Why this matters: Forged IDs, certificates, invoices, and letters enable scams, identity theft, and financial loss.
Knowing the basics helps you spot red flags and protect your community and organisation.
What Is Document Forgery?
Document forgery is the creation or alteration of a document with the intent to deceive. It includes fake identity cards, altered bank statements, counterfeit certificates, and manipulated letters or approvals.
Common Forgery Methods
- Digital edits: Text/amount changes using image or PDF editors.
- Copy–paste seals & signatures: Lifted from genuine documents and overlaid.
- Template re-use: Real forms cloned with fake data/photos.
- Low-quality printing: Loss of microtext, guilloches, or color-shifting inks.
- Physical tampering: Erasures, page swaps, or staple displacement marks.
Red Flags to Check First
Layout Misaligned text, inconsistent margins, uneven spacing, mixed fonts.
Logos/Seals Blurry or pixelated logos; seals with visible boxes/edges.
Dates/Numbers Conflicting issue/expiry dates; number formats inconsistent with country.
Language Grammar mistakes, unnatural phrasing, mismatched titles.
Security Features Missing microtext, holograms, watermarks, color-shift ink.
Metadata PDF properties show odd creators/dates or recent edits.
How to Verify a Document
- Compare with a known genuine sample (layout, fonts, spacing, seals, serial ranges).
- Check security features: watermark against light, UV marks (if available), microprint under magnifier.
- Validate with the issuer (school, bank, ministry) via official channels—not numbers on the document.
- Cross-check identities: reverse image search the photo; verify ID number format and checksum (if applicable).
- Inspect the file: PDF metadata, edit history, layers; look for compression artifacts around edits.
Useful Tools (Use Responsibly)
- Reverse image search for profile photos and seals/logos.
- Magnifier (10×) to inspect edges, microtext, and print quality.
- UV flashlight for banknotes/IDs that include UV features (where legal).
- Metadata viewers for PDFs and images to spot last-edit and software trails.
- Issuer verification portals (when available) for certificates and licenses.
What to Do If You Suspect a Forgery
- Do not accuse on the spot. Secure a copy and continue verification calmly.
- Verify with the issuer using contact details from their official website.
- Follow your policy: escalate to your compliance or security focal point.
- Preserve evidence (original files, emails, envelopes, screenshots).
- Report to authorities if fraud is confirmed, and document steps taken.
Ethical & Legal Note: Use verification tools lawfully and respect privacy regulations.
Keep sensitive documents secure; never post full IDs online.