NCJ Number
80024
Journal
International Criminal Police Review Issue: 348 Dated: (May 1981) Pages: 132-141
Date Published
1981
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Protection from the counterfeiting and forgery of bonds, certificates, and other documents is discussed.
Abstract
Generally, measures to prevent counterfeiting and forgery of significant documents entail using a suitable combination of security features in making the paper and in printing. Methods used to guarantee authenticity must ensure that it is always possible to prove that a document is genuine, i.e., that it is the original printing on the original paper. The watermark is the typical feature used to guarantee that the paper is genuine. Other characteristics that can distinguish a paper's authenticity are its feel; transparency; color; security fibers; planchettes (small disks of colored paper incorporated in paper); metal security threads; incorporated chemical reactions to guarantee authenticity; composition of fibers; and bleaching, fluorescence, and phosphorescence. In forgery, techniques used to remove the original printing are oxidizing agents, solvents, and self-correcting typewriters. In some cases, careful mechanical scraping may be used. Various papers can be used whose fibers and color construction reveal any surface scraping. Protection against self-correcting typewriters can be accomplished by printing the original copy so forcefully that depressions are made in the paper, thus preventing self-correcting typewriters from removing all physical traces of the original printing. Indications of chemical washing and removal of lettering with solvents can be shown through the use of substances in the paper or as a surface layer which will cause color changes in the paper when various chemicals are used to wash it. Some limitations on this latter protection method are noted. Procedures for identifying counterfeiting or forgery without recourse to laboratory techniques are briefly considered. Graphic illustrations are used.