1 Document and Handwriting Analysis Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 1 Document and Handwriting Analysis

2 You will understand: That an expert analyst can individualize handwriting to a particular person. What types of evidence are submitted to the document analyst. Three types of forgery. How to characterize different types of paper. Objectives

3 Document and Handwriting Analysis You will be able to: Analyze handwriting using 12 points of analysis. Detect deliberately disguised handwriting. Detect erasures and develop impression writing. List safeguards against the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. Recognize some of the methods of internet fraud. Objectives, continued

4 Document and Handwriting Analysis Introduction

5 Document and Handwriting Analysis Document analysis The examination & comparison of questioned documents with known material, exemplars

6 Document and Handwriting Analysis Questioned Documents Any signature, handwriting, typing, other written marks, ink, paper, etc., whose source or authenticity in is dispute or uncertain. Examples include letters, checks, licenses, contracts, wills, passports, certificates, money, suicide notes, receipts, lottery tickets Investigations include verification; authentication; characterizing papers, pigments, and inks

7 Document and Handwriting Analysis Document Examination Forensic document examination involves the analysis and comparison of questioned documents with known material in order to identify, whenever possible, the author or origin of the questioned document.

8 Document and Handwriting Analysis

9 Handwriting Identifcation Science or Not? )Astrologers use handwriting to predict your future )Analysts describe your personality )Forensics tries to identify YOU

10 Document and Handwriting Analysis Handwriting Every person’s handwriting is unique & personalized. Variations include: writing instruments, mood, age, whether we are in a hurry.

11 Document and Handwriting Analysis Handwriting Handwriting analysis involves two phases: 1.The hardware—ink, paper, pens, pencils, typewriter, printers 2.Visual examination of the writing

12 Document and Handwriting Analysis Handwriting varies considerably from person to person

13 Document and Handwriting Analysis Handwriting Characteristics Line quality Word and letter spacing Letter comparison Pen lifts Connecting strokes Beginning and ending strokes Unusual letter formation Shading or pen pressure Slant Baseline habits Flourishes or embellishments Diacritic placement

14 Document and Handwriting Analysis Handwriting Identification Analysis of the known writing and questioned or unknown writing with detectable characteristics recorded Comparison of the questioned writing with the known writing (exemplars) Evaluation of the evidence, including the similarities and dissimilarities between the questioned and known writing The document examiner must have enough exemplars to make a determination of whether or not the two samples match.

SAMPLE FROM ELVIS PRESTLEY

Copy of Jon Benet Ramsey ransom note

18 Document and Handwriting Analysis Handwriting Samples If possible, obtain without first informing of the intent for comparison. Best exemplars: )Letters )Diaries )Greeting cards )Personal notes

19 Document and Handwriting Analysis Handwriting Samples The subject: )s)should not be shown the questioned document. )i)is not told how to spell words or use punctuation. )s)should use materials similar to those of the document. )s)should be asked to sign the text. The dictated text should contain several of the words or letter combinations found in the questioned document Always have a witness.

20 Document and Handwriting Analysis Forgery

21 Document and Handwriting Analysis Methods of Forgery Simulated forgery—one made by copying a genuine signature Traced forgery—one made by tracing a genuine signature Blind forgery—one made without a model of the signature Fraudulence: material gain

22 Document and Handwriting Analysis Types of Forgery Check fraud Forgery Counterfeit Alterations Paper money Counterfeit Identity Social Security Driver’s license Employment records Credit cards Theft of card or number Art—imitation with intent to deceive Microscopic examination Electromagnetic radiation Chemical analysis Contracts—alterations of contracts medical records wills

23 Document and Handwriting Analysis Frank W. Abagnale, a reformed master forger, describes in his book, The Art of the Steal, how a visitor from Argentina was issued a parking ticket on a rental car in Florida. Although the fine was $20, he place $22 in an envelope & mailed it to the Miami city clerk Did you know?

24 Document and Handwriting Analysis On receipt of the money, the clerk issued a $2 refund. on receiving the check, the man scanned it into his computer, changed the amount to $1.45 million, & deposited the check into his account in a bank in Argentina Did you know?

25 Document and Handwriting Analysis The check was cashed, & the money was transferred. He was never arrested, & the money was not recovered Did you know?

26 Document and Handwriting Analysis Famous Forgers and Forgeries Major George Byron (Lord Byron forgeries) Thomas Chatterton (literary forgeries) John Payne Collier (printed forgeries) Dorman David (Texas Declaration of Independence) Mark Hofmann (Mormon, Freemason forgeries) William Henry Ireland (Shakespeare forgeries) Clifford Irving (Howard Hughes forgery) Konrad Kujau (Hitler diaries) James Macpherson (Ossian manuscript) George Psalmanasar (literary forgery) Alexander Howland Smith (historical documents)

27 Document and Handwriting Analysis

28 Document and Handwriting Analysis Ink Chromatography is a method of physically separating the components of inks. Types HPLC—high-performance liquid chromatography TLC—thin-layer chromatography Paper chromatography

29 Document and Handwriting Analysis Paper Chromatography of Ink Two samples of black ink from two different manufacturers have been characterized using paper chromatography.

30 Document and Handwriting Analysis Retention Factor (R f ) A number that represents how far a compound travels in a particular solvent It is determined by measuring the distance the compound traveled and dividing it by the distance the solvent traveled. 18 Document and Handwriting analysis

31 Document and Handwriting Analysis Paper Differences Raw material Weight Density Thickness Color Watermarks Age Fluorescence

32 Document and Handwriting Analysis Pencils Lead Hardness scale—a traditional measure of the hardness of the “leads” (actually made of graphite) in pencils. The hardness scale, from softer to harder, takes the form..., 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H, 4H,..., with the standard “number 2” pencil being of hardness 2H.

33 Document and Handwriting Analysis Evidence Class characteristics may include general types of pens, pencils, or paper. Individual characteristics may include unique, individual handwriting characteristics; trash marks from copiers; or printer serial numbers.

34 Document and Handwriting Analysis Counterfeiting

35 Document and Handwriting Analysis Counterfeiting )Currency )Fake name-brand products )Coins )Postage stamps )One of the oldest crimes

36 Document and Handwriting Analysis Counterfeiting In 1996 the government starting adding new security features to our paper money due to the advanced copying technologies that have raised the incidence of counterfeiting. The $20 bill entered circulation on October of 2003, followed by the $50 in September of 2004, and then the $10 in September of Subtle background colors have been added along with other features to discourage counterfeiting.

37 Document and Handwriting Analysis Counterfeit Currency )Counterfeiting is a federal felony punishable with up to 15 years in prison. )Methods in place to try to prevent counterfeiting include: )Design features that make printing difficult )Special paper )Ongoing changes to the design of paper money

38 Document and Handwriting Analysis Detecting Counterfeit )Counterfeit currency can often be detected because of the starch found in regular paper. )Some counterfeiters actually bleach small bills to provide the correct paper for use. )Some countries have begun producing plastic money to replace paper

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40 Document and Handwriting Analysis In 2004, a woman tried to buy more than $1,000 worth of items at Wal-mart using a fake $1 million bill. The U.S. treasure does not make a $ 1 million bill, so she was sent to jail. Did you know?

41 Document and Handwriting Analysis More about Document Analysis For additional information about document and handwriting analysis, check out truTV’s Crime Library at: Or learn about forgery cases at: html