Different types of false documents can constitute documentary fraud. So, whether it is counterfeiting, falsification or even pseudo-documents, how do we really differentiate them? Let's discover their characteristics in this article and the multiple ways to identify them.
What is a false document?
A false document refers to any document created and modified by an individual with the aim of deceiving, obtaining illegitimate advantages or even committing criminal activities.
All types of documents can constitute a forgery. Whether these are documents that have a defined or legal structure or not. This concerns so-called “standardized” documents, i.e. identity cards or even passports, but also so-called “non-standardized” documents which designate invoices, quotes or even salary slips…
The use of these false documents with the aim of deceiving is called “document fraud”.
💡 Did you know ? This fraud is estimated to be the third largest criminal industry in the world, after drug trafficking and prostitution. according to Revue Banque.
The different types of false documents
There are different types of false documents. Here are the top five, according to Interpol :
Counterfeiting
Counterfeiting refers to the unauthorized reproduction of an authentic document. This concerns, for example, the reproduction of an identity card which has not been issued by the government. Today, several tools available online make it possible to issue these false CNIs.
The falsification
Forgery refers to the alteration of an authentic document. This could, for example, involve using an invoice from a household appliance store after modifying the figures using retouching software.
The pseudo-document
Also called generated document, it designates a document that was created from scratch by a fraudster in order to pass itself off as an official document.
The authentic document obtained fraudulently
It refers to obtaining any document, such as a CNI or an invoice, but obtained illegally.
Fraudulent use of authentic documents
It is also called identity theft. This refers to the use of an identity document or document of which one is not the owner in order to benefit from illegitimate advantages by pretending to be someone.
How to combat document fraud in business?
When these false documents are used to deceive a company, such as a bank or insurance company, it can harm the company on several levels. Among them, we note in particular:
- Reputational damage
It's difficult to trust a company that lets fraud slide, whether you're a customer or a partner; - Financial damage
Financial losses linked to fraud are estimated at 535 million euros in 2022, in France, in the field of insurance, according to ALFA. All sectors combined, and excluding State fraud, are estimated at 21 billion euros; - Legal sanctions
They can lead to long and costly processes for the company.
Use fake document detection software
Fraudsters have access to more and more tools to create false documents, particularly on the Internet and thanks to artificial intelligence. Using photo editing software can sometimes even be enough to create a fake document. Although they are sometimes detectable with the naked eye, it is increasingly the case that these false documents are difficult to detect.
To detect a false document in a company, it is advisable to use a false document detection solution. These digital tools provide its anti-fraud team with all the keys to sustainably fight against document fraud.
🎁 This content might also interest you: How to set up an anti-fraud unit?
How does a fake document detection solution like Finovox work?
A fake document detection solution such as Finovox allows for in-depth analysis of the documents that are transmitted to your business.
Developed using our proprietary artificial intelligence, our solution, available in API or SaaS format, allows 100% to analyze documents and detect fraud on them, in complete security. It makes it possible to detect, identify and explain all types of fraud.
Thanks to Finovox, you can finally investigate to determine where the alteration is located in your documents. At the end of your analysis, you are then able to provide a form of justification for attempted fraud. Thanks to the automatically generated summary sheet in PDF format, you can transmit it to the teams concerned or even add it to a legal file.
Do you want to make Finovox your ally in the fight against document fraud? Contact us for more information !
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