7 Tips for Spotting Fake IDs

Fake IDs are easier to obtain than ever. Online reviews, cryptocurrencies, and quick deliveries make buying quality counterfeit IDs convenient and relatively safe.

Fake ID producers across the world use sophisticated graphics software, printing presses, and specialized materials to create near-exact replicas of a real ID. These print shops have honed their craft so well that the unsuspecting eye can't differentiate between a fake ID and the real thing.

With 15+ years of experience catching over 300,000 fake IDs, we thought we’d offer up some tips on how you can best catch them:

1. Observe the Individual's Behavior

When an individual presents a fake ID, they are likely not confident that you will accept it without question. Expect a person with a fake ID to be fidgety, impatient, or nervous. Often, they will avoid direct eye contact by looking up and around as they interact with you.

2. Ask Questions

Train your staff to ask probing questions related to the ID or issuer. For example, have the individual verify the information on the card. If the ID is from out of their home state, often the case, there is a good chance that they haven’t memorized area codes, state symbolism, or taglines.

3. Examine the ID Physically and Visually

Bend the card to see how it behaves. Does it feel lighter or heavier than a real ID? Does the laminated surface bubble when bent? Authentic IDs of higher-quality polycarbonate should feel sturdier than plastic. Polycarbonate also makes a metallic sound when it strikes a hard surface. Lower quality fake IDs don’t use the right polycarbonate materials.

4. Use an ID Scanner

A good ID scanner can tell you if the ID has faults in commonly-used security features like laser perforations, micro prints, and proprietary fonts. ID scanners that perform OCR analysis can detect these faults whereas barcode scanners can’t. Patronscan uses pixel-level OCR analysis and an extensive fake ID library to accurately detect fake IDs.

5. Look for Laser Engravings

Laser engraving creates a security feature you can feel. When you run your finger over the birthdate or other text elements on a driver's license, you should feel the raised texture.

6. Check Holograms and Ghost Images

These are some of the more difficult features to replicate. Many of the popular printers have the capability to create exact replicas but some fake IDs have poor reproductions that are much more obvious.

7. Inspect Fonts

Counterfeit printers are unlikely to have access to, or even the ability to properly reproduce, the fonts used by an official ID issuer. This is another security measure that printers struggle with. Look for fonts that are substitutes for the real thing. Often, counterfeiters trace these fonts and make mistakes that can be found by inspecting the characters closely.

Avoid fines, fraud, and chargebacks arising from the growing use of fake IDs. Your observational skills and an ID scanner can help prevent your business from falling victim to scammers.

If you'd like to learn more about how we reliably catch fake IDs using Patronscan, speak to one of our experts.