Photocopy
ForgeryPhotocopy
ForgerySee also: Photocopy and Photocopier Examination
Occasionally the document examiner undertakes the examination of an photocopy in pursuit of a determination as to the genuineness of the original signature as represented by the photocopy. This examination must necessarily include significant thought as to the possibility that a genuine signature can be affixed to a fraudulent document and the composite, or paste-up, photocopied. This may result is what would appear to be a photocopy of an original document bearing a genuine signature. The same may be true of any other portion of a photocopy; it is not limited to just the signature.
Photocopies can be prepared from a composite of parts of two or more documents which, when copied, can appear to be a reproduction of a single document. The resultant copy, made from composites, may or may not display those characteristics indicative of its production from two or more document sources.
Indications of spuriousness may take the form of
misaligned typing, different fonts and different font sizes, misaligned
preprinted matter, incorrect vertical, horizontal and margin spacing,
"shadowing" in the joined areas, disproportionate area sizes,
different preprinted material and ink densities, and missing portions of writing
or printing (covered by the paste-up, too closely trimmed, or masked by an
opaque fluid). Additionally, it may be that the "trash
marks," (described in the section on photocopier examination) surrounding
the signature are in greater or lesser quantity than those on the remainder of
the document. This is especially true if either the model signature or document
to be used in the paste-up was itself a photocopy. The best indication of
what may be a fraudulent photocopy is when the original document has
"disappeared" or has been "misplaced."
Even when none of these indications of photocopy forgery are present, the
prudent document examiner that issues an opinion about the authenticity of a
signature or an entire disputed document, where the submitted evidence is a
photocopy, will qualify that opinion. This is in the form of a statement
that the opinion is predicated upon the questioned document being a true and
accurate reproduction of the original document. Many examiners go
further by including a statement in the report of findings that founds the
accuracy of opinions involving photocopies upon viewing the original document
prior to any court testimony. Understandably, there are many document examiners or employing laboratories
that will refuse submission and examination of disputed documents that are not
originals. While this posture is certainly "safe" it may not serve the
best interests of justice. Each day our society becomes further enmeshed in
machine copied documents. The contemporaneous photocopy machine is quite capable
of producing sharp, clear copies that may rival photographs. Even some of the
more modern facsimile machines have the capability to transmit sharp images that
rival that of the photocopy machine. Obviously photocopies that display prohibitively poor quality may be
precluded from examination, but those displaying adequate line quality are
deserving of some degree of qualified opinion.
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