If
a felon chooses to disguise his handwriting on a stolen company check
and simulates a signature, there is nothing that can be done to
influence him otherwise. The best method of security to counter such
fraud is obviously to keep your blank documents safe. Having said that,
here are a few more ideas to help...
More Is Better - If a person has to write on a document at a
point where fraud may be perpetrated - e.g.: on an invoice - then the
larger the amount of handwriting he makes the greater the chance of
identifying him at a later stage. It's better, therefore, to obtain a
name and address along with a signature rather than a signature alone.
Similarly, when making out application forms, it's best for the
customer to fill them out rather than to merely sign them. If you are
able to use a signature verification service, you are that much less
likely to get scammed
Keep Originals - The document examiner is often required to examine handwriting and typescript on photocopy documents. Copies
can create difficulty: they may not show clearly the fine detail of
letter design in handwriting, or damage defects in typescript, making a
positive identification more difficult if no impossible. The rule
should he to keep original documents as long as possible.
Carbon Copies -
Where documents are written or signed on a bundle of carbonated or
carbonless copy documents, it's preferable for the document examiner to
examine the top copy. If he gets a copy from low down in the bundle the
quality of the writing will be poorer.
Mark It! -
In order to identify the source of photocopies made within an office
complex, make small marks on the glass platen of a new photocopier with
a diamond stylus - and keep a 'security copy' showing these 'trash
marks.' If documents are leaked from an organization and recovered they can be traced back to the copier via these defects.
Linda L Mitchell, Forensic Document Examiner(760) 310-1279 fax (760) 888-0339email: Linda @ ForensicDocExaminer.com
