Is it illegal to fake a death?

Question

Is it a felony or a federal offense to tell family members that a loved one has died when in fact they really have not?

Answer 1

It is in New Zealand

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Same goes for usa

Direct quotes:


Faked death or life insurance claims: Sometimes people fake their own deaths or the deaths of others so that they can collect life insurance policy benefits. After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, dozens of people filed fake death claims, attempting to capitalize on the tragedy.


Currently, only about one-half of U.S. states classify insurance fraud or attempted insurance fraud as a felony. For example, in Florida, staging a car accident is a second-degree felony and carries a sentence of two to 15 years in prison. In states where it is not a felony, insurance fraud is often prosecuted as bribery, theft, or forgery—with all felonies carrying sentences including fines and/or jail time. At the federal level, most insurance fraud cases are prosecuted under mail and wire fraud statutes, for which the sentences include significant fines and/or jail time.

Answer 2

It technically is not illegal to tell family members that someone in their family has died when they are still alive and kicking. There is no such charge as 'lying to your mother'. If there were, we would probably all be in trouble! For example, if you were to tell your husbands nosy, controlling parents that your husband and small son were killed in a car crash when really it was only your husband, you really wouldn't be violating the law - as long as you didn't provide documentation to 'prove' the death.

The illegality of faking death comes into it when you are required to file paperwork or lie to authority figures. You can't file fake documents or lie to the police or the courts. Those things, or helping anyone do those things, are illegal.

But generally the poilce are concerned with people faking their own deaths to evade taxes or get away with previous criminal activity. There are organizations that provide help to battered women, especially with children, to re-invent their identities so that they can hide from abusive husbands and/or family members. They do not fake deaths, they help arrange for alternate documentation, new names, new places to live etc.

Answer 3

Yes because you'd be lying to the government and causing falsified documentation- which is illegal. Its also illegal to commit suicide -though you can't really serve that sentence if you're dead... so thats a stupid law. But, I suppose if you FAKED your suicide and they found out you'd be ***** meat in prison.

Answer 4

yes you get a prison sentence as people already have