How to Spot Fake IDs by State: Types, Features, Solutions, and More

A skilled forger can fool even the most astute experts. 

With a keen eye for detail and a masterful hand, they create imitations that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. 

But what does this have to do with your business? More than you might think. 

Just like a forged painting, a fake ID can be a masterpiece of deception. And just like an art collector, it’s up to you to spot the fakes before they cause irreparable damage.

But don’t worry, this guide has got you covered.– if you have the next 6 minutes – we’ll be unpacking fake ID’s common features, types, places where they are used, and more importantly: How you can spot fake IDs by state.

Fake IDs – Definition

A fake ID represents any identification that’s been altered, forged, or obtained dishonestly to misrepresent someone’s identity. The scope ranges from crude modifications of legitimate IDs to sophisticated forgeries that can pass basic security checks.

Features of Fake IDs

Here are some common features of fake IDs with examples.

• Mismatched Information: The barcode shows a different birth year than what’s printed, or the address format varies between fields. If you are doing physical inspection, mismatched weight, height, eye colour and age are some signs you can check for. 
• Misspellings: A misplaced letter in the state name, “Deparment of Safety” instead of “Department”, or “Liscense” instead of “License”
• Photo quality issues: The photo should be clear but not overly sharp and text should be crisp without any fuzzy edges. When something’s off about the image quality, it often means someone’s been tampering with the original document.
• Format problems: The distance between lines of text, the size of the photo, even the tiny gaps between letters – they’re all precisely measured. A genuine California ID from 2022 should match every other California ID from that year – exactly.

Most fake IDs fail on multiple features, not just one. If something seems off about one aspect, chances are you’ll find other issues if you keep looking.

Which IDs are Faked and Why?

State driver’s licenses top the list. They’re universally accepted as proof of identity, making them highly valuable to fraudsters.

When’s the last time someone questioned a driver’s license as proof of identity? This ubiquity and perceived legitimacy of driver’s licenses make them the go-to choice for fake ID users.

And fraudster’s motivations behind getting fake IDs in present times can be far more problematic than the classic “teens wanting to get into bars” scenario. While that’s still part of the picture, fraudsters now create counterfeit identification documents with much bigger targets in mind.

Why Should Businesses Care?

You might be thinking, “Sure, fake IDs are out there, but why should my business worry about them?” 

Well, the short answer is: a lot. 

Fake IDs can spell disaster for your business in more ways than you might imagine.

• Financial Fraud: Fake IDs can enable identity theft, financial scams, and other crimes that can harm your business.
• Reputational Damage: Being caught accepting fake IDs can tarnish your brand reputation and drive away customers.
• Lost Revenue: Every fake ID accepted is a potential loss of products or services given away for free.
• Safety and Security: Fake IDs compromise the safety of your customers and employees by allowing unknown individuals access.
• Liability: If a fake ID enables a crime, your business could be held liable for damages.
• Compliance: Many industries, especially finance-related, have strict ID verification requirements that must be met to avoid penalties.

And it doesn’t end here. 

We are not counting the indirect impact, like increased chargebacks from unauthorized transactions and higher insurance premiums due to heightened risk.

Top 5 States with Fake IDs 

According to IDScan.net’s 2024 Fake ID Report, these five states emerge as the most commonly counterfeited:

• Texas (1.18% fake rate): Texas leads the pack with the highest percentage of fake IDs in circulation. This isn’t surprising – its large population and widespread recognition make it an attractive choice for counterfeiters.
• South Carolina (1.15% fake rate): Coming in close second, South Carolina IDs have become increasingly targeted. The relatively straightforward design of earlier versions may contribute to this trend.
• Arizona (1.09% fake rate): Arizona is also in the list, with counterfeiters likely taking advantage of its recognizable format and widespread acceptance across states.
• Washington D.C. (1.00% fake rate): The nation’s capital sees a significant share of counterfeits, with exactly 1% of scanned IDs showing as fraudulent.
• New Mexico (0.83% fake rate): Rounding out the top five, New Mexico’s IDs have become an increasingly common target for counterfeiters.

These results are based on the data of over 130 million physical ID scans (with at least 600,000 scans per state).

Most Common Types of Fake IDs

Not all fake IDs are created equal. In fact, the methods used to create counterfeit identification tell us exactly how to catch them – if we know what to look for. Let’s break down the main types we’re seeing in present times.

• Altered IDs

These IDs start as legitimate documents, but fraudsters change key details like birth dates or photos. Why are they so common? They’re easier to create and often pass basic security checks because most of the security features remain intact. 

• Forged IDs

These are completely fake documents created from scratch. Thanks to high-quality printers and advanced technology, these fakes have gotten surprisingly good. The best ones include security features like holograms and UV marks that can fool quick inspections. 

• Scannable Fake IDs

Most modern fakes come with working barcodes that actually scan. This doesn’t mean they’re legitimate – it just means the creators have gotten better at encoding fake data. When scanned, these IDs might display information matching what’s printed on the front, making them particularly tricky to spot without knowing exactly what to check.

• Stolen IDs

These are real documents used by someone they don’t belong to. Stolen IDs pose a unique challenge because every security feature will check out perfectly. 

How to Spot Fake IDs by State

An important note before we begin: The following methods work best for physical ID inspection and where volume is less. If you’re handling online verification and want a scalable solution, you’ll want to skip ahead to our next section. 

For everyone else, let’s walk through the security features you need to know

1. Laser Perforation Analysis

Each state includes specific perforation patterns (tiny holes that generate a certain pattern or picture when held up to light):. 

• California: Features the California grizzly bear, gold rush, and poppy on the license.
• New York: Showcases the Statue of Liberty and the state seal with a bald eagle.
• Texas: Highlights the Texas Capitol building and the state’s iconic design.
• Florida: Depicts a sunny beach scene, reflecting the state’s “Sunshine State” motto.
• Georgia: Displays the state’s official fruit, the peach, on its driver’s license.
• Arizona: Includes a desert landscape, symbolizing the state’s vast desert regions.
• Ohio: Features the state seal, depicting the Scioto River and wheat fields.

Hold the ID up to direct light – these perforations should appear clean, precise, and show clear edges. If they look fuzzy, irregular, or just slightly off – take a closer look. 

Most counterfeiters struggle with this feature because it requires specialized equipment to replicate.

2. State-Specific Hologram Features

Your most reliable verification tool might be state holograms – each state designs theirs uniquely. Tilt any ID and watch how the hologram shifts. Real holograms change appearance smoothly when viewed from different angles. Fakes often look static or show jarring transitions.

3. Embossing and Tactile Elements

Close your eyes and feel the ID. Seriously – this works. 

Real IDs have specific raised areas you can feel. Some states put their birth dates at a particular height. Some make sure you can feel that signature. 

Take some time to see how the original ones feel. And during check, if anything feels rough or irregular, that’s your warning sign. 

4. Document Format and Layout

Check the text spacing, image placement, and overall design. Size and thickness specifications matter too – most states follow the standard credit card size (3.370 × 2.125 inches). Compare fonts and colors to state standards as well. 

5. UV Light Responses

UV security features reveal state-specific patterns invisible to the naked eye. California embeds a lighter version of the driver’s photo, while Florida integrates distinct header patterns.

Pro Tip: Create a quick reference guide for the states you check most often. Focus on their unique security features and common fake tells. This speeds up verification while maintaining accuracy.

6. Secondary ID verification

When someone presents fake identification, they’ve usually prepared for one specific check. That second form of ID is often where the story falls apart. Businesses operating in high-risk categories can make this request part of standard procedure rather than applying it selectively as it will help with enhanced due diligence if required.

Verifying IDs at Scale

As businesses grow, manually checking IDs becomes a real headache. It just doesn’t cut it when you’re dealing with hundreds or thousands of customers daily. 

That’s where API-based identity verification can prove to be a real table-turner for businesses looking to scale up without sacrificing accuracy or security.

So, how do these API solutions actually work? 

Here’s a breakdown:

• Users input an ID into the system, either by scanning it or uploading a digital copy.
• The API quickly analyzes the ID, checking for authenticity, consistency, and all those crucial security features we mentioned earlier.
• It cross-references the ID data with various databases to ensure the information is valid and matches the individual presenting the ID.
• The API then returns a result indicating whether the ID is authentic or if there are any red flags that need further investigation.

 The beauty of API-based ID verification is that it seamlessly integrates with your existing systems and processes. 

Tweak a few settings here and there to get the best results for your particular business. And, of course, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the verification results, just to make sure everything’s running fine.

And the best part? Businesses don’t necessarily need big infrastructure for verifying age or IDs at scale or conducting secondary ID verification at same time – Signzy’s identity verification suite of APIs brings this technology within reach for businesses of all sizes. It can verify multiple ID types across different states, providing instant verification results, and even scales effortlessly with your needs.