Things You'll Need:
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Step 1
Understand the passport application process before you analyze whether a passport is fraudulent. The U.S. Department of State has a website dedicated to passport applications and the proper way to update these documents (see Resources below). By learning the application process, you can appreciate the importance of accurate information on passports.
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Step 2
Analyze the quality of a passport picture to determine its authenticity. An individual should have an updated photo that matches their current appearance. Photographs should be bright enough to clearly identify the passport holder and clear enough to identify unique facial characteristics.
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Step 3
Look at the date of issue and the date of birth to determine the legitimacy of a passport. You can identify fraudulent passports by viewing dates that are printed in the wrong order or line up awkwardly with other informational fields.
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Step 4
Make sure that the passport has a legible signature that matches the printed name. While some signatures may be difficult to make out, you should be able to look at individual letters and match them up with the clearly printed name provided by the passport office. Poorly written signatures may be a sign of identity theft or hastily prepared forgeries.
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Step 5
View a passport's print quality closely to identify evidence of fraud. Like other government offices, U.S. passport offices destroy passports that are flawed during the printing process. Each letter should be printed clearly without smudges or flaws, which can be found with a magnifying glass.
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Step 6
Review the Secretary of State's statement at the top of each passport. Fraudulent passports may include typographical errors or omissions that naturally occur when copying the statement from a legitimate passport.
