Questioned Documents Forensic Science

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

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

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Questioned Documents: Examples Checks Licenses and Certificates Passports (Counterfeit) Money Receipts Lottery tickets Historical documents Ransom and suicide notes Forgeries of Art

Forgery

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.

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

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

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?

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

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 2002 film, Catch Me If You Can

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

Compare Two Checks

Forged Check

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

Type Script Comparison and Altered Documents

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Counterfeit

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

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

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 http://www.newmoney.gov/uscurrency/redesigned100.htm

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

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

Spot the Counterfeit

Spot the Counterfeit

Spot the Counterfeit (same 2 bills)

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

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

Resources Bertino, Anthony J. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations. Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning, 2010. American Society of Questioned Document Examiners www.asqde.org 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 http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/terrorists_spies/terrorists/kaczynski/1.html