Detecting Fake ID Cards

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Protect your organization from counterfeit ID card reproductions! Fake ID card production is big business, with an ever-growing customer base. Simple fake ID cards can be made at home with inkjet or laser printers, using designs and templates from official ID documents which have been scanned into a computer, or they can be designed using computer programs. These counterfeit cards are then laminated to resemble authentic ID cards. A common counterfeit design template is that of a scanned state driver’s license, which is edited or re-created to display fraudulent information.

Although holograms are difficult to replicate without expensive equipment, a mixture of pigments and base paints can be used to create a similar shiny, multi-colored card appearance, which at times may pass cursory inspections, and while ID cards featuring magnetic stripes are harder to forge because their stripes contain specific card information, magstripes can absolutely be forged as well. To ensure that your organization stays protected against counterfeit activities consider applying a custom hologram to your ID cards. This type of hologram is a design unique to your organization, therefore posing a huge obstacle to any counterfeiter trying to make fraudulent replications of it. If you are interested in adding a custom hologram to your card design please contact one of our industry experts at 1-877-943-7467 to discuss your options.

IDSuperShop recommends the following tips for identifying fake ID cards:

Look at the ID card closely for any smudges, erasures, or uneven card color. Official documents such as licenses and state IDs will be uniform in card color and texture, with crisp lettering in a uniform typeface. These types of important documents rarely contain typos or spelling errors, and if any are detected the card in question may be counterfeit. Everything on the ID card should be printed, and nothing typed in. Fuzzy numbers or letters, red eyes in photos, or bumpy card surfaces are all indicators of a fake ID card. For complete security check the back of the card as well as the front.

Check the photo on the ID card. If there is a border around any part of the picture, this photo may be layered on top of the card’s original photo. If the edges of the picture appear raised this also may indicate forgery, because when a photo is cut out and a new one put in its place the edges of the photo appear raised and uneven. Feel the thickness of the ID card. Card thickness should be uniform, smooth and even in texture. Any bumps or lines felt or seen underneath the surface are indications that a card may have been tampered with.

Lastly, if an identification card looks brand new, but has a date on it that's 3 or 4 years old, the card may be a freshly made counterfeit. If presented with one, ask the customer for a second ID card with a signature, phone number or picture for comparison and verification. The signatures and photos should match up if they are legitimate ID cards.

Business, government, school, membership and hospital ID cards can all be counterfeited, as well as public transportation cards, event staff identification cards, and drivers licenses. To protect your organization invest in secure identification cards which cannot easily be forged.

IDSuperShop recommends the following printers for creating secure ID cards for your organization:

• HID Global Fargo DTC4500LC This high-volume laminating printer delivers speed, power and versatility all in one.
• HID Global Fargo HDP5000 Creates ID cards with a superior print quality, higher reliability and durability, and greater security.
• Evolis Securion Fraud-proof security with a cutting-edge lamination station that applies any type of film: patch, varnish, holographic or regular.
• Datacard SP75Plus Increases card security with its lamination capabilities, applying a clear or holographic patch on your dual-sided ID cards.
• Zebra P430i Dual-sided printing with single-sided lamination. Designed for the creation and printing of secure, durable ID cards.
• Magicard Prima4 Features Reverse Transfer dual-sided printing technology & 3 year UltraCoverPlus unlimited warranty.