How to Spot a Fake I.D.

This article was co-authored by Lahaina Araneta, JD. Lahaina Araneta, Esq. is an Immigration Attorney for Orange County, California with over 6 years of experience. She received her JD from Loyola Law School in 2012. In law school, she participated in the immigrant justice practicum and served as a volunteer with several nonprofit agencies.

There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

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As licenses are becoming ever easier to forge, fake I.D.s are growing more common and more accurate. If you're in a position where you must verify someone's age or identity—whether a bouncer at a club or a teller at a grocery store checking a license for tobacco sales—it's important that you know how to detect fake identification. You should examine the card carefully, identifying relevant safety features, before studying the cardholder.

Part 1 of 2:

Examining the Card

Purchase the I.D. Checking Guide from the Driver’s License Guide Company. It contains updated information on licenses in the U.S. and Canada. [1] X Research source You can order by calling 800-227-8827.
Pick up any state-published reference. Your state might have published a booklet or handout on authenticating their state I.D.s. Check with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
For instance, in some states, an I.D. for a person under 21 will be vertical, while one for a person over 21 will be horizontal.

A fake I.D. may be thinner than a legitimate one. In particular, counterfeiters use different paper or laminate than legitimate I.D.s.

The microprint will be located on different positions, depending on which state’s I.D. you are looking at.

Hold the card under ultraviolet light. Depending on your state, certain security features will show up under ultraviolet light. For example, in California, you can see a second, lighter image of the cardholder only under UV light.

Run a thumb over the picture and check its thickness. On some fake I.D.s, a picture is pasted over the original one, so the I.D. is especially thick there.
Some information may also be tactile. On California licenses, for example, the cardholder’s signature is now printed using raised lettering. You can run your thumb across it and feel the lettering.
On North Carolina licenses, you can feel the date of birth, which is laser engraved.

There’s also an app you can use: BarZapp. The app only costs a couple of dollars and can be downloaded onto your smart phone. [4] X Research source

The card might also have the state name that is visible when you tilt the card toward the light. For example, on an Illinois driver’s license, the state name shows up in diagonal across the front of the card.

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Search for misspellings on the identification card. You can spot a forgery if the I.D. contains a misspelling, such as using the wrong abbreviation for the state. Any I.D. with a misspelling is not legitimate.

Advertisement Part 2 of 2:

Studying the Cardholder

Other signs of lying include pursing their lips or touching their face as they talk. [6] X Research source
If the person is right-handed, then they will usually look to the right when they tell a lie.

It can be difficult to judge height in the abstract. However, compare the person to your own height. If you’re 5’6” and the cardholder is allegedly 5’8”, then they should be close to your height.

Instead of focusing on someone’s hairstyle, look at those features that don’t change: nose, ears, eyes, and chin. [7] X Research source
Be suspicious if they look exactly like the picture or are wearing the same clothing. This indicates they made the fake I.D. recently.

You might suspect someone buying alcohol or cigarettes is using a fake I.D.. In that situation, ask them for their signature and then compare it.
Sometimes, people will accidentally sign their real name, so this is a good test. [9] X Research source

You can also ask them their middle name or year they graduated high school. If they hesitate, then they may be using a fake I.D.
If a companion is with the cardholder, quickly ask them the cardholder’s name. If they hesitate, they could be lying.

Ask for a second form of photo identification. Someone might spend a lot of money to get 1 fake I.D. However, they probably don’t have 2. Ask to see a second photo I.D. If the person can’t produce 1, then the I.D. might be fake.

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Don’t confiscate a fake I.D.. Only law enforcement can do this. However, you may call the police and hold onto the I.D. until the police arrive. [11] X Research source

Remember that it is illegal to make a sale to someone with an expired I.D., even if it is a legitimate I.D.. Accordingly, always check the expiration date.

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