foster+freeman BLOG

January 10, 2024

Document Fraud: An Engine of Organised Crime

Passports, travel and identity documents are precious commodities that allow individuals to cross international borders, and serve as a means of identity for a range of purposes, such as opening a bank account, applying for a job, or obtaining a driver’s license

An international problem, document fraud has previously been identified as being one of the 3 central pillars of organised crime, with their use being linked to a wide variety of criminal activity.

EUROPOL European Union’s law enforcement agency

“Document fraud is a key facilitator for organised crime. Document fraud entails the production and use of counterfeit documents as well as the use of genuine documents obtained utilizing deception or misrepresentation. The production and use of fraudulent documents have also been linked to terrorist actors. Document fraudsters and forgers manipulate or produce all types of identity, travel, and administrative documents.

Fraudulent documents are used and traded extensively among OCGs and represent a significant obstacle in the fight against serious and organised crime. Fraudulent IDs are in high demand and are the most traded type of fraudulent document. Increasingly, fraudulent documents are traded online. Online marketplaces are used by criminals to display the range of genuine documents on offer and allow document forgers to receive orders directly from clients.”

Securing Modern Travel Documents

Recent advancements in technology have revolutionized the way governments and organizations protect these documents. One of the most significant advancements in safeguarding these crucial documents is the invention of biometric authentication. Many countries are now employing the use of biometric data, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, this extra data not only adds an extra layer of security but also helps expedite the screening process. These high-tech passports contain embedded microchips that store biographical information and a digital image, further fortifying the document against tampering or counterfeiting. Furthermore, secure encryption methods are employed to protect the data stored on these chips.

Biometric ePassports

A ePassport or a biometric passport is a traditional paper passport with an embedded microchip that holds your personal information, as well as your photograph. All biometric passport is identified by a small, gold camera logo at the bottom.

Biometric passports use RFID technology to store a wide range of stat that is unique to the passport holder, such as a photograph, finger print, iris scan and any other biographical information.

Biometric passports increase the speed of passport checks, and The chip and the data held on it inside the passport is much more difficult to replicate than information on a printed page, making it tough for fraudsters and criminals to use your passport or identity.

Embedded Personal Information

Passports contain a myriadof personal dataq, not just on the surface printed level or on a chip inside the passport but also embedded into the passports page itself. Therer are multiple ways of embedding data into the passports such as; IPI, ICI, Letterscreen and MRZ.

MRZ or machine readable zone is a particular area in an identity document that encloses the document holder’s personal data. IPI™ technology encodes personal data in the primary portrait, protecting both the portrait and the data against tampering/manipulation and unauthorized personalization.

To read this data you can't just use a phone or computer you have to have a licenced decoder for this embedded data, such as the VSC PDi+ or the VSC 900.

Physical Security Features

Passports like many identity documents contain a wide range of physical security features to go alongside the hidden and embedded security features, to increase the level of security and reduce the how easy it is to replicate.

Physical features such as; base fluorescence, watermarks security threads, intaglio and print processes. Security fibres are fibres that are placed and appear randomly across the paper, they can be visible to the naked eye or react when exposed to UV. Intaglio ink is a printing process where the ink has a raised feel which can be felt when you run your finger over the page. A watermark is created during the paper manufacturing process by varying the thickness of the paper. It is best viewed using transmitted light.

Authenticating Travel & Identity Documents

Fraudsters may employ a tactic of document fraud called alteration. This is where they try to change the data in a genuine document. Typically, a fraudster will try to alter or substitute the photo on a real passport, alteration of the biographical data on the page or in the MRZ (machine-readable zone), deletions of visa entries or stamps, erasure of biographical data and alteration of personal data. To deal with this we have to employ a hybrid way of securing your personal data. Personal data should be inserted inside the document structure, not just on the surface. This will make it difficult for fraudsters to reach, alter, or recreate it. Personal data should be interlocked with security features. The forged passport will, therefore, show clear and visible traces of alteration.

The advent of ePassports, and the increased sophistication of the biometric chips that are embedded into documents, have compelled fraudsters to improve the quality of their fraudulent documents.

To crack down on ever-evolving criminals the technology to identify fraudulent documents has to evolve as well.

foster+freeman VSC technology provides a solution to combat document fraudsters. Designed from the ground up for the hybrid physical/digital examination of modern biometric security documents, VSC systems are designed to identify counterfeit documents, detect cases of identity fraud, and build up a complete case of evidence with which to convict and dismantle these powerful criminal networks.

VSC^® 900

The complete solution for hybrid document interrogations

Introducing a new VSC workstation for the hybrid physical and digital inspection of travel and identity documents, designed to meet the complex demands of immigration/border security applications.

The first in a new generation of hybrid VSC document examination systems, the VSC 900 provides examiners with a comprehensive suite of traditional and advanced tools for the interrogation and verification of passports, ID cards, visas, residence permits, and other questioned documents.

Find out more

VSC Applications

Physical Document Examination

The product of 40+ years’ design, research and experience, the VSC 900 includes the latest foster+freeman optical imaging technology to visualise and interrogate document security features including watermarks; holograms; special inks; and security threads; as well as anti-tampering measures, such as perforations; laminates; and heat-sealed edges etc.

High resolution, 8MP imaging providing over A4/US Letter field of view

Up to 1023 LED illumination combinations at all spectral wavelengths (short-, mid- and long-wave UV, through to near-infrared)

Removable transmitted light base with optional XY-Stage

Digital Document Examination

Providing a comprehensive interface for the control of all VSC illumination, imaging and examination tools, the VSC900 software will be instantly accessible to anyone familiar with the VSC line of instruments. Updated to facilitate the hybrid inspection of ‘digital documents’, the VSC900 includes the following advanced features:

Decode embedded security features using fully licenced decoders

Extract biometric data and perform document-specific tests with Pass/Fail authentication

View data contained on the RFID chip of a Machine-Readable Travel Document (MRTD) using Extended Access Control (EAC)

Find Out More…

Explore More: Forensic Science Webinar

New Frontiers in Document Examination

In this webinar, we explore the latest techniques and technology used by immigration staff and questioned document examiners for the forensic analysis of travel and identity documents.

Watch Now