ANALYSIS OF FALSE DOCUMENTS DETECTED AT THE BORDER CONTROL OF EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER STATES AND THE PROSPECTIVE METHODS FOR THE DETECTION OF COUNTERFEITS

Abstract

The subject of the paper "Analysis of False Documents Detected at the Border Control of European Union Member States and the Prospective Methods for the Detection of Counterfeits" is topical, as the verification of the authenticity of travel documents is the cornerstone of border controls; also, the interrelations between the techniques of producing false documents discovered in the EU Member States and the practical application of technologically new methods of document reproduction has not been extensively reviewed and evaluated in EU scientific literature and current information materials. Identity fraud is expensive: from bank accounts opened with false names to money laundering and all kinds of smuggling and terrorism. The endless variety of criminal activities gives false documents a high value. In addition, for 3 billion travelers worldwide, identity verification needs to be fast, unproblematic and effective. Due to the pressure on borders (time constraints and an increasing numbers of travelers) and the increasing complexity of modern document security, border control capabilities (officials and/or automated systems) are compelled to decide quickly and simply whether documents submitted are authentic or false. The operational execution of document verification capacity is crucial for the efficiency and security of border checks. The aim of the research is to study the quality of false documents discovered at European Union Member States’ border inspections and to identify prospective methods of their detection.