It is possible to determine the authenticity of a document on the basis of checking its mandatory details, the presence of external signs of forgery. In addition, you can use the help of the authority that issued the relevant document, order a professional examination.
It is possible to unambiguously determine the authenticity of a document only if the results of a professional examination carried out by a competent specialist using certain equipment, knowledge and skills are available. However, there are alternative ways to determine the authenticity of individual documents. So, common documents (for example, passports, work books, educational diplomas) can be checked visually by assessing the presence of all the necessary details, the absence of external signs of a fake document. Such signs can be fuzzy seals and signatures, obvious signs of photo re-sticking, fake signs, the use of different prints. Visual inspection in the absence of professional skills will help identify only gross fakes; in all other cases, you should resort to other methods.
How to authenticate with the competent authorities and organizations
In most cases, the authenticity of distributed documents can be determined with the help of the authorities that issued them. So, in the absence of a unified information base of issued educational diplomas, it is possible to determine the authenticity of a specific diploma by calling a specific educational institution in order to find out the relevant information. This method is often used by employers when evaluating applicants for a specific position. Some authorities create specialized electronic services that allow everyone to check the authenticity of certain documents free of charge. For example, a similar service operates on the website of the Federal Migration Service, the use of which allows you to establish the authenticity of a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.
How to determine the authenticity of a document in other cases
In all other situations, professional expertise is the only way to determine the authenticity of a document. So, it is possible to determine the authenticity of the signature of a particular person on a contract or other document only based on the results of a handwriting examination. The process of appointing an examination is greatly simplified in the presence of litigation related to the disputed document. In this case, the costs of the examination can be assigned to the guilty person. If there is no trial, then the only way out is to order and pay for all the necessary research on your own.
