Questioned Questioned DocumentsDocuments

Handwriting Analysis, Forgery, Handwriting Analysis, Forgery, and Counterfeitingand Counterfeiting

Document AnalysisDocument Analysis = the examination = the examination and comparison of questioned and comparison of questioned documents with known materialdocuments with known material

Questioned DocumentQuestioned Document = any = any signature, handwriting, typewriting signature, handwriting, typewriting or other written mark whose source or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or or authenticity is in dispute or uncertainuncertain

Document ExpertsDocument Experts

Examine and compare questioned Examine and compare questioned documents with known material documents with known material ((exemplarexemplar) )

Investigate handwriting, Investigate handwriting, computer printouts, commercial computer printouts, commercial printing, paper, and inkprinting, paper, and ink

Document Experts Document Experts (cont.)(cont.) Study threatening, ransom, or Study threatening, ransom, or

suicide notes suicide notes Can help identify a document’s Can help identify a document’s

authorauthor NOT a “graphologist”, who NOT a “graphologist”, who

studies the personality of the studies the personality of the writer based on handwriting writer based on handwriting samplessamples

Handwriting AnalysisHandwriting Analysis

Every person’s handwriting is Every person’s handwriting is unique and personalizedunique and personalized

Can differ due to type of writing Can differ due to type of writing instrument, mood, age or stressinstrument, mood, age or stress

12 major characteristics of 12 major characteristics of handwritinghandwriting

Handwriting Handwriting ExaminationExamination Determine authorshipDetermine authorship Compare questioned document Compare questioned document

with exemplar (known sample)with exemplar (known sample) ForgeriesForgeries are documents made, are documents made,

adapted or falsified with intention adapted or falsified with intention to deceive someoneto deceive someone

Analyzing a Analyzing a Handwriting SampleHandwriting Sample Suspect provides writing sample Suspect provides writing sample

(without knowing it will be used (without knowing it will be used for comparison)for comparison)

Letters, diaries, greeting cards, Letters, diaries, greeting cards, personal notespersonal notes

Contains several words that Contains several words that appear in questioned documentappear in questioned document

Compare characteristicsCompare characteristics

TechnologyTechnology

Naked eye / handheld lens / microscopeNaked eye / handheld lens / microscope Biometric signature padsBiometric signature pads – computer – computer

pad recognizes signature based on pad recognizes signature based on speed, pressure and rhythm of signing speed, pressure and rhythm of signing namename

Forensic Information System for Forensic Information System for Handwriting (FISH) – computerized Handwriting (FISH) – computerized handwriting database maintained by handwriting database maintained by Secret ServiceSecret Service

ForgeryForgery

Process used by criminals to Process used by criminals to make, alter, or falsify a person’s make, alter, or falsify a person’s signature or another aspect of a signature or another aspect of a document with the intention to document with the intention to deceive anotherdeceive another

Forged documents can include:Forged documents can include:– ChecksChecks– Employment recordsEmployment records– Legal agreementsLegal agreements– LicensesLicenses– WillsWills

FraudulenceFraudulence is forgery done for is forgery done for material gain.material gain.

Check forgery can include: Check forgery can include: – ordering another’s checks from a ordering another’s checks from a

deposit slip deposit slip – altering a check altering a check – intercepting another’s check, intercepting another’s check,

altering, and cashing italtering, and cashing it– creating a check from scratchcreating a check from scratch

Preventing Check Preventing Check ForgeryForgery Print checks on chemically sensitive paperPrint checks on chemically sensitive paper Use a large font size that requires more Use a large font size that requires more

ink and makes alterations more difficultink and makes alterations more difficult Use high-resolution borders on the checks Use high-resolution borders on the checks

that are difficult to copythat are difficult to copy Print checked in multiple color patternsPrint checked in multiple color patterns Embed fibers in checks that glow under Embed fibers in checks that glow under

different types of lightsdifferent types of lights Use chemical-wash detection systems that Use chemical-wash detection systems that

change color when a check is alteredchange color when a check is altered

Letters or other documents written Letters or other documents written by famous people can be very by famous people can be very valuable:valuable:

– Adolf Hitler (signature: $2000)Adolf Hitler (signature: $2000)– Albert Einstein (letter: $404,000)Albert Einstein (letter: $404,000)– Charles Darwin (letter: $20,000)Charles Darwin (letter: $20,000)– Abraham Lincoln (1864 letter: $3.4 Abraham Lincoln (1864 letter: $3.4

million)million)– Theodore Roosevelt (letter: $8500)Theodore Roosevelt (letter: $8500)

Literary Literary ForgeryForgery

““A red-faced auction house was forced to withdraw a letter A red-faced auction house was forced to withdraw a letter it believed was written and signed by the late President it believed was written and signed by the late President Ronald Reagan while he was suffering from Alzheimer's Ronald Reagan while he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease after it discovered it was a forgery.”disease after it discovered it was a forgery.”

““The auction house thought the letter could fetch as much The auction house thought the letter could fetch as much as $9,000.”as $9,000.”

Forged letter from Ronald Reagan.

The forger traced over a copied form letter with a heavy felt-tip pen, which Reagan often used.

Reagan letter called a forgery Reagan letter called a forgery (2/11/06)(2/11/06)

The best literary forgers aim to duplicate The best literary forgers aim to duplicate the original document by using materials the original document by using materials similar to those used for the original: similar to those used for the original: – old paperold paper– chemically treated materials to fake an chemically treated materials to fake an

older look older look – inks mixed from substances that would inks mixed from substances that would

have been used at the time have been used at the time – watermarks that add the appearance of watermarks that add the appearance of

age age – tools and styles that would have been tools and styles that would have been

popular at the timepopular at the time

CounterfeitingCounterfeiting

False documents or other False documents or other items copied for the purpose items copied for the purpose of deceptionof deception

Counterfeiting Counterfeiting

Counterfeiting money is a crime Counterfeiting money is a crime stretching back into ancient times. stretching back into ancient times. Items most often forged today include:Items most often forged today include: – currency currency – traveler’s checks traveler’s checks – food stamps food stamps – certain bonds certain bonds – postage stamps postage stamps

Know Your MoneyKnow Your Money

Following the Civil War, it was Following the Civil War, it was estimated that 1/3 to 1/2 of the estimated that 1/3 to 1/2 of the currency in circulation was counterfeit.currency in circulation was counterfeit.

The Secret Service was established in The Secret Service was established in 1865 to suppress counterfeiting.1865 to suppress counterfeiting.

In 1901, the Secret Service was tasked In 1901, the Secret Service was tasked to protect the President.to protect the President.

www.secretservice.govwww.secretservice.gov

Counterfeit Marking Pen Counterfeit Marking Pen (Iodine)(Iodine)

Most papers contain starch (turns Most papers contain starch (turns brown/black with iodine pen)brown/black with iodine pen)

Real currency: no starch (stays Real currency: no starch (stays yellow with iodine pen)yellow with iodine pen)

Design Features of 1996 Issued Design Features of 1996 Issued CurrencyCurrency

Inscribed security threadInscribed security thread Microprinting (ex: “United States of Microprinting (ex: “United States of

America” along portrait)America” along portrait) Off-center portraitOff-center portrait Watermark of figureWatermark of figure Optically variable ink (green to black)Optically variable ink (green to black)

William McKinley, $500William McKinley, $500

Grover Cleveland, Grover Cleveland, $1000$1000

James Madison, $5000James Madison, $5000

Salmon Chase, $10,000Salmon Chase, $10,000

Facts and FiguresFacts and Figures

Interpol and U.S. law enforcement agencies Interpol and U.S. law enforcement agencies estimate that companies lose $400 billion to estimate that companies lose $400 billion to $450 billion annually to counterfeiters. $450 billion annually to counterfeiters.

Counterfeiting is perceived as a victimless Counterfeiting is perceived as a victimless crime and it is difficult to inspire public crime and it is difficult to inspire public outrage.outrage.

Bulk mailing letters from banks, financial Bulk mailing letters from banks, financial organizations, credit card companies offering organizations, credit card companies offering services and bearing a signature of an officer services and bearing a signature of an officer of the company are used by forgers to create of the company are used by forgers to create authentic-looking documents.authentic-looking documents.

Facts and FiguresFacts and Figures

Gatherings of a large numbers of people are Gatherings of a large numbers of people are ideal for the passing of fraudulent checks and ideal for the passing of fraudulent checks and counterfeit money. It has been estimated that counterfeit money. It has been estimated that at the Atlanta, XXVI Olympic Games in 1996, at the Atlanta, XXVI Olympic Games in 1996, there were over $4 million fraudulent travelers there were over $4 million fraudulent travelers checks alone not to mention the printing of checks alone not to mention the printing of bogus tickets for events. bogus tickets for events.

Overcrowding (and the resulting problems) at Overcrowding (and the resulting problems) at some sporting events with limited ticket sales some sporting events with limited ticket sales were due in part to the use of counterfeit were due in part to the use of counterfeit tickets bought from con men and scalpers. tickets bought from con men and scalpers.

Facts and FiguresFacts and Figures

States with problems of illegal immigration are States with problems of illegal immigration are a boon to counterfeiters of birth certificates. a boon to counterfeiters of birth certificates.

Computer printers are of sufficient quality to Computer printers are of sufficient quality to reproduce nearly anything that can be printed. reproduce nearly anything that can be printed. This includes birth certificates, gift certificates, This includes birth certificates, gift certificates, checks, driver’s licenses, car titles and even checks, driver’s licenses, car titles and even college transcripts. college transcripts.

Travelers’ checks are issued by five major Travelers’ checks are issued by five major companies—American Express, Barclays, Visa, companies—American Express, Barclays, Visa, Citibank, and Thomas Cook. These companies Citibank, and Thomas Cook. These companies have hidden images in their documents making have hidden images in their documents making counterfeiting difficult. counterfeiting difficult.