How to Recognize a Fake ID

Fake IDs have been all the rage for underage drinkers for decades, but the problem has grown. With the advent of sophisticated computers and printers, creating IDs is not as difficult as it once was. The IDs made now are harder to spot than ever before. Although there is no one absolutely foolproof way to tell if an ID is fake, there are a number of things to look for that will be as close to foolproof as it gets.

Instructions

Start With the Obvious

1. Look at the ID closely. Look for anything that looks like a smudge or an erasure, or even just an uneven color. Licenses or state IDs will be uniform in color and texture. They will have crisp lettering, all in the same typeface, and they rarely contain typos or spelling errors. There should also be nothing typed in. Everything on the ID should be printed on. Check the back as well as the front of the card.

2. Check out the picture. If there is a border around it or part of it, they may have put one picture on top of another to make the ID. If the edges look raised, that's also a sign of a forgery. Sometimes one picture is cut out and another put in, which leaves an odd raised-looking edge. Feel the thickness of the ID. It should be uniform, and of a smooth and even texture. Any bumps or lines underneath indicate that there's been tampering.

3. Know that if an ID is made really well, you probably aren't going to spot it. So even if they look good, always get a second ID and compare the information on the two. Ask the person about his height, eye color and other information if you feel unsure. Lots of times, the people with the fake IDs don't even bother to read them.

4. Read all of the information on the ID. Look at the height and weight. Although these change, sometimes it's just obvious that the person handing this to you and the one represented on the ID are not the same. If the license looks brand new but has a date on it that's 3 or 4 years old, that's also a good indicator that it's a fake. Ask for another ID with a signature, phone number or picture, and compare them. The signatures should look the same, and the pictures should look at least close to the same.

5. Go into another room and call the contact phone number if you aren't sure about the ID's validity. Remember that you are the one responsible for making sure that someone is of legal age. You will be held to legal accountability if they are not. It is no defense to say that their fake ID looked fine. Protect yourself by taking the time to really look at the ID. Most of the time, fake IDs are not caught because someone didn't care of they didn't take the time to look closely at it. Most fake IDs are pretty amateurish and easy to spot if you just look at it.

6. Take the ID if you are sure you have a fake. If it's for something important like a gun purchase, or if you feel there is a need to do so, call the police immediately. Using fake IDs contributes to a lot of underage teen driving deaths each year. Don't be one of the people that helps that number go up.

Tips & Warnings

• The best tip is to take your time and look at the ID carefully. Most of the time, that's all it takes to see that it's a fake.