Submitting a fake income verification document can lead to severe legal, financial, and personal consequences. Individuals may face criminal charges, including fines, imprisonment, or both, under federal or state laws. Immigration status could be jeopardized, resulting in deportation or denial of visa extensions. Financial penalties often include repayment of fraudulent benefits, interest, and legal fees. Reputational damage may affect employment, housing, or creditworthiness, as institutions rely on verifiable financial history. Civil lawsuits from affected parties or government agencies are also possible.

The risks stem from violating laws designed to prevent fraud and ensure accountability. For example, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) imposes penalties of up to $25,000 for income document fraud, with an average fine of $5,000 per violation (IRS, 2023). The Department of Justice reports that immigration fraud cases increased by 40% between 2020 and 2022, with 60% of defendants facing imprisonment (DOJ, 2023). Financial losses exceed $50,000 annually for most individuals due to legal costs and repayments, per a 2022 study by the National Consumer Law Center. Reputational harm is quantified by a 70% decrease in job opportunities for those with fraud records, as shown in a 2023 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management. Criminal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 carry up to five years in prison, with 30% of cases resulting in prison time (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2023). These consequences are systematic to deter systemic fraud and protect public trust in financial and legal systems.