FOR10002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Graphology, Motor Skill, United States Dollar
FORENSIC SCIENCE - FOR10002
WEEK ten
DOCUMENT FRAUD
•Questioned Documents "
•Handwriting Analysis "
•Counterfeiting and Security Measures "
•Analysis of Inks "
•Analysis of Paper"
Documents contain information in a written or printed form recorded on a substrate that could be
a fabric, paper or parchment. "
The importance of the document is related to the information contained: "
•Currency, Cheques, Bank Notes "
•Wills, Deeds, Land Titles "
•Receipts, IOUs "
•Ransom Notes"
•Written Threats"
It is often said that “No other instrument of crime is so prevalent in our society as a document”
A questioned document is any document where the content is disputed or queried"
•Disputed wills"
•Forged cheques"
•Counterfeit currency"
The document examiner is able to use a range of skills and tools to determine:"
•Alterations"
•Dating of materials"
•Composition of inks and papers"
•Printing device and manufacturing process"
Handwriting
The largest part of work required by a Document Examiner is the analysis of handwriting."
Handwriting can be considered to be a unique characteristic of the writer Each piece of writing is
also unique."
A natural range of variation is possible — this is also considered to be a unique characteristic of
the writer. Identification is based on comparison with known specimens — preferably without the
writer’s knowledge"
DEVELOPMENT OF HANDWRITING
Handwriting is a complex motor skill that is developed or learnt "
•Begins with conscious copying of standard formats "
-Similar to other students that learn in the same way "
-These are known as class characteristics "
•Eventually the handwriting process is less conscious "
-Individual traits develop such as proportions, shapes and constructions "
-These are known as individual characteristics "
•The writing style developed during adolescence remains unchanged until later in life when
motor skills decline"
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
TYPES OF HANDWRITING
•Cursive writing contains connected or joined
lowercase letters within a word"
•Script writing is where the letters are unjoined"
COMPARISON OF HANDWRITING
A comparison is made between the questioned
document and a specimen obtained from the suspected
author. "
Two types of specimen: "
•Non-request specimens – preferred specimen that should originate from the same time period
as the one in question "
•Request specimen – the suspected author is required to generate a specimen in a controlled
environment "
-May include using the same pen and paper "
-Generally required to write the same text "
-Less reliable because the author may attempt to disguise writing or becomes stressed "
-Dictation and rest periods can overcome this as a problem"
The Document Examiner looks for:"
•The direction of the pen strokes and order that they are made "
-The direction when writing an “o” can indicate whether the author is left or right handed "
•Connections between letters "
•Word and letter spacing "
Natural variation requires numerous handwriting specimens: "
•Variations might be due to illness, stress, inebriation, drugs, etc "
•Environmental factors such as the writing surface or writing instrument can produce variability "
•Differences due to standing and sitting, etc."
SIGNATURE INVESTIGATION
A signature is a high stylised form of handwriting used for personal identification such as signing
cheques, driver’s licence, passports, etc "
Natural variation means that two signatures are never the same. Signatures are often the subject
of fraudulent reproduction which is also known as forgery. "
Self-forgery is also known as when the signature is close enough to satisfy the purchase of goods
or services but different enough to be disputed later when avoiding payment ie — credit card
payments"
Methods of Signature Forgery
This requires access to an authentic example of a signature."
There are two methods of tracing: "
•The trace-over method where the document that requires a signature is placed underneath the
document containing the authentic example and the signature is written over producing an
indent in the bottom document that is then inked in."
•The light box or window method where the document that requires a signature is placed on top
of the authentic example and the signature becomes visible through the document and can be
traced."
Simulation or freehand method is based on practice where the signature is reproduced until it
resembles the original. "
•Gradual improvement to copt the pen strokes and letter shapes"
•Useful when the writer of the signature needs to be observed (ie — credit card transactions and
document witnessing)"
•Success is dependent on the amount of practice"
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
DETECTION OF SIGNATURE FORGERY
Reproduction is a balance between fluency and accuracy "
•These tend to work in opposition to each other."
•Much like handwriting examination, the examiner needs multiple specimens to assess the
range of natural variation "
-Often 6-12 signatures with non-request examples being preferred "
•It is not feasible to compare signatures written for different names even though they are written
by the same writer "
-Due to the limited amount of information contained in a signature "
CHARACTERISTICS OF A FORGED SIGNATURE
•‘Shaky’ handwriting when observed under magnification "
-High accuracy but low fluency "
•Unnatural pen lifts "
-Sign that the forger has stopped to check progress "
•Pen strokes with blunt ends "
-Again a sign of low fluency where tapered lines would occur "
•Evidence of retouching "
•Differences in scale and proportioning "
•Unnatural similarity "
•Variation from the victim’s normal practice"
-Position of signature/angle on document"
•In the trace-over method there may be indentation that has not been properly inked in"
•In the light-box method where pencil is initially used then it could be visible in regions where the
ink has missed"
-Most obvious under inferred light"
-Erasing the pencil marks can disperse small amounts of the ink"
Printed Documents
Modern offices contain computer based word processing software "
•The typeface and spacing are software selectable "
•Generally not possible to identify an individual computer or software based on examination of a
single document "
Three types of computer printer "
•Dot-matrix: a row of pins are configured that strike a ribbon to produce a character "
•Ink jet: two types "
-Continuous stream "
-Drop on demand "
•Laser printers: process similar to photocopying"
PHOTOCOPIED DOCUMENTS
Special papers were once used for photocopying which males it possible to “date” a document
based on paper type. "
Modern photocopiers use plain paper where the document is scanned into the memory of the
photocopier, then a laser selectively discharges the surface of a drum to form a positive image of
the document based on the image stored in the memory. "
Printing involves the transfer of toner to the charged drum.The drum then transfers the toner to
the paper The toner is then fixed to the paper using heat, pressure or both."
The transfer of toner is not perfect and these characteristics are also transferred to each
document. "
•Drum damage may affect the transfer of toner."
More frequently “trash marks” appear on the document"
•Dust or dried correction fluid collects on the glass"
•This random collection of specks can also be used to link documents"
•This evidence is transitory and specimens collected at the same time as the questioned
document are required"
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Document fraud: questioned documents, handwriting analysis, counterfeiting and security measures, analysis of inks, analysis of paper. Documents contain information in a written or printed form recorded on a substrate that could be a fabric, paper or parchment. The importance of the document is related to the information contained: currency, cheques, bank notes, wills, deeds, land titles, receipts, ious, ransom notes, written threats. It is often said that no other instrument of crime is so prevalent in our society as a document . A questioned document is any document where the content is disputed or queried: disputed wills, forged cheques, counterfeit currency. The document examiner is able to use a range of skills and tools to determine: alterations, dating of materials, composition of inks and papers, printing device and manufacturing process. The largest part of work required by a document examiner is the analysis of handwriting.
