Crime of phishing
AL Phishing Law
Other · Data security
Makes it a felony to use the Internet to trick people into providing identifying information by impersonating a business without its authority. It gives prosecutors civil remedies and lets affected individuals and businesses sue.
- Where
- Alabama
- Citation
- Ala. Code § 13A-8-114 (Act 2012-432)
- Status
- In force
- Enforced by
- Alabama Attorney General and district attorneys (criminal and civil); private plaintiffs
- People can sue
- Yes
- Penalties
- Class C felony. The AG or a district attorney may recover the greater of actual damages or $25,000 per violation, up to treble for a pattern and practice. Adversely affected individuals, ISPs, web page owners, and trademark owners may also sue.
- Applies to
- Any person who uses a web page, email, or other Internet means to induce someone to provide identifying information by falsely posing as a business
Rights it gives people
- Adversely affected individuals, Internet access providers, web page owners, and trademark owners may bring an action against violators.Ala. Code § 13A-8-114(c)
Practices it requires
- Do not use web pages, email, or other Internet means to solicit identifying information by falsely representing oneself as a business.Ala. Code § 13A-8-114(a)
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: Effective date of Act 2012-432 not confirmed; left null. Remedies available in private actions are not specified in the section.
Research reference, not legal advice.