GroundRules
← Search the law
Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 434.697: Phishing.

Read at publisher ↗
Where this section sits in the code
  1. KRS Chapter 434

(1) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Electronic mail message" means a message sent to a unique destination that

consists of a unique user name or mailbox and a reference to an Internet

domain, whether or not displayed, to which the message can be sent or

delivered; and

(b) "Identifying information" means specific details that can be used to access a

person's financial accounts or to obtain goods or services, including but not

limited to the person's Social Security number, driver's license number, bank

account number, credit or debit card num ber, personal identification number,

automated or electronic signature, unique biometric data, or account

password.

(2) A person is guilty of phishing if he or she knowingly or intentionally solicits,

requests, or takes any action to induce another person to provide identifying

information by means of a Web page, electronic mail message, or otherwise using

the Internet, by representing himself or herself either directly or by implication, to

be a third person without the authority or approval of such other person.

(3) In any prosecution for a violation of this section, the Commonwealth is not required

to establish, and it is no defense that:

(a) A person other than the defendant who violated this section has not been

convicted, apprehended, or identified; or

(b) Some of the acts constituting a violation of this section did not occur in

Kentucky or were not a criminal offense or elements of a criminal offense

where they did occur.

(4) Phishing is a Class D felony.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:59:49Z. Source file · JSON

Browse this collection