Published: 07/05/2024By: Toby Jacob
Fake identification is on the rise. According to the Document Security Alliance (DSA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the number of fake ID seizures is on the rise. In fact, some sources suggest that more than 59% of people aged 15-20 have some type of fake ID.
While fake IDs may seem like something that college students use to buy beer or get into bars, this isn’t the case anymore. Unfortunately, people will create fake IDs to try and obtain jobs, scam people, or buy other goods that they shouldn’t.
For these reasons, knowing what is an indicator of a false ID is essential to reduce the risk of being scammed, arrested, or taken advantage of. Thankfully, USPeopleSearch is here to help. Read on to learn more about the indicators of a false ID.
What Is a False ID?
A false ID is a fake document that claims to be someone’s real identification. Typically, it’s a license that has the person’s picture, but the other information may be inaccurate. For example, some people may use a fake ID to have their legal age printed as 21 instead of something like 18. This allows the person to purchase alcohol or go to bars that they usually can’t enter.
While false IDs are often used for underage drinking, that’s not always the case. Some people will use False IDs to scam others, attempt to get a job, or steal credentials. Plus, false IDs don’t have to be someone’s license; they can be ID cards for employees, school IDs, and much more.
For these reasons, it’s important to verify someone’s identity and look for the indicators of a false ID when someone presents theirs.
Indicators of a False ID
Several indicators point to someone having a false ID. Some of these indicators are obvious, but if you don’t have the ID right in front of you, it can be hard to tell if they’re real or fake, so always pay close attention to small details. Learn about some of the common Indicators of a false ID below.
Lack of Holograms
Many modern IDs have a hologram. For example, New York IDs have a hologram of the person’s photo in the bottom left corner. This hologram is used to verify credentials and to make it harder to copy the ID. While some states don’t have holograms, many states do, and an ID that doesn’t have one might be a false ID.
Multiple Fonts
If there’s one thing the government likes, it’s uniformity. Most government IDs will use the same font across the entire document. Therefore, you shouldn’t notice any changes in the font. While the font should remain the same across the whole document, this isn’t always true for the font size. So, if you notice a consistent font but there are some size issues, it’s not automatically a red flag.
Blurry Images
A blurry image is another indicator of a fake ID. The government doesn’t allow blurry images to show up on an ID, so any image that seems blurry is likely a fake one. Any image that looks photoshopped or altered is also likely a fake image on a fake ID.
Misspelling
This won’t apply to a high-quality fake ID, but it does happen from time to time. If you see misspelled cities, states, or even names, it’s a sign that a license is fake. Misspellings can also appear on fake company or school ID cards, so remain vigilant when dealing with any type of ID.
Problems With the Laminate
This won’t apply to every false ID, but it’s important to note that most government-issued IDs will have professional-grade laminate on them. For this reason, it’s unlikely that IDs will damage the laminate, which makes bubbles and tears in the laminate a red flag.
It Doesn’t Scan
Work in a store or building that scans ID cards? Scanners have become efficient at giving details for someone’s ID, so if the ID doesn’t scan, there’s a good chance that it’s fake. On the off chance that it’s not, you can always test the device with a legitimate machine to see if it’s working properly. You can also ask for additional proof of identification if their primary ID is not working.
Borrowed ID
This might seem like an obvious catch, but more than half of all ID fraud cases involve someone using a borrowed ID. People who have older siblings or friends will usually borrow their IDs to buy alcohol and other goods that you have to be 21 to purchase. Make sure you check the ID’s description and match the photo to the person before selling them anything to spot borrowed IDs.
How to Verify Someone’s Identity
Whether you’re dealing with a false license, ID car, or something else, verifying someone’s identity has never been more important. In fact, it’s a good way to stay safe online when dealing with people who might be scammers or people who aren’t who they claim to be.
While you can look for indicators on the ID, some false IDs are really good. In these cases, you’ll have to turn to public records search tools, law enforcement, or scanners to verify your identity.
Public Records Search
If you’re running a background check on an applicant or speaking to someone online, the best way to verify their identity is to run their information through a public records search tool. We offer a people search tool that combs through millions of public records to verify someone’s information.
If you have someone’s identification card, you can enter that information into our search tool. We recommend entering their name, address, and state for the best results.
Then, once the results appear you can check them against the ID they provided to check for inconsistencies. Furthermore, our people search tool can verify more than just their ID. You find criminal records, sex offender records, social media accounts, and much more.
Scan the ID
If you’re checking IDs often, you may have a scanning tool at your job. These tools allow you to scan the ID to see if it’s legitimate. ID scanners are rarely wrong and do a great job of identifying false IDs.
If you’re still unsure, you can always ask for additional proof of identification to investigate further. Some false IDs do pass through scanners, so don’t over-rely on them.
Law Enforcement
If you’re ever unsure about the legitimacy of a license you can contact law enforcement. They have tools to verify the ID for you, and anyone who has a legitimate ID won’t mind having their ID verified. If this scares the person away, then there’s a good chance they were using a fake ID.
Spot False IDs Today
Spotting false IDs has never been more important, and millions of people around the world have fake IDs. While these IDs tend to be used for the purchase of alcohol, tobacco, and other age-restricted items, it’s becoming more common to use them for scams or employment.
For this reason, we always recommend looking for false ID indicators. It doesn’t matter if you’re running a niche OIG background check or speaking with someone online who claims to be an employee; taking the necessary time to verify their credentials is essential before you move forward with any type of transaction.
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