usc 15 § 1681q
Obtaining information under false pretenses (COMMERCE AND TRADE (15 U.S.C.))
Operative Text
Any person who knowingly and willfully obtains information on a consumer from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681q, it is a federal crime to deliberately use deception to obtain a consumer's credit or background report from a consumer reporting agency. A person who does so knowingly and willfully faces criminal penalties, including a fine, up to two years in federal prison, or both. This provision applies to any person — individual or entity — who misrepresents their identity, purpose, or authority to access consumer report data.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Landlords and property managers who access tenant credit or background reports through consumer reporting agencies must do so only for permissible purposes and must accurately represent who they are and why they are requesting the information, as required under 15 U.S.C. § 1681q. Compliant operators maintain truthful credentialing with their reporting agency, use applicant-authorized screening processes, and do not misrepresent their business relationship or purpose when pulling reports. Obtaining a report under any false pretense — even a seemingly minor misrepresentation — can expose an operator to federal criminal liability.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681q, consumers are protected against having their credit or background report obtained through deception, which is a federal criminal offense. If a tenant believes someone fraudulently accessed their consumer report, they may file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which have oversight roles related to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Tenant-rights organizations can also help explain what options exist when unauthorized or deceptive access to a consumer report is suspected.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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