Forgery & Altered Documents?Part II

By Dana Turner

Altered Documents
Any negotiable document may be forged or altered as to signer, payee, amount, date, beneficiary, account number, encoding data or other information. If there is any doubt as to the authenticity, high-risk types of documents and devices should be carefully checked, using all known tests.

Document Alteration Tools
The success of the alteration depends upon the type of pen that was used to create the original writing. Every pen leaves distinguishing characteristics on the paper that make this writing different from any other writing. The pens used will be either a

• Ballpoint pen; a
• Bleeder pen; or a
• Gel pen.

Ballpoint pen
A ballpoint pen uses an ink cartridge that contains colored, solid particles suspended in a semi-liquid solution - and this type of pen ink does not "bleed" on the paper;

Bleeder pen
A "bleeder" pen uses an ink cartridge that also contains minute, colored, solid particles, but these are suspended in a watery, liquid solution - and this type of pen ink does "bleed" on the paper. Examples of "bleeder pens' include Felt-tip pens, Roller-ball pens, and Cartridge pens.

Gel pen
A gel pen uses an ink cartridge that contains minute, colored, solid particles suspended in a gelatinous, liquid solution - and this type of pen ink not only "bleeds", it also will smear on the paper.

The writer who uses a ballpoint, cartridge, roller-ball or gel pen will also leave a "channel" on the paper, within which the ink deposit rests. This "channel" is just as distinctive as the ink left behind. The writer who uses a felt-tip pen leaves no "channel".

Document Alteration Techniques
Documents may be altered in many ways, and most times leave evidence of the techniques used. Following are some of the more common methods.

Erasure
Original writing is erased so that new information may be added. Depending upon the type of ink and the eraser used by the offender, the paper will either be "furred" from the abrasive used in the eraser - or the ink may not have been removed completely. This technique is generally used on ballpoint pen ink only.

Bleach
An area of the document containing original writing is bleached to fade the ink color. This technique often also bleaches the paper, and creates a "blister" on the document's reverse side. When a liquid bleaching agent is applied to "bleeder" pen ink, the ink runs on the paper. This technique is generally used to remove ballpoint pen ink only.

Opaque Liquid Cover-Up
This product is painted over original information so that new information may be added. This liquid material is available in a variety of colors - and these colors can correspond very closely to the colors used on printed check stock and legal documents. When new information is added to the document by typing or writing over the cover-up material, the new typing or writing appears to have a different >
Cellophane Taped-Material
Items torn or mutilated are restored to their original format. Offenders prefer opaque tape because it does not have a shiny surface. This type of altered document should only be accepted when there is no other solution, and when it is torn in some manner in an employee's presence and initialed by both the employee and the presenter.

Self-Adhesive Paper Product
Labels and typewriter "strip correction tape" are placed over original writing so that new information may be added. The new information may be added with either a typewriter or a pen.

Red Ballpoint Pen
Most shades of red ballpoint pen will not be captured on microfiche or an image scanner, as the intensity of the color and the shiny ink reflects the light back into the lens. If original documents are lost or destroyed, the institution has only the microfiched or imaged copy as a substitute original - and this copy will likely not display any writing created with this type of pen. This technique is a favorite of offenders involved with "statement cycle" crimes (e.g., forgery, kiting and embezzlement).

Overwriting
Original writing is written over, creating an optical illusion. The new writing is often created with a somewhat different color and wider pen nib than the original writing - and it may appear to be smeared. This technique is generally used to cover ballpoint pen ink with felt-tip pen ink. Addition

New information is added to original information, usually to change the payee or the amount payable. The added information will often appear in pen ink of a slightly different color than the original writing - if a pen is used. If a typewriter is used, the typeface will often be somewhat different from the original. Offenders also add information to the "memo" line found on most checks - to "legitimize" the appearance of the document. Or they may add a payee with the word "or" added.

Counterfeiting & Duplication
Color photocopy machines and color laser printers may be used to duplicate original colored documents - such as checks, legal documents, stock certificates and currency. The technology is similar to that used by other laser printers. Color ink-jet printers may also be used and the surface of these colored duplicates may smear if a moist finger is rubbed over it. Depending upon the type of duplicating machine used, the surface will either be shiny and glossy, or dull and sticky.

The documents duplicated in this way will not bear any printing indentations - or the perforations on one side that a check will bear that has been removed from a checkbook or single-sheet printer stock. Laser-printed counterfeit documents are often copied to reduce the toner "ridge", because the ridge left by copy machines is less pronounced.

(to be continued...)

Copyright © 2006 Bankers' Hotline. Originally appeared in Bankers' Hotline, Vol. 16, No. 7, 8/06