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Fake identity cards can be easily recognised by certain features. A trained eye and knowledge of the so-called identigrams can help you here.
Recognising fake identity cards: These features will help you
Fake IDs can be found on almost every corner. Online, it’s no big deal to have fake documents created for you. Accordingly, you should be careful when someone holds out their identity card to you. There are certain features, so-called identigrams, which you can use to check the authenticity of an identity card.
- Holographic portrait: The photo of the ID card holder is visible a second time in holographic form to the right of the conventional image when tilted.
- Federal eagle: The federal eagle plays an important role on the German identity card. On the one hand, it shows itself surrounded by twelve stars when tilted above the photo. On the other hand, there is a red 3D representation of the federal eagle at a certain viewing angle.
- Multicoloured guilloche: A genuine identity card has what are called guilloches. This is a protective pattern of fine lines that are intertwined with each other. A counterfeit, on the other hand, only has a raster structure.
- Surface embossing: The identity card is covered with a special laminate. On the right edge you can feel a relief-like surface. The embossing contains the letter “D”, the federal eagle motif and the words “Bundesrepublik Deutschland” (Federal Republic of Germany) and “Reisepass” (passport) or “Personalausweis” (identity card).
Look out for holograms and special fonts
You have already learned about some of the features. Ultimately, of course, there are good counterfeits and badly made ones. Among other things, the forgery is obvious if the country printed on it does not exist at all or if it does not match the look of the ID card.
- Fonts: On a genuine ID card, there is a curved macro font band with the text “Federal Republic of Germany” on the left edge of the biometric passport photo. This is followed on the left by several parallel lines of microprint with the same text.
- Holographic reproduction: There are machine-readable lines on the identity card, which are reproduced holographically once again with an original document above them.
- Laser inscription: The passport holder’s surname and first name are reproduced on the right-hand edge of the photograph using laser technology.
- Watermark: A multi-level watermark in the form of an eagle is clearly visible on the ID card in transmitted light.
- Tip: Get yourself a 365nm UV light lamp. This will allow you to see many of the above security features when illuminating an ID card.
