Forged Documents

• 1). Compare the potential forgery to a standard document sample issued by the same company. For example, if examining a potential forged check, compare it with a sample check from the same banking company. If examining a potentially forged government document or identification card, obtain sample government documents for the comparison.
  
  
• 2). Check for an official logo on each document. Business-issued documents generally feature a company logo imprinted on the document, while government-issued documents feature images such as state seals. Check that the potential forgery features the appropriate logos, and compare the logos for discrepancies.
  
  
• 3). Check each document for any special forgery-prevention features. For example, many government issued identification cards feature holographic imprints that are especially difficult to forge, while business documents often feature watermarks and/or official signatures. Examine the potential forgery to determine if it contains all of the appropriate special markings.
  
  
• 4). Look for signs of modification performed on the document. For paper documents, examine the text closely for signs of scratched out text or misalignment due to image manipulation. If the document is laminated, check for damage to the lamination such as slits or eraser marks. These are indications that the card has been tampered with.
  
  

Forged Signatures

• 1). Obtain a genuine copy of the signature to be analyzed. Compare the genuine signature with the potential forgery. Look for any blatant discrepancies, such as different styles of letters or spacing. Pay special attention to small details such as the style of letter loops, dots, and crosses.
  
  
• 2). Measure each signature with a ruler. Even with variable handwriting, people tend to maintain a consistent length with their signatures. A discrepancy in length is one indicator that the signature is forged.
  
  
• 3). Look for signs of shaky handwriting or blotted ink. When copying a signature, the forger often cannot write in a fluid motion. A forged signature therefore may feature jagged letters or ink blots due to the start-and-stop motion of the forger's pen.