How to spot a fake ID across different states

What to look for

Even though fake IDs are now harder to spot than ever before, there are several ways you can tell whether an ID is real or a forgery.  

The majority of the time, by feeling the card, scanning the barcode, and searching for misspellings or missing pieces of information, you can spot a fake.

Similarly, studying the behavior of the cardholder can tell you a lot about the ID they've handed you. Signs of anxiety or unclear answers to your questions could indicate that the ID requires further scrutiny.

But how else can you spot a fake ID across different states?

State holograms

IDs have holographic images that become visible when they're held to the light. The hologram that becomes visible varies on a state-by-state basis, so it's important you know what yours is.

For example, on an Illinois driving license, the state name shows up in diagonal across the front of the card when you tilt it in the light.

Laser perforation

Laser perforation is another key security feature that's included in official forms of ID.

Official IDs have tiny laser-perforated holes that aren't obviously visible to the naked eye unless they're held to direct sunlight or looked at closely. Again, these laser-perforated images differ on a state-by-state basis, but they usually form a picture.

For example, in Kansas, the perforated holes form the shape of a turtle in the upper right corner of the card. This is visible on both the front and the back of the license.

UV imagery

Also known as a blacklight image, UV imagery is now central to combating fraud. Again, the UV imagery used varies widely. As a result, it's important to know what yours is so you know exactly what you're looking for. In states such as California, it's a second, lighter image of the driver.

Tactile features

The majority of states engrave or emboss parts of data on the ID with a laser. This is used to raise the plastic on the front of the ID or to etch data into the ID. Again, this is very hard to replicate on a fake ID.

Although the laser embossing doesn't alter the back of the ID, it does allow you to feel the ID and check whether the embossing is present and whether it matches standards for your state.

In North Carolina, for instance, the date of birth on a license is laser engraved, so you can feel it. Alternatively, in California, raised lettering is used for the cardholder's signature.

Material integrity

States apply a professional laminate to seal their IDs. However, members of the public do not have access to laminates of this quality. In addition, the card's shape should resemble that of a regular credit card, and the edges should be evenly cut.

If you have reason to believe that someone's ID is fake, then you should bend the ID into a ‘U' shape. When bent like this, non-professional and poor-quality laminates will bubble. In addition, the edges of the ID should feel smooth rather than sharp.

Book a consultation with Veriff

At Veriff, we understand the importance of verifying the identity of your customers.

With the help of our ID verification software, you can verify the legitimacy of identity documents in real-time. We can verify 11,500+ IDs across 230+ countries and territories.

As well as helping you detect fake and tampered IDs, we can ensure you comply with the latest AML and KYC regulations. Plus, we can also make it easy for genuine and honest users to access your services. Over 95% of users are verified on their first try and a decision is usually made within 6 seconds. Ultimately, this means a 30% increase in conversion rates.

Interested in hearing more about how we could help you? Book a consultation with the team today. They'll provide you with a personalized demo that shows exactly what we can do for you.