Impersonating a public servant, impersonating a public officer or impersonating a public official is a crime or misdemeanor in several jurisdictions. It consists of pretending to hold a public office and exercise that authority or attempt to induce another person to do something.[1][2][3][4] There have for example been charges for impersonating a fire inspector,[5] a city code compliance officer[6] and a child protective services official.[7]