Counterfeit acts committed outside the United States
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
A person who, outside the United States, engages in the act of—
(1) making, dealing, or possessing any counterfeit obligation or other security of the United States; or
(2) making, dealing, or possessing any plate, stone, analog, digital, or electronic image, or other thing, or any part thereof, used to counterfeit such obligation or security,
if such act would constitute a violation of section 471, 473, or 474 if committed within the United States, shall be punished as is provided for the like offense within the United States.
History: (Added Pub. L. 103–322, title XII, §120003(a), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2021 (PDF, 52 MB); amended Pub. L. 107–56, title III, §374(a), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 340.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to make, deal in, or possess counterfeit U.S. money or securities, or the plates, images, or tools used to make them, even when done outside the United States. This applies if the act would break sections 471, 473, or 474 had it happened inside the country.