False telegraph or telephone messages
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Every person who knowingly and sends by telegraph or telephone to any person a false or forged message, purporting to be from a telegraph or telephone office, or from any other person, or who delivers or causes to be delivered to any person any such message falsely purporting to have been received by telegraph or telephone, or who furnishes, or to furnish, or causes to be furnished to any agent, operator, or employee, to be sent by telegraph or telephone, or to be delivered, any such message, knowing the same to be false or forged, with the intent to deceive, injure, or defraud another, is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
History: Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 361. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.
Simplified explanation
Sending, delivering, or furnishing a false or forged message purporting to come from a telegraph or telephone office or another person, to deceive, injure, or defraud, is punishable by up to one year in county jail or as a felony, and a $10,000 fine.