1. Questioned Documents
Forensic Science

2. Unit 9 Questioned Documents - Contents
Handwriting Analysis
Forgery
Typescript Comparisons
Altered Documents
Other Document Challenges
Counterfeiting

3. 1. Questioned Documents
Any object that contains handwritten or typewritten/printed markings whose source or authenticity is in doubt is considered a question document.

4. 1. Questioned Documents: Examples
Checks
Licenses and Certificates
Passports
(Counterfeit) Money
Receipts
Lottery tickets
Historical documents
Ransom and suicide notes
Forgeries of Art

5. Forgery

6. 3. Forgery Types of Forgery (documents designed to deceive)
Blind forgery – made without a model of the signature or the writing being forged
Simulated forgery – made by copying a genuine signature
Traced forgery – one made by tracing a genuine signature
Martin Coneely was arrested in 1937 for selling a forged Abraham Lincoln letter. Ironically, his forgeries are valuable collector’s items today.

7. 3. Forgery: Documents Forged
Chapter 15
3. Forgery: Documents Forged
Check fraud
Forgery
Counterfeit
Alterations
Paper money
Identity
Social Security
Driver’s license
Kendall/Hunt

8. 3. Forgery: Documents Forged
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

9. 3. Forgery - Activity
In your lab Notebook, ask the person at your desk to handwrite the following sentence:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Sign it, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Now you copy their writing using:
Blind Forgery
Simulated Forgery
Traced Forgery (tape the piece of tracing paper in the field notebook) - get the tracing paper from Mrs. Cox
Examine your results.
Which method worked best for you?

10. 3. Forged Checks
As much as $27 million in illegitimate checks are cashed each day worldwide. Criminals can get these checks by:
Ordering someone else’s checks from a deposit slip (at the end of a check book)
Altering a check
Creating forged checks from scratch

11. 3. Forged Checks Frank Abignale Jr.
Famous con-man, imposter, and check forger
In the 1960’s he created many near-perfect checks
He now works for the federal government as a consultant to the FBI, and runs his own anti-fraud advisory firm
His life story was the basis for the film, Catch Me If You Can

12. 3. Forged Checks Methods to prevent check forgery
Print checks on chemically sensitive paper
Use a larger font size that requires more ink and makes alterations more difficult
Create high resolution borders that are difficult to copy
Print checks in multiple color patterns
Embed fibers in checks that glow under different types of light
Use chemical wash detection systems that change color when a check is altered

13. Compare Two Checks

14. Forged Check

15. Unit 9 Questioned Documents - Contents
Handwriting Analysis
Forgery
Typescript Comparisons
Altered Documents
Other Document Challenges
Counterfeiting

16. Type Script Comparison
and
Altered Documents

17. 4. Typescript Comparisons
Typescript is the result of machine-created documents, such as computer printers, photocopiers, fax machines, and typewriters
Defects, missing pieces, or scratches may help to identify the machine where the document originated

18. 4. Typescript Comparisons
Computer printers – the kind of ink and
toner (inkjet vs. laser printer)
Photocopiers – the debris patterns
Fax machines – have a Transmitting Terminal Identifier (TTI)
Typewriters
Characteristics of the typeface, characters, and the ribbon
The Haas Atlas is a typewriter catalog

20. Unit 9 Questioned Documents - Contents
Handwriting Analysis
Forgery
Typescript Comparisons
Altered Documents
Other Document Challenges
Counterfeiting

21. 5. Altered Documents
Documents are often altered after they have been prepared. This is sometimes done to hide the original content or commit a forgery
Additions : Adding content to an already prepared document
Infrared luminescence can reveal if a different ink than the original was used, as it may emit infrared light when exposed to blue green light.

22. 5. Altered Documents Erasures One of the most common alterations
An India rubber eraser, sandpaper, razor blade, or knife may be scratched against the paper’s surface in an attempt to remove writing or type
This irritates the top fibers of the paper which are visible under a microscope

24. 5. Altered Documents Obliterations
A document may have parts blotted, smeared, or covered over making the original unreadable
This is sometimes done with strong oxidizing agents to make the ink become colorless
This is not always visible to the naked eye, but can be seen with microscopes, or ultraviolet or infrared lighting

25. 5. Altered Documents Charred Documents
Sometimes documents are accidently or purposely charred in a fire
Infrared photography or reflecting light at different angles can sometimes reveal the document’s contents

27. Unit 9 Questioned Documents - Contents
Handwriting Analysis
Forgery
Typescript Comparisons
Altered Documents
Other Document Challenges
Counterfeiting

28. 6. Other Document Challenges
Indentations
Most of the time an indented impression is left on a paper below the primary writing
The best way to read the impression is by using an ESDA (Electrostatic Detection Apparatus)
This charges the paper
Pouring toner powder over the charged paper develops the images on the indented paper

29. 6. Other Document Challenges
Paper
To identify paper, scientists may use the following characteristics
Color
Density
Watermarks
Dyes or bleaches
Fluorescence under UV light
Raw material the paper is made from
Thickness

30. 6. Other Document Challenges
Ink
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) can break down the ink mixture to reveal the components
A microspectrophotometer can use light to indentify chemical components
Studying the chemical composition can help determine
If a certain pen was used on a questioned document
How long the ink has been on the paper
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Microspectrophotometer

31. 6. Other Document Challenges
Physical/Fracture Match of separated documents – usually these documents are cut or torn and can be linked to the original source

32. Counterfeit

33. Unit 9 Questioned Documents - Contents
Handwriting Analysis
Forgery
Typescript Comparisons
Altered Documents
Other Document Challenges
Counterfeiting

34. 7. Counterfeit Currency
Made in exact imitation of something important or valuable with the intention of deceit
Columbia is the leading manufacturer of counterfeit U.S. currency
This counterfeit production supports their growing drug cartel

35. 7. Counterfeit Currency
Under US law, counterfeiting is a federal felony punishable with up to 15 years in prison
The US Secret Service is in charge of investigating counterfeit US currency
The government continues to change the designs of paper money to make it harder to copy
$20: October 2003
$50: September 2004
$10: March 2006
$5: March 2008
$100: October 2013

36. 7. Counterfeit Currency
The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing has established some anti-counterfeiting security features including
Watermarks (little face)
Color-shifting inks
Fine-line printing and micro-printing
Enlarged, off-center portraits
Denomination-specific security thread
Embedded red and blue fibers

40. 7. Detecting Counterfeit Currency
Because real money is printed on special paper, the wrong “feel” is usually the first clue that a bill is a fake
Counterfeit detection pen: contains iodine and will react differently to different papers
The world may eventually move to polymer money (plastic) as it’s more difficult to counterfeit and cheaper to print

41. Spot the Counterfeit

42. Spot the Counterfeit

43. Spot the Counterfeit (same 2 bills)

44. 7. Detecting Counterfeit Currency
Chapter 15
7. Detecting Counterfeit Currency
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 2005.
Subtle background colors have been added along with other features to discourage counterfeiting.
Kendall/Hunt

45. Know Your Money
Paper Consists of 25% linen 75% Cotton with red & blue fibers.
Federal Reserve Indicators
Check Letter/Quadrant Number
Watermark
Color-Shifting Ink (Copper to Green)
Face Plate Number
Series Year
Security Thread
Back Plate Number (on back of bill - right side)
Serial Numbers

46. Resources
Bertino, Anthony J. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations. Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning, 2010.
American Society of Questioned Document Examiners
Deslich, Barbara, and John Funkhouser. Forensic Science for High School. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, 2006.
Saferstein, Richard. Forensic Science: An Introduction. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2008.
Texas Education Agency, Forensic Certification Training: Module 9, Sam Houston State University