How to Detect Counterfeit Permanent Alien Registration Cards

Employers these days are often put in the position of having to ensure that the people they are hiring are actually legally allowed to work in the United States. This requires that they make sure each new hire who is not a US citizen has a registration card (otherwise known as a green card). However, they also face the problem that many people are creating or buying fake ID cards for this purpose. Since the employer is legally required to make a reasonable effort to make sure the card is legitimate, it is s good idea, if you are in this position, to familiarize yourself with the telltale signs of a fake card.

Instructions

1. Look closely at the text font used. It should not be hard to read, slanted or poorly printed.

2. Check the content itself, looking for omitted words, misspellings or bad punctuation.

3. Feel the card top see if it is unusually thick. This could indicate that it has be glued. Also, insist that the card be removed from a wallet. Refuse to accept laminated cards.

4. Look for a hologram showing the Statue of Liberty. Turn the card over to check that the information on the front and the back of the card is the same.

Tips & Warnings

• If you believe that a card is fake, do not seize the card, since this would be illegal if you are wrong, as well as possibly dangerous. Instead, make a copy of the card and return it. Then contact the authorities.

References

• HHN: How to Spot a Fake