Suspicions such as paper watermarks, font types, starts and stops in handwriting, comparisons with other handwriting examples, inconsistent letters, variations in the writing style and discrepancies in the overall composition, and even the depth of the impression of the writing instrument on the paper, can serve as ...
Defenses Against Forgery Charges Lack of fraudulent intent — If you did not have the intention to defraud, you may have a valid defense to forgery charges. Document Lacks Legal Significance — To be considered forgery, the document in question must have some sort of legal importance.
Simple Forgery: The act of imitating someone else's signature for fraudulent or deceptive purposes. Simulated Forgery: A more sophisticated form where technology is used to duplicate the signature. Traced Forgery: Involves using a genuine signature as a template to create a forged one.
The punishment for forgery varies from place to place. In most states, a person convicted of misdemeanor must face a jail sentence of at least one year. However, a conviction for felony must face an imprisonment more than one year.
Any person who forges any document or electronic record is guilty of an offence which, unless otherwise stated, is a felony and he is liable, unless owing to the circumstances of the forgery or the nature of the thing forged some other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for three years.
Forgery, in law, making of a false writing with an intent to defraud. Writing, to be forgery, must either have legal significance or be commonly relied upon in business transactions. It need not be handwriting; the law of forgery covers printing, engraving, and typewriting as well.
Whoever commits forgery shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
It may depend on the circumstances, but if you're facing charges of forgery, it's probably a pretty big deal to you. This white-collar crime is taken seriously by law enforcement and can result in some serious penalties.
Section 4106.0 - Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES. § 4106. Access device fraud. (3) possesses an access device knowing that it is counterfeit, altered, incomplete or belongs to another person who has not authorized its possession.
Most states, including California, describe forgery as occurring when a person alters a written document "with the intent to defraud, knowing that he or she has no authority to do so." The written document usually has to be an instrument of legal significance.