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A GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE ON

PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING
DO C UM EN T VERIFIC ATIO N
W H AT IS
PERSO N N EL
SEC URITY ?
This docum ent has been prepared for
organisations that support the national
infrastructure.
W e are grateful for the support and help
provided by the N ational D ocum ent Fraud
U nit in putting together this guidance. All
im ages are ow ned and supplied by them .
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 01
SECURITY FEATURES 05
S u b stra te se c u rity fe a tu re s 05
B ase ouresence 05
W aterm arks 05
Security bres 06
S e c u rity p rin tin g te c h n iq u e s 06
Intaglio printing 06
Latent im age 06
G old blocking 06
Laser perforations 06
D iffra c tive O p tic a lly Va ria b le I m a g in g D e vic e s ( D O VI D s)
H o lo g ra m s a n d K in e g ra m s 07
L a m in a tio n 07
B a sic p h o to g ra p h a u th e n tic a tio n 08
U ltra -vio le t ( U V) lig h t 08
O p tic a l C h a ra c te r R e c o g n itio n ( O C R ) 09
B io m e tric s 09
DOCUMENT FRAUD 11
I m p o sto rs 11
C o u n te rfe its 12
W aterm arks 12
Intaglio and latent im age 13
Printing 14
G old blocking 14
F o rg e d d o c u m e n ts 16
Page substitution 16
Photograph substitution 19
D igital im age substitution 22
Alterations 23
Stolen blanks 24
Visas 25
Alternative passports 26
O ther form s of identi cation 27
Supporting docum entation 29

D o c u m e n ts yo u sh o u ld n o t a c c e p t 32
BASIC DOCUMENT EXAMINATION SUMMARY 33
DOCUMENT VERIFICATION CHECKLIST 35
WHERE TO GET HELP 36
INTRODUCTION
D ocum ent veri cation is the process of ensuring that docum ents
presented by prospective em ployees are genuine and that the holder is the
rightful ow ner. It is an integral part of the pre-em ploym ent screening
process. Staff responsible for checking docum ents should have the
necessary know ledge and tools to be able to con rm authenticity and
identify basic forgeries.
This docum ent highlights the m ain security features present in a num ber of
docum ents and the m ain m ethods used to forge such docum ents. It
should assist staff in the detection of basic forgeries. H ow ever, this
guidance w ill not provide staff w ith the skills to detect all forgeries,
particularly those w hich have been produced using highly professional and
sophisticated techniques. Staff w ho have concerns about a docum ent
should alw ays seek further advice see page 36.
M ost of the exam ples in this docum ent relate to passports. H ow ever, som e
of the security features contained w ithin passports are also in other
docum ents, for exam ple driving licences. The forgery techniques outlined
in this chapter (e.g. chem ical alteration), are relevant to all kinds of
docum ents e.g. university certi cates.
This docum ent should be read in conjunction w ith A G ood Practice G uide
on Pre-em ploym ent Screening.
DOCUMENT VERIFICATION STRATEGY
It is im portant that your docum ent veri cation processes are integrated
w ithin your w ider pre-em ploym ent screening strategy. This section sets out
the key areas you w ill need to consider.
Application form
Inform ation about the docum ent veri cation process should be provided to
all candidates as part of the recruitm ent process (in the application pack or
on-line). This should clearly explain w hich docum ents are requested and
w hy for instance to guard against identity fraud and forgery. It is also
w orth stressing how im portant docum ent veri cation is to your com pany
and that you m ay seek to con rm the authenticity of relevant
docum entation. This m ay provide an elem ent of deterrence to individuals
w ho m ight apply using forged docum entation. You m ay also w ish to m ake
it clear that applicants w ho are unable to produce the required
docum entation w ill not usually be em ployed (except for cases w here a
reasonable explanation can be provided).
01
Training
C onsider the training needs of those staff responsible for docum ent
veri cation. H ow m uch know ledge do they already have? W hat sort of
training m ight they require? H ow frequently should this be refreshed? You
m ay w ish to designate a particular m em ber of staff as the internal expert
on docum ent veri cation. They could be responsible for ensuring that all
training needs are m et and m onitor developm ents in docum ents (e.g. the
new epassport for U K citizens) and detection techniques. This person
could also act as the rst point of contact for staff w ho have concerns
about any docum entation.
You m ay decide to seek private sector training in docum ent veri cation;
there are a num ber of private sector organisations in the U K w hich offer
such services. You could also develop your ow n internal training
program m es. They m ay include the opportunity for staff to practice
exam ining docum ents such as their ow n passports to ensure that your
processes are practicable and understood. These sessions could also
discuss any previous exam ples of docum ent concern and how your staff
dealt w ith the situation.
Equipment
C onsider w hether your processes require the use of any veri cation tools.
B oth m agni ers and ultra violet (U V) light sources are easy to obtain and
can enhance your ability to detect fraudulent docum entation. H ow ever, the
use of this equipm ent w ill only be effective if the users have a sound
understanding of the docum ent and its safeguards.
STRATEGY CHECKLIST
M ake clear, as early as possible in the process, w hich docum ents are
required.
Em phasise the im portance of docum ent veri cation this w ill help to
act as a d e te rre n t to w ould-be forgers and fraudsters.
DOCUMENT VERIFICATION TRAINING CHECKLIST
C onsider:
The training needs of your staff.
Appointing an expertw ithin the organisation responsible for all
aspects of docum ent veri cation.
W hether your training needs can be m et by private sector/external
trainers.
02
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
M a g n i e rs. Standard handheld m agnifying glasses can be useful w hen
exam ining docum ents for photo substitution (i.e. dirt around the photo,
m isalignm ent of safeguards w hich overlap from the page to the photo)
U ltra vio le t ( U V) lig h t so u rc e s. U V pens and U V light boxes are useful
tools for identifying w hether U V safeguards are genuine.
Document checking
The length of tim e required for exam ining docum ents is directly related to
the skills of the staff responsible for checking docum ents. C onsider the
length of tim e needed to verify and photocopy docum ents and incorporate
this into your recruitm ent process. For exam ple, you m ay w ish to do initial
checks w hile the applicant is being interview ed, if that provides enough tim e.
It is essential that all docum ents are exam ined thoroughly. It m ay be helpful
to design a checklist (such as the D ocum ent Veri cation C hecklist at page
35) to ensure that all aspects of the docum ent are exam ined. You could
introduce procedures w hereby each docum ent w ill not be signed offuntil
each section of the checklist has been com pleted. Furtherm ore, it is
im portant to conduct checks against every docum ent that is presented.
Concerns
If you identify a potential concern w ith a docum ent, you should rst ensure
that all other aspects of the docum ent are checked before you take the
m atter further (this is w hen the use of a checklist m ay be helpful). You
should then seek professional advice (see page 36) for contact details and
help regarding travel docum ents. For other docum ents, you are advised to
contact the originating organisation, for exam ple the originating university
for degree certi cates.
Ideally, you should seek further advice before you return the docum ent to
the applicant. The advice you receive m ay be able to resolve the issue (for
instance the apparent inconsistency w as caused by w ear and tear). If it is
not possible to seek a second opinion, proceed w ith caution and raise
your concern(s) w ith the applicant asking them w hether they can provide
an explanation. You should stress that you are follow ing standard
procedures for the veri cation of docum ents.
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION CHECKLIST
C onsider how long your staff require to exam ine docum ents.
D evelop a checklist to ensure that all aspects of the docum ent are
exam ined.
Exam ine all docum ents thoroughly.
03
INTRODUCTION
Photocopies of the relevant docum ents m ay be suf cient to conduct
further investigation (e.g. concerns w ith the type face on the biodata page of
a passport). H ow ever, if your concerns lie elsew here w ithin the docum ent
you m ay have to ask the applicant to return w ith the original docum ent
w hich can then be exam ined by an expert or som eone m ore experienced.
Your concerns m ay relate to a docum ent produced outside the U K, in
w hich case it m ay be m ore dif cult to resolve your suspicions. If your
concerns relate to a passport or national identity card, the relevant
em bassy or consulate in the U K m ay be able to assist you.
If you are unable to resolve your concerns you m ay decide to discontinue
the applicants recruitm ent. You should docum ent all your dealings w ith the
applicant (i.e. telephone calls, em ails, letters etc) and any other relevant
parties. You m ay also w ish to seek legal advice.

DEALING WITH SUSPICIOUS DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST
C om plete your exam ination of the w hole docum ent before carrying
out any investigations.
W here necessary seek specialist advice.
R aise any concerns w ith the applicant in a sensitive m anner; there
m ay be a plausible explanation.
C onsider discontinuing the applicants recruitm ent if you are unable to
satisfy your concerns.
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PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
SECURITY FEATURES
The exam ples of the security features in this section refer to the U K
passport. H ow ever, these features are also present in a num ber of other
docum ents such as the U K photo driving licence.
D ocum ents often incorporate features that prevent the unlaw ful copying or
alteration of the docum ent. These security features are used in any docum ent
that has a value (such as identity docum ents, currency, driving licences etc).
SUBSTRATE SECURITY FEATURES
A substrate is the m aterial from w hich docum ents are m ade. Traditionally,
the substrate in passports and identity cards has been paper, into w hich
m any features have been incorporated to protect the docum ent against
counterfeiting and forgery. H ow ever, an increasing num ber of nations are
using a polycarbonate (hard plastic) substrate for the biodata page.
Security features contained w ithin the substrate include:
Base uorescence
Passports and identity cards are m ade from high quality security paper.
This is designed to have a low base uorescence (i.e. not react brightly)
w hen exposed to ultra-violet (U V) light. C heaper paper (frequently used by
counterfeiters) tends to uoresce to a greater extent under U V light.
Watermarks
A w aterm ark is created during m anufacture by variations in the thickness
of the paper and can be view ed using transm itted light (by holding the
docum ent up to light or passing light through the paper). A real w aterm ark
should consist of subtle changes in tone and both darker and lighter areas
and should never react under U V light.
E x a m p le o f g e n u in e
( le ft) a n d c o u n te rfe it
( rig h t) u n d e r U V to
sh o w u o re sc in g o f
c o u n te rfe it p a p e r
Wa te rm a rk th ro u g h
tra n sm itte d lig h t
05
Security bres
Security bres appear in random patterns across the paper. They can be
visible to the naked eye, or uorescent w hen exposed to ultra-violet light.
SECURITY PRINTING TECHNIQUES
The printing m ethods used in a num ber of docum ents can also contain a
num ber of security features. These include:
Intaglio printing
Intaglio is a printing process w hich results in the ink having a raised and
rough feel w hich can be felt by running a nger over the paper. Intaglio
printing can be found on the inside cover of som e (but not all) passports.
Latent image
This technique is applied using an intaglio process and the printing
technique used m eans that the pattern can only be revealed by view ing the
page at an oblique angle. The photo below show s both intaglio printing
and the latent im age on the inside of the front cover of the U K passport.
Gold blocking
G old blocking consists of a real gold leaf stam ped hard into the cover of
the passport. G enuine gold blocking w ill be of h ig h q u a lity and n e d e ta il.
W hen assessing gold blocking it is im portant to proceed w ith caution as
the gold blocking in older passports can fade due to w ear and tear.
G enerally speaking, gold blocking in recently issued passports should be
less faded. Potentially suspicious gold blocking is not conclusive. H ow ever,
it should m erit a closer look at the rest of the docum ent.
Laser perforations
There are very ne laser perforations w hich can be seen by holding the
biodata page of the U K passport up to the light (photo on the follow ing page):
Two p h o to s o f la te n t
im a g e with in in ta g lio
p rin tin g - th e o n e o n
th e le ft fa c e o n ; to th e
rig h t a t a n o b liq u e
a n g le d isp la yin g th e
la te n t im a g e
S e c u rity b re s u n d e r
U V lig h t so u rc e
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PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
DIFFRACTIVE OPTICALLY VARIABLE IMAGING DEVICES
(DOVIDS) HOLOGRAMS AND KINEGRAMS
D O VID s reveal an im age or pattern w hen light is diffracted by the device.
There are m any different types of D O VID s, the m ajority seen in passports
are based on holographic technology (see the photo below ).
LAMINATION
S ta n d a rd la m in a te a sheet of clear plastic w hich can incorporate
visible and invisible safeguards.
L a m in a te s with O p tic a lly Va ria b le D e vic e s ( O VD s) an exam ple is
the latest B ritish passport w here a clear plastic lam inate featuring a
transparent O VD protects the holders digital im age.
O VD p ro te c tin g
d ig ita l im a g e
H o ld in g U K p a ssp o rt
u p to tra n sm itte d lig h t
to a c c e n tu a te th e
la se r p e rfo ra tio n s
a ro u n d th e c o rn e rs o f
th e p h o to
07
SECURITY FEATURES
BASIC PHOTOGRAPH AUTHENTICATION
This refers to any feature added at the tim e of issue, usually as a m eans of
deterring the rem oval of the photograph of the holder. This m ay be an ink
stam p (w et ink seal), or an em bossed (dry seal) w hich can be linear or round.


ULTRA-VIOLET (UV) LIGHT
M ost passports and travel docum ents contain safeguards w hich can only
be seen w ith ultra-violet light. C are should be taken because these
safeguards can be sim ulated, but if they are com pletely m issing it is likely
that som ething is w rong w ith the docum ent. M any passports include a U V
safeguard w hich covers the holders photograph to protect against photo
substitution. See below exam ples of U V safeguards in U K passports.
U K p a ssp o rt u n d e r
U V lig h t so u rc e
h ig h lig h tin g c ro wn o n
in sid e c o ve r, stitc h in g
a n d o we r
1 . E x a m p le o f b lu e in k
sta m p o ve r p h o to
e d g e
2 . E m b o sse d d ry se a l
2 . 1 .
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PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION (OCR)
A signi cant proportion of passports contain a series of m achine readable
characters on tw o row s along the length of the biodata page of the passport.
The font used for these characters is O ptical C haracter R ecognition (O C R B )
(see below ). This font has a num ber of distinct attributes. You can see that
the num ber threehas a at, as opposed to a curved, top line and the
num ber fourhas a broken vertical line. A check of these tw o digits on any
passport should help to highlight any potential concerns.

BIOMETRICS
B iom etric details enable an individuals unique identity to be recorded.
There are a num ber of physiological features that are unique to each
individual w hich can be used to prove a persons identity. B iom etric
identi ers include facial im age, ngerprints or iris recognition. Although
biom etrics cannot com pletely protect docum ents against fraud, they help
m ake passports harder to forge or counterfeit.
In the U K a new biom etric passport w as introduced through a phased
im plem entation from February 2006. Externally, the new biom etric passport
(also know n as the ePassport) is very sim ilar to the current one. It retains
its current m easurem ent of 125m m by 88m m , in line w ith International C ivil
Aviation O rganisation (IC AO ) standards and EU com m on form at
requirem ents. The standard issue passport contains 32 pages and the
business passport 48 pages. The biom etric passport w ill norm ally be valid
for ten years. Passports issued to children under 16 are valid for ve years.
The IC AO speci ed sym bol on the front cover of the passport signi es that
the passport contains a biom etric chip, distinguishing the book from
previous U K passports. The photographs overleaf show the new e-logo,
printing design, U V features and biom etric chip on the back of the biodata
page.

O C R B C h a ra c te r se t
09
SECURITY FEATURES
SECURITY FEATURES CHECKLIST
H igh quality security paper should have low base uorescence
(i.e. should not react brightly) under U V light sources.
W aterm arks view ed by passing light through the page; consisting
of subtle changes in tones; w aterm arks should not react w hen
placed under U V light sources.
Latent im age a pattern or w ords revealed by view ing the page
obliquely.
Intaglio printing process should be rough to the touch and contain
a latent im age revealed by view ing the page obliquely.
D iffractive O ptically Variable Im aging D evices (D O VID s) revealed
w hen light is diffracted by the device i.e. hologram s.
Lam inate plastic layering on the docum ent w hich can incorporate
safeguards.
Photo authentication often a stam p overlapping the photo,
designed to deter substitution.
Safeguards w hich can only be seen w hen docum ent placed
under U V light sources.
B iom etrics holders unique identity contained w ithin the docum ent,
e.g. facial im age or ngerprints.
E x a m p le o f n e w U K
b io m e tric p a ssp o rt
( a lso k n o wn a s
e P a ssp o rt)
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PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
DOCUMENT FRAUD
D ocum ent fraud can be conducted in a num ber of different w ays. This
section aim s to highlight how fraud takes place and how it can be
detected. The m ajority of the exam ples of fraudulent docum ents relate to
passport fraud and are therefore speci c to photographic docum entation.
The m ain types of fraud are:
im p o sto rs th e h o ld e r lo o k s lik e th e rig h tfu l o wn e r
c o u n te rfe it m a d e fro m sc ra tc h
fo rg e ry - a g e n u in e d o c u m e n t wh ic h h a s b e e n a lte re d
IMPOSTORS
This is the sim plest type of docum ent fraud, w here the holderis sim ply a
look-alike and the docum ent is often not altered at all. To guard against
im postors you are advised to:
attem pt to calculate the age of the person (using the date of birth in
the docum ent, if provided) and com pare that w ith the person
standing in front of you. It can be dif cult to ascertain a persons age
from their appearance and is im portant to consider that people m ay
have aged as m uch as ten years since their passport photo w as
taken. Therefore, you should proceed w ith caution.
com pare the photograph in the docum ent w ith the candidate - pay
particular attention to the lips, chin, eyes, nose and if possible ears. It
m ay be dif cult to do this w ith the candidate present, so ask if you can
take a photo of the applicant and then m ake a com parison in private.
com pare the signature in the docum ent w ith one provided elsew here
by the candidate on their application form
com pare as m uch of the data contained in the docum ent w ith other
inform ation you have on the individual. For instance, if the docum ent
is a degree certi cate their education history on the application form
should correspond.

E x a m p le s o f p a ssp o rt
p h o to g ra p h s sh o win g
va ria tio n s in fe a tu re s
th a t c a n h e lp
d e te rm in e wh e th e r
so m e b o d y is a n
im p o sto r
E x a n p le o f a n
im p o ste r - n o tic e
d iffe re n t sh a p e d c h in
11
COUNTERFEITS
A counterfeit docum ent is one that has been m ade up from scratch to
resem ble an of cially issued docum ent. The quality of counterfeits can vary
enorm ously. W hile it m ay be very dif cult to identify a high quality
counterfeit the follow ing inform ation m ay help to identify counterfeits of
lesser quality. It is not necessary to know w hat the original looks like since
docum ents (particularly passports and visas) have m any com m on
safeguards built into them to m ake copying dif cult.
Wa te rm a rk s
B y holding the docum ent up to light you should be able to identify the
w aterm ark. A genuine w aterm ark has subtle variations in the light and dark
areas, unlike m any counterfeit w aterm arks w hich w ill have just light areas.
Low quality w aterm arks m ust be view ed as highly suspicious.

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PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
T h is e x a m p le sh o ws
th e sa m e p e rso n - th e
im a g e o n th e rig h t
wa s ta k e n so m e ye a rs
a fte r th e o th e r im a g e
E x a m p le o f a n
im p o sto r - n o tic e th e
d iffe re n t sh a p e d e a rs
Follow ing an exam ination of the docum ent by transm itted light, you m ay
w ant to study the docum ent under ultra violet light. A genuine w aterm ark
should n e ve r react to ultra violet light, but a chem ically sim ulated
w aterm ark is likely to uoresce.
I n ta g lio a n d la te n t im a g e
A relatively easy detection point for a counterfeit docum ent m ay be the
absence of intaglio print and a latent im age w hich are often found on the
inside cover of genuine travel docum ents. In a counterfeit the attem pt to
replicate intaglio m ay create a w axy feel unlike the rough surface of the
genuine and m ay also lack detail.
Intaglio printing m ay also include a latent im age. In a counterfeit docum ent
there m ay be no attem pt to sim ulate the latent im age. You can check this
by holding the page w here the latent im age should be at an angle.
E x a m p le o f fa k e ( le ft)
a n d g e n u in e
wa te rm a rk s u n d e r
tra n sm itte d lig h t
E x a m p le o f g e n u in e
( rig h t) a n d fa k e
d o c u m e n ts ( o n le ft
th a t u o re sc e s) u n d e r
U V lig h t
13
DOCUMENT FRAUD
P rin tin g
G enuine travel docum ents are m anufactured on large scale security
printing presses using high quality, solid colour print processes and are
deliberately com plex to m ake copying dif cult. C ounterfeits are often
produced using colour copies or other scanning devices and this is likely to
produce jagged edges com pared to the solid lines of background print in a
genuine docum ent. Additionally, ink-jet printers cannot replicate the
sm ooth transition betw een colours created by rainbow background print.

You can assess the quality of printing w ith the use of a m agnifying glass
for instance the black print in a genuine visa is clear and even. The printing
in a counterfeit docum ent m ay lack intricate designs, w ithout solid and
clearly de ned lines and shapes.
Spelling m istakes are also com m on as in the stam ps below . The red
squares highlight the m istakes, public pondsshould read public funds
and C H AN N EL TR AVELshould read C H AN N EL TU N N EL.

G o ld b lo c k in g
G old blocking consists of real gold leaf stam ped hard into the cover of the
passport. C om pare the quality and ne detail of the genuine w ith the
counterfeit in the photo on the follow ing page.

E x a m p le o f two
d o c u m e n ts
h ig h lig h tin g re a l ( le ft)
a n d fa k e ( rig h t)
b a c k g ro u n d p rin tin g
E x a m p le s o f sta m p s
with sp e llin g m ista k e s
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PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
E x a m p le o f g e n u in e
( le ft) a n d fa k e g o ld
b lo c k in g ( rig h t)
COUNTERFEITS CHECKLIST
Wh a t to lo o k fo r:
poor quality or m isaligned gold blocking on the front cover of the
docum ent
suspicious texture of cover, lam inate or pages
overall poor m anufacture, i.e. m isaligned covers
m issing, or sim ulated, intaglio
sub-standard print quality
absence of, or poor quality, ultra-violet (U V) safeguards
absent or U V reactive w aterm ark
non-standard U V reaction of the paper
poor quality photo authentication
U se U V lig h t in th e d e te c tio n o f c o u n te rfe its to :
com pare the overall uorescence of a suspect docum ent w ith a
genuine one
check for the presence or absence of U V safeguards
check for a sim ulated w aterm ark
N ote: som e U V features m ay be dim inished in w orn but genuine
docum ents
15
DOCUMENT FRAUD
FORGED DOCUMENTS
A forged docum ent is a genuine docum ent w hich has been altered in
som e w ay to suit the new holder. Photos and personal details are obvious
targets but pages, visas and stam ps m ay also be forged. The m ain types
of forgery are covered in this section.
Page substitution
A docum ent w ill often be dism antled in order to substitute a page used to:
rem ove an incrim inating endorsem ent
bene t from a visa, stam p or residence perm it
change a photograph, im age or personal details
C o ve rs a n d e n d p a p e rs
To dism antle a passport one or both of the endpapers m ust be rem oved to
access the reverse of the stitching. You should m ake allow ances for w ear
and tear, but any localised dam age or w rinkling to the endpapers or covers
should be treated w ith suspicion.

E x a m p le o f wrin k le d
e n d p a p e r
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PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
A lig n m e n t
Pages are trim m ed to a standard size and therefore should align exactly. In
a forgery the pages m ay be m isaligned due to the poor reassem bly of the
docum ent. The pages of the booklet m ay not align w ith the spine and the
endpaper m ay have separated from the soft cover.
P a g e n u m b e rin g
The International C ivil Aviation O rganisation (IC AO ) recom m ends that
passports contain a num ber unique to the docum ent on every page. If
genuine pages from other docum ents are substituted into a different
passport then the num ber m ay be altered to m atch the new docum ent.
C lose inspection of these unique num bers m ay highlight alterations.

To p im a g e sh o ws
m isa lig n e d p a g e s
in d ic a tin g p o o r
a sse m b ly a s d o e s th e
im a g e b o tto m rig h t.
B o tto m le ft is a
g e n u in e d o c u m e n t
E x a m p le o f two p a g e s
fro m a U K p a ssp o rt
h ig h lig h tin g th e p a g e
n u m b e rs
17
DOCUMENT FRAUD
S titc h in g
Passports w hich have been dism antled to rem ove the pages w ill often
contain em pty stitch holes w here the original thread used to be. In addition
the stitch holes of the page w hich has been inserted m ay not m atch those
of the docum ent again leaving vacant holes.

E x a m p le o f ta m p e re d
stitc h in g
PAGE SUBSTITUTION CHECKLIST
H o w to te ll if a p a g e o r p a g e s in a d o c u m e n t h a ve b e e n
su b stitu te d :
dam age to the cover of the docum ent
dam age to the spine of a docum ent
dam age to the endpapers
endpapers m isaligned w ith the covers
vacant or enlarged stitch holes
loose stitching
poor quality printing on a suspect page
different, sim ulated or m issing w aterm ark
inconsistent U V reaction of pages and safeguards
incorrect num ber of pages
18
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
N o te : G enuine pages from another docum ent or part/com pletely
counterfeit pages m ay be inserted into a passport. In m odern passports,
the m ost im portant page the biographical data page is m ost com m only
substituted.
Photograph substitution
Forgers involved in the photo-substitution of identity docum ents m ay
decide to leave the details unchanged, resulting in a possible m is-m atch
betw een the holder and the pro le in the docum ent. M ore com m only they
m ay change the details to m atch the pro le of the holder, risking detection
if the alterations are too obvious. It is therefore alw ays advisable to check
the personal details (nam e, date of birth, height etc) contained in an
identity docum ent against the person in front of you. There are three m ain
w ays to substitute a photograph:
1 . M u ltip le e m b o sse d
im a g e s wh ic h in d ic a te
th a t th e p h o to m a y
h a ve b e e n su b stitu te d
H o w to u se U V lig h tin g in th e d e te c tio n o f p a g e -su b stitu te d
d o c u m e n ts:
com pare uorescence levels of all pages w ithin a docum ent. There
should be a uniform reaction throughout. H o we ve r, it sh o u ld b e
n o te d th a t c e rta in c o n d itio n s, e . g . h u m id ity, m a y a ffe c t U V
sa fe g u a rd s.
check for the presence, absence or inconsistency of U V safeguards
on pages of a docum ent
check for a sim ulated w aterm ark
check for staining or inconsistencies indicating an attem pt to
conceal or alter a page num ber
check for excess glue at the spine or on the endpapers
1 . 2 .
2 . E x a m p le o f a b se n c e
o f U V sa fe g u a rd o ve r
p h o to ( u n d e r U V
e x a m in a tio n )
19
DOCUMENT FRAUD
L ifte d la m in a te m e th o d
An increasingly com m on m ethod of forgery is a lam inate lift w hich can
result in few signs of dam age to the docum ent.
The m ain detection points for this style of forgery are:
a second, counterfeit em boss or a m isaligned em boss across the
photograph and biodata page
dam age or degradation to the lam inate safeguards
extraneous m aterial beneath the lam inate
disturbed paper bres or dam age to the paper bres beneath the
lam inate
creases in the lam inate, best seen w ith an oblique light source.

T h e win d o w m e th o d
A w indow is cut in the lam inate on the photograph page and the original
photograph is rem oved. A new photograph is inserted and another
lam inate af xed over the page to conceal the dam age.
C re a se s in th e
la m in a te , se e n fro m
o b liq u e lig h t so u rc e
20
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
If the lam inate contains a visible safeguard the forger m ay decide to
reapply only the part of the w indow containing the safeguard. This w ill
result in dam age to the safeguard. Evidence of such dam age can include
hand-draw n or m isaligned parts of the ink stam p over the photograph area
or em bosses that are m isaligned from the photo to the page. The obverse
and reverse em boss im pressions into the photo and page should also
m atch. C ounterfeit stam ps and em bosses m ay also lack ne detail.

S p lit p a g e m e th o d
The page containing the photograph is split along its edge or the photo
page is split aw ay from the cover. O nce split the photograph can be
accessed from behind. The m ain detection points for this style of
forgery are:
dam age to the safeguards
the cover m ay not be rm ly af xed to its endpaper and the paper
dam age m ay be visible around the edge of the page or photograph
W hichever photo substitution m ethod is used, an unusually large
photograph m ay be used to conceal any dam age to the area w here the
original photograph w as positioned.
M isa lig n e d
sa fe g u a rd s b e twe e n
p h o to a n d re st o f
p a g e a n d sh o win g
sig n s o f d irt
21
DOCUMENT FRAUD
Digital Image substitution
M odern passports and identity cards are usually produced w ith the
holders personal details digitally printed directly into the docum ent and use
digital im ages rather than photographs.
The m ain w ays to substitute an im age include:
P a rtia l d ig ita l im a g e su b stitu tio n
W hen the actual face has been rem oved and the new holders face is
inserted. For this technique the original hair and shoulders rem ain. O n
close inspection you m ay be able to see that the new face lacks the clarity
of the shoulders and hair w hich are likely to be a higher resolution.
W hen cutting takes place to rem ove the im age, cut m arks in the page m ay
becom e apparent w hen the page is view ed w ith the use of indirect light.
PHOTOGRAPH SUBSTITUTION CHECKLIST
H o w to te ll if a p h o to g ra p h h a s b e e n su b stitu te d :
an unusually large photograph
m isaligned dry seal (em boss) from photograph to page
m isaligned obverse and reverse im pressions of the dry seal
(em boss)
m isaligned ink authenticating stam p from photograph to page
ink stam p or authenticating signature continues beneath
photograph
poor quality ink stam p or dry seal (em boss) over photograph
paper dam age adjacent to or behind the photograph
w rinkled or double lam inate (latter m ay be evident by looking at the
edge of the page)
air and dirt beneath the lam inate
excess glue around or behind the photograph
inaccurate, broken or m issing lam inate pattern and/or U V safeguard
page w rinkled behind or around photograph
cut m arks around the photo
U se U V lig h t in th e d e te c tio n o f p h o to g ra p h su b stitu tio n to :
check for unexplained patches of uorescence behind or around the
photograph, w hich m ay be indicative of excess glue or paper
dam age
check for the presence, absence or inconsistency of U V safeguards
in the lam inate both over and adjacent to a photograph
22
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
Wh o le d ig ita l im a g e su b stitu tio n
This involves the separation of page and lam inate. A piece of paper
containing the new im age is grafted onto the page and the lam inate then
re-applied. This m ay result in localised dam age to the biodata page and to
the visible lam inate safeguard. The additional paper also adds thickness to
the page and has a high base uorescence w hen exposed to U V light.
Alterations
The follow ing m ethods m ight be used to alter details w ithin a docum ent:
M e c h a n ic a l (abrasion, rubbing, scraping of the paper surface)
If a docum ent has been m echanically altered you m ay see:
under oblique light raised bres in the altered area
under transm itted light paper thinning in the altered area or thicker
areas in the paper of the altered area (the forger m ay have added paper
to cover up alteration, paper dam age or used coloured correction uid
to conceal an alteration).
C h e m ic a l (liquids such as w ater, solvents, bleach)
W hen view ed under oblique or w hite light, you m ight expect to see
shrinkage or w rinkling of the paper due to dam age to print in the docum ent
if it has been chem ically altered.
N ew details can som etim es be hand-w ritten but are m ore often typed.
The date of birth, height and sex should be checked carefully and you
should look for sm udging around the w ritten details.
DIGITAL IMAGE SUBSTITUTION CHECKLIST
H o w to te ll if a d ig ita l im a g e h a s b e e n su b stitu te d :
paper dam age adjacent to or behind the im age
print dam age adjacent to or behind the im age
w rinkled or double lam inate
air and dirt beneath the lam inate
ink run beneath the lam inate
inaccurate, broken or m issing lam inate pattern and/or safeguard
unusual U V reaction in the im age area
23
DOCUMENT FRAUD
Stolen blanks
A large num ber of genuine docum ents are stolen before they are issued
and are subsequently used by fraudsters. To detect such docum ents it is
im portant to check the authenticating stam ps and overall quality of the
type-w ritten personal details carefully. If you have a know n genuine
passport from the sam e country you can com pare the black print in- ll in
both docum ents. You m ay nd that the black print in- ll on the biodata
page is different in a stolen blank (see the exam ples below ).
B io d a ta wh ic h h a s
b e e n a lte re d b y
sc ra p in g
ALTERATIONS CHECKLIST
is the page/docum ent particularly w rinkled?
looking at the page at an angle are there any raised bres?
are certain areas of the page thinner w hen the page is view ed w ith
transm itted light?
G e n u in e ( le ft) a n d
sto le n b la n k ( rig h t)
p rin t in U K p a ssp o rts
24
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
Visas
Visas are secure docum ents in them selves and should have a sim ilar
standard of security as passports. H ow ever, visas are also open to fraud.
Substituted visas (those taken out of one docum ent and, after alteration,
inserted into another) m ay display signs of alteration to the passport
num ber or personal and issue details.
Im age substitution m ay also take place w ith visas. The use of transm itted
light m ay reveal paper thinning caused by abrasion w hen the original im age
w as rem oved. Further exam ination using U V light m ay show dam age to
the U V print safeguards w hich should be visible through the im age.
If you have suspicions about the typeface you m ay w ish to shine a
pow erful light through the page to test its thickness. The visa paper m ay
w ell be thinner than the rest of the docum ent due to the rem oval of the
original typeface (through chem ical treatm ent or scraping).

E x a m p le o f
g e n u in e visa s
VISAS CHECKLIST
com pare the biographical data in the visa w ith the sam e inform ation
in the passport and application form
inspect the biographical data for signs of alteration
check for sm udging of the type-w ritten details
inspect the im age on the visa for signs of substitution
check for dam age to U V safeguards
25
DOCUMENT FRAUD
Alternative passports
There have long been alternative travel docum ents w hich people have
exploited w hen they have not w ished to use a genuine passport using their
true identity and nationality. There are other docum ents in circulation
purporting to be valid for international travel but w hich are issued outside
the accepted rules and procedures of international practice. Tw o of the
m ain categories for this type of docum ents are:
F a n ta sy p a ssp o rts
These are docum ents w ith no authority and w hich are not of cially
recognised. They can occur in various form s and m ay have the physical
appearance of a passport. They are not an acceptable statem ent of either
nationality or identity.

E x a m p le s o f fa n ta sy
d o c u m e n ts
26
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
C a m o u a g e p a ssp o rts
These are unof cial travel docum ents in the nam e of non-existent countries
w hich are offered for sale by com m ercial organisations. The m ost recent
exam ples to be issued are of countries w hich are no longer know n by their
original nam e, for exam ple:
C eylon (Sri Lanka)
R hodesia (Zim babw e)
B ritish H onduras (B elize)
B ritish G uiana (G uyana)
A person m ay buy a com plete kit w hich can include birth certi cate, driving
licence etc.

Other forms of identication
Identity cards and driving licences often contain som e of the security
features that are present in passports. The exam ples of the Polish ID card
(below ) dem onstrate security features w hich include: lam ination; high
quality rainbow printing; a digital im age and an optically variable device
(O VD ). U nder U V exam ination further security features also becom e
apparent.
E x a m p le o f B ritish
H o n d u ra s k it
P o lish id e n ti c a tio n
c a rd u n d e r n o rm a l
a n d U V lig h t
27
DOCUMENT FRAUD
T h re e d iffe re n t vie ws
o f th e sa m e U K
d rivin g L ic e n c e
h ig h lig h tin g
b a c k g ro u n d p rin tin g ,
O VI a n d U V
sa fe g u a rd s
T h re e d iffe re n t vie ws
o f th e U K d rivin g
lic e n c e c o u n te rp a rt
sh o win g sa fe g u a rd s.
1 . to p with o u t a n y
lig h t so u rc e
in sp e c tio n
2 . th e m id d le u n d e r
tra n sm itte d lig h t
3 . th e b o tto m u n d e r
U V in sp e c tio n
1 .
3 .
The U K driving licence contains sim ilar security
features including high quality printing through a
continuous background print and digital im ages.
As the card is tilted an optically variable im age
(O VI) also appears. U nder U V light, further
security features can be seen.
The U K driving licence counterpart docum ent also has a num ber of
security features including w aterm arks and U V features (see photos
below ). W hen presented w ith the counterpart check that the address is the
sam e as provided on the application form and com pare the signature.
Look closely at the printed details (including nam e and address) do these
look faded, overw ritten or m odi ed in any w ay?
2 .
28
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
Supporting documentation
These are docum ents w hich support an individuals identity, proof of
address etc. Exam ples of supporting docum ents include utility bills and
m ortgage statem ents. Supporting docum ents are not docum ents
of identity.
U nlike identity docum ents, supporting docum ents do not have m any
security features. W ith the use of m odern of ce equipm ent they can easily
be forged, as the below exam ple of a B ritish G as bill show s.
B ritish g a s b ill
re m o va l o f c o rre c t
a d d re ss a n d n e w
d e ta ils a d d e d
OTHER FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION CHECKLIST
com pare the biographical data w ith the sam e inform ation provided
elsew here by the applicant
D oes the docum ent have a lam inate?
Are there any optically variable devices?
check for U V safeguards
29
DOCUMENT FRAUD
D espite the relative ease w ith w hich supporting docum entation can be
altered, close exam ination m ay help to identify inconsistencies or
anom alies w hich w arrant further investigation.
You should pay particular attention to the com panys logo on the bill. The
B ritish G as exam ple (below ) show s how logos lose their quality w hen
photocopied or scanned.
If you or your colleagues receive bills from the sam e com pany as the
prospective em ployee, you m ay w ish to m ake a com parison, focusing on
the printing and quality of the paper.
The vast m ajority of bills are m achine folded before being sent to
custom ers. A bill w hich has not been folded should cause concern and be
investigated further.
C h e q u e b o o k s a n d b a n k c a rd s
These also include security features, including holographic im ages on
credit/debit cards and high quality printing on cheque books. C heck
w hether the handw riting or printing look faded or altered. D oes the
signature and handw riting look sim ilar to other docum ents provided?
To p sh o ws a n o rig in a l
B ritish G a s lo g o
m id d le la se r p rin tin g ,
a n d b o tto m b u b b le je t
p rin tin g
30
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
I n te rn e t b a n k in g a n d b ills
An increasing num ber of people use the internet to bank and pay their bills.
As a consequence m any people no longer receive hard copy bills and an
applicant m ay inform you that they are unable to provide a hard copy bill.
They m ight offer, instead, to print a copy from their internet account. Such
an approach is open to abuse and forgery. You are advised to m ake it clear
to applicants that bills printed from the internet are not appropriate. The
m ajority of com panies should be able to provide a hard copy bill for those
custom ers w ho use internet accounts.
R e c e n t c h a n g e o f a d d re ss
A prospective em ployee m ay be in the process of m oving house. If this is
the case, you should ask for the appropriate docum entation from their
previous address as it is likely that you w ill be checking that inform ation
also. You should alw ays aim to satisfy yourself that all docum entation is
correct b e fo re recruiting an individual. H ow ever, in circum stances w here
the individual is unable to provide docum entation to con rm their new
address you should ask them to provide the appropriate docum entation
a s so o n a s p o ssib le . If they are unable to do this you should ensure that
you are satis ed w ith their reason.
P h o to o f b a n k c a rd
a n d c h e q u e b o o k
u n d e r va rio u s lig h t
so u rc e s
31
DOCUMENT FRAUD
Prospective em ployees m ay not be responsible for services (such as
utilities) at their address (for exam ple, an applicant w ho shares a property).
H ow ever, this should not prevent the applicant from providing appropriate
docum ents to con rm their residency, for exam ple bank statem ents or
docum entation from their current em ployer etc.
If you have any concerns about supporting docum entation, contact the
individual. If you need to contact a utility com pany to con rm they provide
a service to the given address, m ake sure you ask perm ission from the
applicant rst.
DOCUMENTS YOU SHOULD NOT ACCEPT
D o not take:
D uplicate or photocopied identity docum ents (m odern photocopiers
often produce excellent results).
An old-style provisional driving licence.
An international driving licence (ID L) (easily and frequently forged).
H ow ever, an international driving perm it (ID P) is a genuine docum ent
purchased w ithin the U K from the Post O f ce. It is an internationally -
recognised additional docum ent to support driving licences from any
country.
A copy of a birth certi cate issued m ore than six w eeks after birth (can
be purchased on request for any individual w ithout proof of identity).
An old B ritish visitors passport.
M obile telephone bills (as they can be sent to different addresses).
B ills printed from the internet as their integrity cannot be guaranteed
(see previous section).
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION CHECKLIST
C om pare the details in the docum ent w ith the sam e inform ation
elsew here e.g. addresses.
C om pare w ith know n originals if possible is the paper good
quality?
Is the logo w ell de ned and clearly printed?
Is the bill folded?
If in doubt, discuss your concerns w ith the applicant and if required,
w ith the service provider.
32
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
BASIC DOCUMENT
EXAMINATION SUMMARY
The application of a few sim ple, non-destructive tests can identify the m ore
obvious forgeries and counterfeits. W herever possible, w hen exam ining
docum ents com pare them w ith know n originals; if unsure seek a second
opinion.
Check for rst for IMPERSONATION
(the simplest type of passport fraud):
C arefully com pare the photograph/im age to the docum ent holder.
C heck the age, visible m arks and signature of the docum ent holder. If
practicable, ask the candidate to sign som ething in the presence of an
authorised individual w ho can then com pare the signature w ith that on
the docum entation provided.
C heck the chin, lips, ear shape (if possible), eyes and nose and their
relation to the face as a w hole.
C heck that the details given correspond w ith w hat is already know n
about the individual.
Check for evidence of COUNTERFEITING:
C heck the cover and overall construction of the docum ent. Is the gold
blocking w ell-de ned and w ell-aligned? D o all the pages line up?
C heck the w aterm ark. U se transm itted light rst.
U se ultra violet (U V) light. D oes the w aterm ark react (it shouldnt)? W hat
is the reaction of the paper? Are all the safeguards present?
C heck the print quality. If you are in any doubt as to w hat secure print
should look like, have a look at a banknote.
Are there any spelling m istakes?
Is there any intaglio printing? Is it raised or rough w hen you touch it?
Is it a fantasy docum ent? C an you verify that the country or organisation
exists?
Take a note of the condition of docum ents in relation to issue dates.
C heck for incorrect issue dates (e.g. on public holidays or on the 31st of
30 day m onths).
C om pare the issue and expiry dates - the vast m ajority should
correspond. Som etim es forgers only alter the expiry date.
33
O nce you are satis ed that the docum ent is not counterfeit, you can check
for signs that the docum ent m ay have been tam pered w ith.
Checks for evidence of PAGE SUBSTITUTION:
D o all of the pages align?
Is the stitching correct?
D o all pages react the sam e w ay w hen exposed to U V (they should in a
genuine docum ent)?
Are all of the pages present?
Check for PHOTOGRAPH SUBSTITUTION:
C heck the authentication (e.g. w et ink stam p).
C heck that any safeguards in the lam inate are present and undam aged
(these m ay include U V reactive features).
C heck that there is only one lam inate.
Look for any cut m arks around the photograph or, if there is one, along
the lines of the photograph box.
Check for IMAGE SUBSTITUTION:
Look for any cut m arks or paper dam age around or behind the im age.
C heck that any safeguards in the lam inate are present and undam aged
(these m ay include U V reactive features).
Look for unusual U V reaction in the im age area.
Check the STAMPS and VISAS in the document:
Visas are secure docum ents in them selves and should have security
features to the sam e standards as passports.
34
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
DOCUMENT VERIFICATION CHECKLIST
Note: you should only use this checklist after having read and gained an understanding
of this document.
QUESTION
Condition
H ow does the age of the docum ent com pare w ith the issue date?
D o all the pages line up w hen closed?
Is each page num bered?
Are any of the stitching holes enlarged or em pty?
Are there any raised bres around the type face?

Photo (if applicable)
C om pare the docum ents photo w ith the applicant .
Is there a difference betw een the face and the shoulders?
Are there any visible safeguards over the photo? D o they m atch up betw een the
photo and the page?
Is there an edge, cut m arks or ridge betw een the photo and page (run your
nger across the page)?
Is the photo area noticeably thicker than the rest of the page?
Is there any dirt around the edge of the photo?
Is there only one lam inate (view at the edge of the page)?

Biographical data
C om pare the biodata (date of birth, signature etc) w ith the sam e inform ation
provided elsew here by the applicant.
C heck for spelling m istakes including visas and stam ps.

Examination under natural/ lamp light
C an you see a w aterm ark? (G enuine w aterm arks have subtle changes of tone
and both darker and lighter areas)
Examination under ultra-violet light
D oes the w aterm ark react under U V? W aterm arks should never react under U V.
D oes the page react under U V? G enuine pages should only have a low base
uorescence (i.e. should not react brightly).
Are there any patches of uorescence around the photo? This could indicate
photo substitution.
Is there a U V safeguard that runs over the photo? If not, this could indicate
photo substitution.
Printing
Is the printing on the inside front cover raised and rough (run your nger across
the page)?
Cause For
Concern
YES NO
35
WHERE TO GET HELP
If you have concerns about the validity of docum ents presented to you, you
should contact the H om e O f ce Em ployersH elpline on 0845 010 6677.
They w ill treat any inform ation you provide in con dence and pass this on
to the relevant Im m igration Service Local Enforcem ent O f ce for further
investigation. O ften there m ay be crim inal offences other than production
of a forged docum ent involved. If you suspect that this is the case, you
should contact your local Police, w ho in turn w ill contact the local
Enforcem ent O f ce.
If it is a foreign docum ent, then the relevant em bassy m ay be able to assist
you. Alternatively, you m ay nd useful inform ation in governm ent ow ned or
sponsored w ebsites.
36
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING - DOCUMENT VERIFICATION
C ro wn c o p yrig h t J u n e 2 0 0 7
T h is P D F h a s b e e n p ro d u c e d fo r C P N I s we b site
Ve rsio n 0 1
www. c p n i. g o v. u k
D isc la im e r
C PN I has taken every care in preparing this protective security advice, w hich is inform ed by intelligence on the threat. H ow ever, C PN I cannot accept
any liability to any person or com pany for any nancial loss or dam age arising from the use of this advice or from any failure to give advice.

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