Understanding Document Fraud: Types, Red Flags, and Forensic Foundations Document fraud encompasses a wide array of deceptive practices, from simple photocopy alterations to sophisticated digital deepfakes. At its core, effective document fraud detection starts with a clear taxonomy of threats: counterfeit documents (completely fabricated), tampered originals (alterations to genuine documents), identity theft (documents used to impersonate), and synthetic artifacts (AI-generated images and text). Each category presents distinct indicators that can be analyzed through both human-led inspection and automated systems. Traditional red flags include inconsistent typography, mismatched fonts or ink tones, irregular spacing, and suspicious laminations. For printed documents, forensic techniques examine paper fiber, watermark placement, and ink composition using tools…