Generating a Codice Fiscale
 

Are there any actual legal implications to generating a codice fiscale in order to get a SIM card? Would it be a "hey, your number doesn't appear valid, sorry I can't give you service" or a "I've pressed the button under the counter, please wait for the authorities"? Just wondering if I should be ready to run :) It just seems iffy generating a government code, or is the codice fiscale not that big of a deal?

Well, if you are not a terrorist it's not that big of a deal! :D

So I'm not likely to get arrested/etc? :)

No...but tell you what if your that intrested in getting arrested...let me know and i will see what i can do for you ok?

:-p :-p

No, I really think no, unless you are Bin Laden's friend! :D

You can get a real CF quite quickly and easily, just visit a tax office. (I don't know if they do this for US visitors, but I think they do).

OK I tried the web page (http://www.comuni.it/servizi/codfisc/) linked on the Italy page and get this error:

ATTENZIONE

Il numero generato corrisponde alle regole del D.M. del 12.3.1974
Non si può avere l'assoluta certezza dell'esattezza del codice perché nel raro caso in cui il sistema genera due codici identici (caso di due persone con nome e cognome molto simili, nati lo stesso giorno, nello stesso comune), il Ministero delle Finanze provvede alla sostituzione di uno dei numeri con una lettera progressiva.



What am I missing?

That means that it's not the "legal" way to get a CF and you cannot be sure at 100% that your "real" CF would be exactly the same. As Motel75 said if you want to be sure you have to go to a tax-office in Italy (usually at the city hall or some other office), but that's not so important if you need the CF just for a prepaid card...

Actually, it doesn't return a CF at all. It says:

ERRORE: dati incompleti

Then lists the values I entered and then the longer sentence I posted earlier.

OK, I got one, but had to change the birth country.