Chapter 10: Handwriting analysis, forgery & counterfeiting

Counterfeiting

Typically, the forging of currency; also refers to the origins of other government- issued documents (postage stamps) and the production of fake name brand product for profit

Currency

Printed document issues by a bank or government, guaranteeing payment to the holder on demand

Daubert standard of evidence

Validity and reliability of expert witness testimony

Document analysis

Examination of questioned documents using a variety if criteria; such as authenticity, alterations, erasures, and obliterations

Document analyst

Person who scientifically analyzes handwritten, typewritten, photocopied, and computer-generated documents and their materials for authenticity

Exemplar

Standard document of known origin and authorship that is compared with documents of unknown authorship (questioned documents) during handwriting analysis

Forgery

Making, altering, or falsifying of personal documents or other objects with the intent to deceive

Fraud

Deliberate deception practiced to secure unfair or illegal financial gain

Qualitative analysis

Component parts of an analysis

Quantitative analysis

Measurable amount of each component determined by an analysis

Questioned document

Any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain