The Top 10  Most Difficult Countries for Identity Verification

The Top 10  Most Difficult Countries for Identity Verification

Download Report

    n-img-roi-cross

    Before You Go, Schedule Your Free Demo Today

    Valid Invalid number


    Note: Fields marked with an asterisk(*) are mandatory.

    n-exit-img-roi-cross

    Thank you for your demo request

    We appreciate your interest and look forward to discussing how our solution can meet your needs. Expect to hear from us shortly with scheduling details.

    Close

    us

    199.16.157.181

    Combating Modern ID Document Forgery: Threats, Trends, and Solutions

    n-img-modern-id

    As criminal tactics grow more advanced in the age of digitization, forged identity documents have become an important key in the modern fraud toolkit. Between fake passports and ID cards to synthetically altered documents, bad actors are constantly getting more clever. Meanwhile, many businesses continue to employ traditional (outdated) verification methods that give fraudsters precisely what they want: an easy way in. 

    While the world has gotten significantly better when it comes to digital onboarding, fraudsters have gotten even better at faking it. And if your ID checks haven’t evolved with the times, you’re more exposed than ever. In this article, we’ll explore how ID documents forgery works, where it’s most common, and how AI-powered solutions like Shufti’s can help protect businesses.

    What Is ID Document Forgery?

    ID document forgery is the deliberate alteration or fabrication of identification documents with the intent to deceive systems or individuals. This can include swapping photos, modifying names, dates or ID numbers, and using digital editing tools to create near perfect replicas. 

    Modern forgeries go beyond physical manipulations. With the proliferation of electronic documents, criminals increasingly use electronic forgery techniques, including deepfakes and synthetic identity creation, to bypass digital authentication. The purpose of these forgeries is usually to commit financial crime, evade law enforcement, or gain access to unauthorized services. And while digital manipulation has increased significantly in the past few years, there are software solutions available to keep both individuals and businesses safe.

    Document Forgery on the Rise

    According to the latest available data, the landscape of identity document forgery has shifted dramatically in the past few years. Digital document forgeries have surged by 244% compared to 2023, and account for 57% of all document fraud cases globally. This rise is largely attributed to the proliferation of fraud-as-a-service (FaaS) platforms that enable amateur fraudsters to create highly convincing forgeries.

    National ID cards have become the most targeted documents, representing 40.8% of global attacks. Countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have seen their national identity documents become frequent targets due to the availability of templates online, making them highly susceptible to digital manipulation. In contrast, regions like the UK, France, and Spain report lower rates of ID document forgery, around 25%. But no region remains free from these threats, particularly as falsified documents and their templates are now widely available for purchase on the dark web.

    Top Fraudulent Document Types

    Fraudsters rely on several types of document forgery techniques:

    Counterfeit Documents

    These are copies of genuine IDs, made without approval from the issuing authority. If made well, they look convincing but still lack embedded security features.

    Forged Documents

    Here, real documents are purposefully altered so that photos are replaced, text is altered, or biometric data is edited, in order to misrepresent the identity of the holder.

    Pseudo Documents

    These mimic legitimate document formats but are not officially issued or recognized. Oftentime scammers will copy design templates and encode false information, making them difficult to spot without advanced verification.

    Similarity Fraud / FOG (Fraudulently Obtained Genuine)

    In these cases, criminals acquire genuine documents illegally through theft or corruption. Because these documents are genuine, they often pass traditional checks unless further biometric or behavioral analysis is used.

    How to Spot and Prevent Document Forgery

    As ID document forgery becomes more prevalent and editing tools more sophisticated in the digital age, manual checks are nearly obsolete. Here are some key steps businesses should take to reduce the risk of onboarding fraud:

      • Verify authenticity features: Ensure proper embedded holograms, watermarks, microtext, and government issued seals are present.
    • Check expiration and document consistency: Red flags to look out for include mismatched fonts, altered text, and missing data.
    • Cross-reference personal details: Validate name, address, date of birth, and document numbers across multiple sources.
    • Request multiple forms of documentation: Supplement primary IDs with bank statements, utility bills, or employment letters.
    • Implement biometric checks: Utilize facial recognition or liveness detection to ensure the document matches the person presenting it.
    • Use AI-powered verification tools: Automated systems can detect signs of manipulation far better than the human eye.

    ID forgery is considered a felony, or equivalent, in nearly all jurisdictions and is treated seriously due to its link to larger crimes like identity theft, financial fraud, and terrorism financing.

    United States

    Under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, forging federal documents is punishable by up to five years in prison and/or fines of up to $25,000, depending on the severity and context of the crime.

    United Kingdom

    UK law defines forgery as the act of making “a false instrument, with the intention that he or another shall use it to induce somebody to accept it as genuine”. Depending on the nature of the offence, penalties include up to 10 years in prison, fines, or both.

    Germany

    Under Section 267 of the German Criminal Code, penalties of producing, altering, or using a forged document with the intent to deceive in legal transactions carries potential fines and imprisonment of up to five years, depending on impact and severity. In cases involving organized fraud or financial harm, sentences can be significantly harsher.

    Best Practices for Businesses

    To stay ahead of fraud, businesses need a proactive strategy to avoid being targeted by falsified or forged documents. Although criminals are often ahead of the most advanced measures, disasters can be significantly mitigated or even avoided if sufficient measures are implemented correctly. Here’s what to prioritize:

    1. Invest in a modern document verification system 
    2. Integrate biometric checks and liveness detection
    3. Ensure cross-border document support
    4. Train staff to recognize red flags
    5. Regularly update fraud detection algorithms
    6. Partner with a trusted verification partner (like Shufti!)

    So Why Shufti?

    Shufti’s AI-powered ID document verification solution helps businesses detect forgeries in seconds. Using advanced OCR, hologram detection, pattern analysis, and facial recognition, Shufti quickly verifies documents against a global database of over 10,000 document types from 240+ countries and territories.

    Our system is designed to catch even the most subtle signs of forgery, down to the pixel level, including deepfake videos and synthetic identities. And with built-in compliance checks, businesses can meet KYC/AML standards without slowing down their onboarding workflows.

    Final Thoughts

    Forged identity documents aren’t going away. In fact, they are evolving faster than most businesses can possibly keep up. Static checks and outdated processes simply aren’t built for the level of manipulation that fraudsters are deploying now, and in the future.

    If your organization relies on document-based identity verification in any way, now is the time to upgrade. AI-powered tools like Shufti offer the speed, scale, and accuracy needed to keep bad actors out and legitimate customers moving forward. Because in today’s fraud landscape, nothing puts you at more risk than doing nothing.

    Related Posts

    Blog

    Infographics

    To develop a simple and easy understanding of e-KYC and the role played by Shufti’s digital i...

    Infographics Explore More

    Blog

    Bitcoin ATMs – how it works and KYC compliance

    Bitcoin ATMs are everything an ATM is and isn’t. The world of finance and banking has chang...

    Bitcoin ATMs – how it works and KYC compliance Explore More

    Blog

    Transaction Screening Vs Transaction Monitoring | What’s the Difference?

    Transaction screening and transaction monitoring are critical in money laundering, counter-terror...

    Transaction Screening Vs Transaction Monitoring | What’s the Difference? Explore More

    Blog

    The EU’s New AML Proposal, What’s in Store?

    To strengthen the EU’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) ...

    The EU’s New AML Proposal, What’s in Store? Explore More

    Blog

    Beyond Speed: Securing Fintech Expansion with Smarter Identity Verification

    The banking industry is facing a fundamental restructuring that will change how people interact w...

    Beyond Speed: Securing Fintech Expansion with Smarter Identity Verification Explore More

    Blog

    Understanding Risk Assessment in the Gambling Sector – 2025 Edition

    Online gambling revenue is on track to exceed $150 billion globally by 2025, with Europe alone ge...

    Understanding Risk Assessment in the Gambling Sector – 2025 Edition Explore More

    Blog

    Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Solution- Eradicating Money laundering and Securing Ride-Hailing Services

    Due to the coronavirus global pandemic, the ride-hailing sector continue to grapple. As per new e...

    Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Solution- Eradicating Money laundering and Securing Ride-Hailing Services Explore More

    Blog

    Securing Gig Economy Operations and Contributing to the Growth with KYC Solutions

    Startups, SMEs, and the gig industry have seen unprecedented growth. Not to mention, COVID-19 was...

    Securing Gig Economy Operations and Contributing to the Growth with KYC Solutions Explore More

    Blog

    Shufti Celebrates 5 Years of Innovation in the IDV Industry

    October 2022 marks Shufti’s 5th anniversary – five successful years of building trust globall...

    Shufti Celebrates 5 Years of Innovation in the IDV Industry Explore More

    Blog

    Shufti’s Bug Bounty Programme: Strengthening Security Via Ethical Hacking

    With the avalanche of security vulnerabilities in the verification industry, Shufti is launch...

    Shufti’s Bug Bounty Programme: Strengthening Security Via Ethical Hacking Explore More

    Blog

    Money laundering and UAE’s KYC/AML Regulatory Regime [2022 Update]

    The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the world’s most exotic and well-reputable financial hu...

    Money laundering and UAE’s KYC/AML Regulatory Regime [2022 Update] Explore More

    Blog

    Top 10 Health Industry Trends to Watch for in 2022

    What are your expectations from the healthcare industry? Technological advancements have proven c...

    Top 10 Health Industry Trends to Watch for in 2022 Explore More

    Blog

    How ID Verification Helps in Fighting Digital Scams?

    ID VERIFICATION: Digital scams are common phenomena and it affects all types of businesses in eve...

    How ID Verification Helps in Fighting Digital Scams? Explore More

    Blog

    EDD: Safeguarding Business Interests with Comprehensive Risk Mitigation

    Traditional due diligence practices may not provide sufficient insights into higher-risk business...

    EDD: Safeguarding Business Interests with Comprehensive Risk Mitigation Explore More

    Blog

    AML Screening – Solution for Luxury Goods Market to Fight Financial Crimes

    Luxury goods and high-valued assets are frequently but not always found at the integration stage ...

    AML Screening – Solution for Luxury Goods Market to Fight Financial Crimes Explore More

    Blog

    Identity verification solutions to fight against faces of fraud

    In this digital world, billions of smart devices are circulating, connecting and communicating wi...

    Identity verification solutions to fight against faces of fraud Explore More

    Blog

    The Expected No-Deal Brexit and AML/CFT Laws in the UK

    The current prime minister of the UK Mr. Boris Johnson made a statement that the UK should be rea...

    The Expected No-Deal Brexit and AML/CFT Laws in the UK Explore More

    Blog

    Navigating the Changing Digital Finance Landscape 2023

    The financial services sector has witnessed a rapid surge in the adoption of digital technologies...

    Navigating the Changing Digital Finance Landscape 2023 Explore More

    Blog

    Prevailing Crimes in Ride-Hailing Services – How Shufti can Make the Change

    In the ride-hailing arrangements, passengers connect with drivers through cell phones or websites...

    Prevailing Crimes in Ride-Hailing Services – How Shufti can Make the Change Explore More

    Blog

    40 Surprising Facts and Statistics About Money Laundering [2021 Update]

    Combatting money laundering is one of the top-tier challenges when it comes to the regulatory reg...

    40 Surprising Facts and Statistics About Money Laundering [2021 Update] Explore More

    Blog

    5 Ways Facial Biometric Technology Elevates Customer Retention

    Today, biometric technology is known for its ease of use and reliability. Facial biometrics have ...

    5 Ways Facial Biometric Technology Elevates Customer Retention Explore More

    Blog

    The Latest AML Violations and the Role of Transaction Monitoring

    In the evolving regulatory landscape, combating financial crimes has become a top priority of reg...

    The Latest AML Violations and the Role of Transaction Monitoring Explore More

    Blog

    Evolving Regulations Shaping Digital Crypto Ecosystem – How Shufti Can Help

    Since the start of civilization, humans have used money in several different ways, and throughout...

    Evolving Regulations Shaping Digital Crypto Ecosystem – How Shufti Can Help Explore More

    Blog

    Cross-Border KYC Compliance | Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges

    To handle money laundering incidents and rising regulatory pressure, the banking industry benefit...

    Cross-Border KYC Compliance | Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges Explore More

    Blog

    Working from Home Spikes Demand for Digital Identity Verification

    Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, many businesses are grounded or are enforced to work from home. ...

    Working from Home Spikes Demand for Digital Identity Verification Explore More

    Blog

    5 Key Questions About KYC Compliance to Look Out for in 2021

    With the COVID-19 pandemic bringing challenges every day for businesses, the rate of identity fra...

    5 Key Questions About KYC Compliance to Look Out for in 2021 Explore More

    Blog

    CCPA: A Real Roller Coaster for Business Entities

    One huge change in 2020 is the new data privacy law called the California Consumer Privacy Act or...

    CCPA: A Real Roller Coaster for Business Entities Explore More

    Blog

    Fintech 2021: KYC/AML Bringing New Innovation to the Table

    2020 was all about surviving the pandemic, but it has also kickstarted a new wave of innovation. ...

    Fintech 2021: KYC/AML Bringing New Innovation to the Table Explore More

    Blog

    Banking Scams: Top 5 Predictions and How to Stay Safe in 2023

    The most recent fraud statistics will make you uncomfortable. Fraud cases are rising – relentless...

    Banking Scams: Top 5 Predictions and How to Stay Safe in 2023 Explore More

    Blog, Online Marketplace

    How Mobile KYC will revolutionize the Digital World?

    Mobile KYC is the next frontier in Identity Verification services allowing greater access to busi...

    How Mobile KYC will revolutionize the Digital World? Explore More

    Blog

    Debunking the Top 7 Myths about Video KYC with CEO of Shufti

    Businesses were looking for more robust and remote ways of verifying the identities of customers ...

    Debunking the Top 7 Myths about Video KYC with CEO of Shufti Explore More

    Blog

    The Emerging Threat of DeepFakes and the Role of Video KYC

    With technological advancement, cybercriminals are revising their strategies to commit fraud. Cri...

    The Emerging Threat of DeepFakes and the Role of Video KYC Explore More

    Blog, Identity & KYC

    Why You Need To Know Your Buyer

    Online payments are fast replacing cash transactions with the top payment companies harboring 1bi...

    Why You Need To Know Your Buyer Explore More

    Blog

    Top 5 Cryptocurrency Trends to Look Out for in 2023

    2022 has been one of the most turbulent years for the cryptocurrency sector. For starters, Bitcoi...

    Top 5 Cryptocurrency Trends to Look Out for in 2023 Explore More

    Blog

    Enhance Time Efficiency with Shufti’s KYC Solution

    The Past Quick and secure e-KYC verification might not have been of importance in the days prior ...

    Enhance Time Efficiency with Shufti’s KYC Solution Explore More

    Blog

    10 High-Risk Jurisdictions for Money Laundering According to FATF

    Innovations like stablecoins and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) created quite the hype in the past ye...

    10 High-Risk Jurisdictions for Money Laundering According to FATF Explore More

    Blog

    KYCC – Going an Extra Mile to Prevent Financial Crimes

    As cases of money laundering and terror financing are increasing globally, the concerns to overco...

    KYCC – Going an Extra Mile to Prevent Financial Crimes Explore More

    Blog

    Working from Home Spikes Demand for Digital Identity Verification

    Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, many businesses are grounded or are enforced to work from home. ...

    Working from Home Spikes Demand for Digital Identity Verification Explore More

    Blog, Financial Crime / AML, Reg Tech

    AML Checks: An Emerging Frontier in RegTech Revolution

    The Anti Money Laundering (AML) landscape has been around since the signing of BSA (Bank Secrecy ...

    AML Checks: An Emerging Frontier in RegTech Revolution Explore More

    Blog

    Protecting eCommerce Platforms and Mitigating Crime Risks with Shufti’s IDV Solution

    The term e-commerce was tossed back in the 1960s, with the rise of electronic commerce in which t...

    Protecting eCommerce Platforms and Mitigating Crime Risks with Shufti’s IDV Solution Explore More

    Blog

    How Transaction Monitoring Can Ensure Secure Online Services

    A safe and comprehensive transaction monitoring system is increasingly important in an era charac...

    How Transaction Monitoring Can Ensure Secure Online Services Explore More

    Anti Money Laundering, Blog, Financial Crime / AML

    US Treasury opposes European Commission AML Country List

    The European Commission has adopted a new list of 23 countries which lack appropriate framework f...

    US Treasury opposes European Commission AML Country List Explore More

    Blog

    Know Your Patient – Curbing Healthcare Fraud through Identity Verification

    With global digitization and emerging technologies, the healthcare sector has adopted a variety o...

    Know Your Patient – Curbing Healthcare Fraud through Identity Verification Explore More

    Blog

    An inside look at the need for AML in the e-gaming industry

    Data analytics and trends show the penetration of the population into console-based online video ...

    An inside look at the need for AML in the e-gaming industry Explore More

    Blog

    Securing Banks and Curbing Financial Crimes with Shufti AML/KYC Solution

    Banks and other financial institutions constantly face the challenges of tackling financial crime...

    Securing Banks and Curbing Financial Crimes with Shufti AML/KYC Solution Explore More

    Blog

    Complete Guide to KYC Compliance Regulations in 2025

    Introduction KYC obligations are no longer just a banking headache. In 2025, crypto exchanges, on...

    Complete Guide to KYC Compliance Regulations in 2025 Explore More

    Blog

    Building Trust in Health and Telemedicine Services With Shufti’s Facial Biometric Verification Solution

    Telecommunication technology in the healthcare industry is already widely used and is expanding t...

    Building Trust in Health and Telemedicine Services With Shufti’s Facial Biometric Verification Solution Explore More

    Blog

    AML and KYC Regulations in China – New Requirements to Secure Financial Industry

    China’s financial system is undergoing a pivotal transformation. The country is limiting sharehol...

    AML and KYC Regulations in China – New Requirements to Secure Financial Industry Explore More

    Blog

    Investor Onboarding | Navigating the Challenges of Digitization

    Private market companies are setting their sights on retail investors and exploring technology an...

    Investor Onboarding | Navigating the Challenges of Digitization Explore More

    Blog

    Securing Identities in the Age of AI with Facial Recognition Technology

    Although the digital revolution has brought us unprecedented levels of connectivity and comfort, ...

    Securing Identities in the Age of AI with Facial Recognition Technology Explore More

    Blog

    A Brief Overview of the RegTech Industry [2022 Update]

    The rising financial crimes have raised concerns of global regulatory watchdogs giving rise to Re...

    A Brief Overview of the RegTech Industry [2022 Update] Explore More

    Blog

    Securing Gig Economy Operations and Contributing to the Growth with KYC Solutions

    Startups, SMEs, and the gig industry have seen unprecedented growth. Not to mention, COVID-19 was...

    Securing Gig Economy Operations and Contributing to the Growth with KYC Solutions Explore More

    Blog

    A Go-To Guide to Proof of Address Verification in 2024

    Customer identity verification is significant in today’s digital world – from buying produc...

    A Go-To Guide to Proof of Address Verification in 2024 Explore More

    Blog

    Strategic KYC/AML Checks for the Financial Industry – Staying a Step Ahead of Fraudsters

    In recent times, the financial industry has witnessed significant technological changes which hav...

    Strategic KYC/AML Checks for the Financial Industry – Staying a Step Ahead of Fraudsters Explore More

    Blog

    Money Laundering Spikes High in the Gulf Region – What’s Next?

    Given the rapid increase in FinCrime, the Gulf region is now working day in and day out to impose...

    Money Laundering Spikes High in the Gulf Region – What’s Next? Explore More

    Blog

    The EU’s New AML Proposal, What’s in Store?

    To strengthen the EU’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) ...

    The EU’s New AML Proposal, What’s in Store? Explore More

    Blog

    The Future of Customer Onboarding Post-COVID-19 Pandemic

    The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives to the fullest and businesses have suffered a lot as ...

    The Future of Customer Onboarding Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Explore More

    Blog

    Video KYC (VKYC) | Identity Verification and Fraud Prevention

    In the last few years, the verification industry has experienced remarkable expansion. As our tec...

    Video KYC (VKYC) | Identity Verification and Fraud Prevention Explore More

    Blog

    Contact-free ID authentication – combating fraud during COVID-19 outbreak

    Coronavirus outbreak, which was initially thought of as some sort of common flu in the Chinese ci...

    Contact-free ID authentication – combating fraud during COVID-19 outbreak Explore More

    Blog

    KYC | How to perform KYC verification in three simple steps

    Know Your Customer (KYC) is an identity verification process that plays a critical role in the pr...

    KYC | How to perform KYC verification in three simple steps Explore More

    Blog

    5 Ways How AI Is Uprooting Recruitment Industry

    Artificial Intelligence is strengthening its position in many industries and the recruitment indu...

    5 Ways How AI Is Uprooting Recruitment Industry Explore More

    Blog

    Safeguarding Telecommunication Industry with Robust ID Verification Solutions – What Shufti Offers

    Technology transformation, growing transactions and global digitisation are increasing the potent...

    Safeguarding  Telecommunication Industry with Robust ID Verification Solutions – What Shufti Offers Explore More

    Blog

    AML Screening – Combating Money Laundering in Luxury Vehicle Dealings

    Financial criminals usually look for priceless items like art, antiquities, as well as luxury veh...

    AML Screening – Combating Money Laundering in Luxury Vehicle Dealings Explore More

    Blog, Business Technology

    Identity Verification Fuels Growth of Ride Sharing Industry

    The ride-sharing industry is growing at a huge pace. As per Orbi’s research, the ride-shari...

    Identity Verification Fuels Growth of Ride Sharing Industry Explore More

    Blog

    Transaction Monitoring: Going Beyond AML Screening

    Whether you are an accountant in Wall Street or a developer for Google, money laundering will not...

    Transaction Monitoring: Going Beyond AML Screening Explore More

    Blog

    Age Verification: Comply with Global Regulations or Face Reputational Damages

    In the digital age, businesses that operate online face a significant challenge when verifying th...

    Age Verification: Comply with Global Regulations or Face Reputational Damages Explore More

    Blog

    The Dark Side of Digital Wallets and the Role of Crypto Monitoring

    Cybercriminals have recently exhibited a keen interest in crypto theft, in some circumstances goi...

    The Dark Side of Digital Wallets and the Role of Crypto Monitoring Explore More

    Blog

    KYC Verification – Fraud Prevention in FinTech & the Payments Industry

    The growth of the online payment industry and FinTech companies comes with a simultaneous increas...

    KYC Verification – Fraud Prevention in FinTech & the Payments Industry Explore More

    Blog

    Pension Fund Fraud and the Role of Employee Identity Verification

    Old age is the scariest phase of life for everyone and organisations find it a big challenge to c...

    Pension Fund Fraud and the Role of Employee Identity Verification Explore More

    Blog, Fraud Prevention

    6 Steps of Online Fraud Prevention for Businesses

    With the rapid development in the online retail industry and banking industry, there is an increa...

    6 Steps of Online Fraud Prevention for Businesses Explore More

    Blog

    4 Reasons why KYB is Inevitable for your Business

    When it comes to corporate collaborations, Know Your Business (KYB) is the ultimate source of sec...

    4 Reasons why KYB is Inevitable for your Business Explore More

    Blog

    Customer Identification Programme (CIP) vs Know Your Customer (KYC) | What’s the Difference?

     Often, people confuse CIP and KYC and think both are the same. Customer Identification ...

    Customer Identification Programme (CIP) vs Know Your Customer (KYC) | What’s the Difference? Explore More

    Take the next steps to better security.

    Contact us

    Get in touch with our experts. We'll help you find the perfect solution for your compliance and security needs.

    Contact us

    Request demo

    Get free access to our platform and try our products today.

    Get started