QUESTIONED 

DOCUMENTS
EXAMINATION
First Preliminary
Week No. 1
Module No. 1
Main Topic: (Questioned Document Part 1)
Sub Topics:  Concept of Questioned
Documents Examination
 General Definition of Terms
 Historical Development
 Need for QD Examination
 Conception of QD Examiner
CONCEPT OF QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
The scientific method and principles involved in solving cases which concentrates on
documents in disagreement. This incorporates among others detection of forgery, hand writing
examination, the restoration and decipherment of writings which were obliterated or effaced, the
use of laboratory apparatus in the study of questioned visible markings and the collection and
preparation of standards to be used in comparison of writings.
Document is any material which contains marks, symbols or signs, visible, partially
visible or invisible, which may presently or ultimately convey a meaning or message to someone.
Any document about which some issues has been raised or which is under scrutiny in whole or in
part with regards to its authenticity, identity, origin, authorship, validity or the relation among its
parts or its relations to other things is referred to as a Questioned Document or a Disputed
Document.  
Graphology, the study of handwriting to determined one’s personality trait is not
handwriting analysis. It is not considered a science, more like a parlor trick. True Questioned
Documents Examination involves painstaking analysis of all the qualities, elements and structure
of the whole document and the mediums in which the document was made of.
“The Handwriting of Junius Professionally Investigated” published by Charles Chabot
was the first book in English to assert that there was a science of handwriting identification, and
to illustrate its methodology.
The Courts of Common Law. The quests for acceptance in courts started in Italy and
France in the seventeenth century, and by 1737 were well enough accepted in France to have
been incorporated into the law. The Code du Faux (Code concerning Forgeries).
GENERAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. DOCUMENT.  Any material containing marks, symbols, or signs either visible, partially
visible that may present or ultimately convey a meaning to someone, maybe in the form
of pencil, ink writing, typewriting, or printing on paper.
The term “document” applies to writings; to words printed, lithographed, or photographed; to
maps or plans; to seals, plates, or even stones on which inscriptions are cut or engraved.  In its
plural form, “documents” may mean; deeds, agreements, title, letters, receipts, and other written
instruments used to prove a fact.
 Latin word “documentum”, means “lesson, or example (in Medieval Latin
“instruction, or official paper”), OR
 French word “docere”, means to teach.
According to Microsoft Encarta Reference Library (as a noun):
1. formal piece of writing
2. object containing information
3. computer file
As a verb, Microsoft Encarta gives the following definition:
1. record information in or on media support a claim with evidence
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT
Questioned document is a document which is under scrutiny or examination as to its
materials used and age, origin and authorship.
Document presented which is vital are usually questioned by parties affected and will get
the advice of the lawyer and to satisfy his client would ask the assistance of a questioned
documents examiner for his opinion.
The Questioned Document examiner will examine the document as to the paper and ink
initialized in the preparation of the document, he will closely examine the writing or signature in
the document and being empiric in the examination of the document will give his finding
convincingly that the document presented is not genuine and not enforceable to the world.
Therefore, the document presented will be a disputed document.
Disputed document is a document which is under scrutiny or examination as to its
material use (ink and paper) age, origin, authorship and controversies arise.
The burden of proof is always in the presentor of the document which are challenge by
the parties affected and the only remedy of lawyer is to get the services of a questioned
document examiner who is not empiric and used the scientific principle in the examination of the
document where controversies arises.
The known report will be examined scientifically, the materials used in the preparation of
the document, determine the kind of ink and paper used as to whether already exist when the
document was made scientifically analyzed the signature or writings with the aid of stereoscopic
microscope.
 Enlarge photographs that would serve as comparison thru justification of the questioned
and standards writings/signatures and explain the qualities, elements, features and characteristics
of the writings/signatures based on his analysis comparison and evaluation that can proved that
the submitted document is genetic and enforceable against the whole world.
DISPUTED DOCUMENT.  A term suggesting that there is an argument or controversy over the
document, and strictly speaking this is true meaning.  In this text, as well as through prior usage,
however, “disputed document” and “questioned document” are used interchangeably to signify a
document that is under special scrutiny.
STANDARD a.k.a. STANDARD DOCUMENT - Are condensed and  compact  set  of authentic
specimens which, if adequate and proper, should contain  a  cross  section  of  the  material  from
a known source. "Standard" in questioned documents  investigation,  we mean those things
whose origins are known and  can  be  proven  and  which can be legally used  as examples  to
compare with other matters in  question.  Usually a  standard consist  of the  known handwriting
of a person  such  case, "standard"  has  the same meaning as is  understood  by  the word
"specimen" of handwriting.
HOLOGRAPHIC DOCUMENT.  Any document completely written and signed by one person;
also known as a holograph.  In a number of jurisdictions a holographic will can be probated
without anyone having witnessed its execution.
REFERENCE COLLECTION.  Material compiled and organized by the document examiner to
assist him in answering special questions.  Reference collections of typewriting, check writing
specimens, inks, pens, pencils, and papers are frequently maintained.
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
In 1782, the case of Folkes v. Chadd a recorded decision affirms the propriety of the use
of “skilled witnesses,”  although the practice at trial was much older.  
Finally, handwriting identification expertise entered the courtroom in 1792. Two postal
inspectors was allowed to testify concerning authorship by comparing known exemplars of one
party's handwriting to a document whose authorship was at issue in the case. However, the very
next year Judge Kenyon reversed his decision, in two cases, and held such testimony
inadmissible. In the 1802 case of Rex v. Cator, the court held that a postal inspector might give
an opinion as to whether a signature was in a "feigned hand" by examination of the signature
alone, but could not compare hands.
Albert S. Osborn, considered as the “Father of Questioned Documents” published his
work “Questioned Documents” in 1910.
In 1935, the Lindbergh baby kidnapping case, State vs. Hauptmann, Albert S. Osborn
proved in court as an expert witness that the accused Bruno Richard Hauptmann had written all
of the ransom notes found or sent after the abduction of the son of Charles A. Lindbergh leading
to the conviction of the accused.
NEED FOR QD EXAMINATION
Forgery become rampant in the middle ages, as a system of acquiring land titles which
are common cases today, even if the government made all efforts to avoid the acquiring of land
titles by falsifier.
In the Philippines, the process of changing Titulo Torens which decreed during the
Spanish regime was changed to Torrens Title which are all registered in the Register of Deeds.
Documentary Epoch
        When paper was made, printing is invented, and knowledge in writing become universal as
it is known to almost everyone.
This is known as Documentary Epoch because of the beginning of a new and important
period in the history of anything, the period of time considered in terms of noteworthy of
events, developments, persons and lastly the time at which observation are made.
CONCEPTION OF QD EXAMINER
The document examiner must be more than technician, he must be scientist because the
methods at his disposal are those applied science.
Each question with which he is confronted need individual of research problem but like
all scientific investigations each has its ultimate goal, the discovery of the facts to reach this goal,
the examiner must be thorough accurate and entirely without bias.
His task is not to prove by some devious certain  preconceived ideas of those who consult
him but to establish the facts which tell of the documents preparation subsequent history though
a research of its identifying details the collation of its elements with those of known specimens.
 The document examiner’s work does not end with the discovery of the identifying details
in document. He must properly interpret them through logical reasoning.
Arrive at a correct conclusion regarding the problem, at his opinion must be prepared to
demonstrate the basis and reasons in a manner that a layman be a judge, juror or interested party,
thoroughly understands.
The skilled examination by means of photographic enlargements, charts and sketches and
careful explanation of the factors involved should be able to make his findings apparent to all
who are willing to judge with an open mind.
Admission in American Courts
In the 1836 case of Moody v. Rowell, Massachusetts became the first common law
jurisdiction to authorize the use of such asserted expertise. The rationale of the Moody case is
telling. Up to that time, in all Anglo - American jurisdictions, handwriting had been formally
authenticated as to authorship by the recognition testimony of non-expert witnesses who were
familiar with the putative author's handwriting.
When the legal system agreed to accept handwriting identification testimony, however, it
created a demand which was met by people who increasingly turned their entire attention to
filling it. Not surprisingly, these people soon set out to create a standard theory and practice,
giving their trade the appearance of "science." Among the first of those people was Charles
Chabot.
Originally a lithographer by trade, he developed an interest in handwriting identification
about the time such expert testimony was gaining admissibility in English courts.
The Lindbergh baby kidnapping case, State v. Hauptmann, in 1935, finally insured the
ultimate triumph of this vision.
Osborn was the chief witness called to testify that Bruno Richard Hauptmann had written all
of the ransom notes found or sent after the abduction of the son of Charles A. Lindbergh. The
public seemed to need to believe Hauptmann was guilty, wanted him convicted, and was grateful
to those who supplied the evidence. Osborn became a celebrity.
For nearly sixty years after the affirming of State v. Hauptmann, no reported opinion rejected
handwriting expertise, nor displayed much skepticism towards it. The testimony, which at the
turn of the century was deemed of "uncertain value," became universally regarded as scientific
and dependable.
Questioned Document
ACTIVITY NO. 1
Period: First-Preliminary (1st week)
Instructions:
1. Use any of the following suggested piece of paper:
 Yellow paper
 Bond paper (long or short)
2. Answer should be made in a handwritten form.
3. Make sure to indicate your full name (family name first), course year level and subject
at the top of your answer sheet.
4. Just wait for the go signal from your instructor for the schedule of the submission.
5. Make sure to follow instructions.
6. God Bless and keep safe.
TEST I. HOW FAR HAVE YOU LEARNED? By using your knowledge, explain further the
following terms:
 1. Questioned Document
2.        Documentary Epoch
3.        Graphology
4.        Document
5.        The courts of common law
TEST II. ESSAY.
1. In your own words, explain what is meant for Questioned Document Examination.
TEST III. REFLECTION.
1. What have you learned from this topic?
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who
goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
GOD BLESS! ☺
VHIA M.CASTAÑEDA
Instructor

QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
EXAMINATION
First Preliminary
Week No. 2
Module No. 2
Main Topic: (Questioned Document Part 2)
Sub Topics:  Kinds of Document
 Reason for Questioned
Document Examination
 Scientific Method in
Questioned Document
Examination
 Classes, Care and Preservations
 Use of Photography in
Preservation
 Physiological Basis of
Handwriting
KINDS OF DOCUMENTS
Document is either a:
1. Public Document – is any instrument notarized by a notary public or competent public
official with solemnities required by law.
 2. Official Document – Any instrument issued by the Government or its agents or its
officers having the authority to do so and the offices, which in accordance with their
creation, they are authorized to issue. The officers must issue the document in the
performance of their duty.
3. Private Document – every deed or instrument executed by a private person without the
intervention of a notary public or of any person legally authorized, by which documents,
some disposition or agreement is proved, evidenced or set forth.
4. Commercial Document – any instrument executed in accordance with the code of
commerce or any mercantile law, containing disposition of commercial rights or
obligations.
Take Note:
A private document may become a public or official document when it partake the nature
of a public or official record. So if the falsifications committed on such document that is, when it
is already a part of the public record, falsification of public or official document is committed.
However, if such private document is intended to become a part of the public record,
even though falsified prior thereto, falsification of a public document is committed.
WRITINGS WHICH DO NOT CONSTITUTE DOCUMENTS - based on some Supreme Court
Rulings.  
1. A draft of a Municipal payroll which is not yet approved by the proper authority (People
vs. Camacho, 44 Phil. 484).
2. Mere blank forms of official documents, the spaces of which are not filled up (People vs.
Santiago, CA, 48 O.G. 4558).
3. Pamphlets or books which do not evidence any disposition or agreement are not
documents but are mere merchandise (People vs. Agnis, 47 Phil. 945).
REASON FOR QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
Generally, examination of questioned documents is restricted to “Scientific Comparison”
which means that determination of authenticity, genuineness, falsification or forgery lies on the
availability of known standards for comparison.   After thorough comparison, the following
principle of identification is applied:
Take Note:
“When two items contain a combination of corresponding or similar and specifically
oriented characteristic of such number and significance as to preclude the possibility of their
occurrence by mere coincidence and there are no unaccounted for differences,  it may be
concluded that they are same in their characteristics attributed to the same cause.”
SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
1. Analysis (Recognition) - properties or characteristics, observed or measured.
2. Comparison  -  Properties or characteristics  of  the  unknown determined  thought
analysis   are now  compared  with  the familiar or recorded properties of known items.
3. Evaluation- Similarities or dissimilarities in properties or characteristics will each have a
certain value for identification, determined by its likelihood of occurrence.  The weight or
significance of each must therefore be considered.
The criteria of scientific examination of documents are:
1. Accuracy – correspondence between results obtained and the truth.
2. Precision – measure of the consistency of results obtained in repeated study or
experimentation.
Take Note:
 “In scientific study of signatures/handwritings, we learn the basic facts and then reason
carefully and logically from these facts according to established and recognized rules in order to
form an opinion or conclusion as to whether a questioned signature/handwriting is genuine or
forged”.
Problems Encountered
Questioned document examination involves many areas of discipline. Included under classes
of questioned documents are the following:
1. Documents that may identify a person   through handwriting
 Anonymous letter such as ransom notes, libelous notes, extortion notes, letter
or threat;
 Suicide notes
 Registrations, application letters and other miscellaneous letters
2. Printed Documents or type-print documents
 a. Typewriting
 b. Photocopying (xerography)
 c. Computer printed/generated
 d. Letter press/Printing press
 e. Stamps (as in rubber stamp pad kind)
 f. Painting
3. Documents with questioned or forged signatures. Most common of these are commercial or
legal manuscript such as contracts, agreements, surety bonds, checks, bank notes/drafts, receipts,
assignments, etc.
4. Documents purported to contain fraudulent alterations. Alterations made by erasure, addition,
interlineations or substitution.  
5. Documents questioned as to age or date of its execution.
6. Documents questioned on the materials used in their production or the medium of the
document (Multiple surfaces not limited to paper, ink and writing instruments.)
7. Holograph documents.
8. Documents involving typewriting/printer generated, and are investigated or examined for
purposes of determining:
 the source;
 the date; and
 whether or not it contains fraudulent alterations, inserted or substituted pages.
9. Genuine documents erroneously or fraudulently attacked or disputed.
CLASSES, CARE AND PRESERVATIONS
Initial scrutiny of Questioned Documents especially, the document examiners are mandated
to inquire the history of the document brought to him for examination usually interested parties
would need an opinion which are favorable to them.
Questioned Documents specialists are tasked to work for them which would require initial
inquiries on the historical development in the preparation of documents in questioned he
received for examination.
These are several factors for consideration to be examined by the Document examiner, to wit:
 Is the signature and the writing in the body of the document genuine?
 Is the writing in natural or unnatural position?
 Are submitted number of standards sufficient, contemporaneous, all genuine, consistent
themselves and of proper data.
 Are pencil or carbon marks shows an outline of the signature or writing?
CLASSES, CARE AND PRESERVATIONS
 Was the paper folded before the preparation of the document?
 Was the watermark consistent along the documents submitted?
 Was the size, shape and color of the paper significant in the preparation of the
document?
 Does the writing or signature in the paper ruling has any importance?
 For what purpose the paper is torn, crumpled, burned and mutilated in any degree?
 Does the document contain abrasion chemical, erasures, alteration, addition
interlineations and substitution in any manners?
 Was there continuity in the document when viewed by transmitted light?
 Does the document appeared to be wet due to copying press?
 Was the document touched by any sharp or writing instrument
 Was the paper cut or mutilated in any degree?
 Was the document properly handled by the parties interested for the results of the
examination?
The following directions are standard operating procedures in handling documentary
evidences:
 Disputed documents should not be cut, torn or in any manner mutilated in the slightest
degree.
 Documents should not be folded in any new place and should not be folded and
unfolded unnecessarily.
 Documents should not be touched with an eraser of any kind, nor with a pen, pencil of
sharp object.
 Documents should not be subjected to chemical treatment. Except on special
permission, no chemical analysis should be made on the document as chemicals applied
may damage or deface the document.
 Do not damp, soak or wet documents.
 Portions of the document which is of particular significance such as signature, amount
or date should not be encircled in any manner as to affect the strokes or portions
thereof.
 Hand deliver or send by registered mail the documents.
 Have a note on the accurate chain of custody.
 Photograph the document on its original state upon receipt.
 Initial and date the document in its safe areas.
 Store in locked vault to ensure evidence safety.
 Minimize light exposure as such rays may diminish the color or ink and hasten aging of
the document.
 Minimize handling of the documentary evidence to avoid leaving imprints.
 Keep the document in transparent plastic folders.
USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN PRESERVATION
 It serves as a record of the initial condition of a disputed document.
 Photograph make clear what otherwise may be hidden or indistinct.
 By means of photographs, writing in question can be accurately enlarged so that every
quality and characteristics of it can be clearly and properly interpreted.
 Photographs can be cut apart as may be desired and the various parts may be marked
for comparison.
  Photographs are also useful in showing discoloration due to chemical erasures or other
fraudulent changes which may otherwise be overlooked.
 Erasures made by abrasions by ordinary rubber eraser can sometimes be shown very
clearly and recorded in permanent form by a photograph taken with the paper placed
obliquely to the one of the lens and plate and inclined at just the right angle of
reflection so as to show differences in the reflected light from different portions of the
paper surface.
 Stereographic photo micrograph shows conditions of writing in three dimensional
enlargements and is useful in showing sequence of crossed lines, or showing whether
writing across a fold followed or preceded the folding of the paper.
 Transmitted light photography is useful in:
 Examination of watermarks.
 Showing the continuity of strokes.
 Determination of the identity or the differences in paper by showing the arrangement of
the fibers and the markings of the wire gauze and dandy roll.
 Determining retouching or patching of writing by clearly showing the presence of added
ink and the uneven distribution of ink in interrupted strokes.
Questioned Document
ACTIVITY NO. 2
Period: First-Preliminary (2nd week)
Instructions:
1. Use any of the following suggested piece of paper:
 Yellow paper
 Bond paper (long or short)
2. Answer should be made in a handwritten form.
3. Make sure to indicate your full name (family name first), course year level and subject
at the top of your answer sheet.
4. Just wait for the go signal from your instructor for the schedule of the submission.
5. Make sure to follow instructions.
6. God Bless and keep safe.
TEST I. IDENTIFICATION.
1. Are mandated to inquire the history of the document brought to him for examination
usually interested parties would need an opinion which are favorable to them.
2. Are tasked to work for them which would require initial inquiries on the historical
development in the preparation of documents in questioned he received for
examination.
3. Shows conditions of writing in three dimensional enlargements and is useful in showing
sequence of crossed lines, or showing whether writing across a fold followed or
preceded the folding of the paper.
4. Every deed or instrument executed by a private person without the intervention of a
notary public or of any person legally authorized, by which documents, some disposition
or agreement is proved, evidenced or set forth.
5. Most common of these are commercial or legal manuscript such as contracts,
agreements, surety bonds, checks, bank notes/drafts, receipts, assignments, etc.
6. Is any instrument notarized by a notary public or competent public official with
solemnities required by law.
 7. Are also useful in showing discoloration due to chemical erasures or other fraudulent
changes which may otherwise be overlooked.
8. Any instrument executed in accordance with the code of commerce or any mercantile
law, containing disposition of commercial rights or obligations.
9. Alterations made by erasure, addition, interlineations or substitution.  
10. Any instrument issued by the Government or its agents or its officers having the
authority to do so and the offices, which in accordance with their creation, they are
authorized to issue. The officers must issue the document in the performance of their
duty.
TEST II. PICTURE FINDING. Provide at least 2 samples/pictures of the following kinds of
documents:
1. Public Document
2. Official Document
3. Private Document
4. Commercial Document
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who
goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
GOD BLESS! ☺
VHIA MURIERA.CASTAÑEDA
Instructor

QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
EXAMINATION
First Preliminary
        

Week No. 3
Module No. 3
Main Topic: Module 3: (Stages in the Development of
Handwriting)
Sub Topics:  Handwriting
 Physiological Basis of
Handwriting
 Individuality of Handwriting
 Types of Writing
 Signatures
 Classification of signature
HANDWRITING
 Graphology, the study of handwriting to determine one's personality traits, is not
handwriting analysis.  It's not even considered a science; more like a parlor trick.  True
handwriting analysis involves painstaking examination of the design, shape and structure of
handwriting to determine authorship of a given handwriting sample.   The basic principle
underlying handwriting analysis is that no two people write the exact same thing the exact same
way.    Every person develops unique peculiarities and characteristics in their handwriting.

Handwriting analysis looks at letter formations, connecting strokes between the letters,
upstrokes, retraces, down strokes, spacing, baseline, curves, size, distortions, hesitations and a
number of other characteristics of handwriting.  By examining these details and variations in a
questioned sample and comparing them to a sample of known authorship, a determination can be
made as the whether or not the authorship is genuine. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF HANDWRITING
          Writing is the result of a very complicated series of acts, being as a whole a combination
of certain forms, which are the very visible result of mental and muscular habits, acquired by
long continued, painstaking effort. What is seen as writing is the end aimed at, but this is only a
record of the more fundamental part of the process, which is a series of controlled, successive
movements growing out of the imitation or arbitrary forms.
Handwriting (as further defined on Wigmore’s Principle’s of Judicial Proof) is a visible
effect of bodily movement, which is an almost unconscious expression of fixed muscular habits,
reacting from fixed mental impression of certain ideas associated with script form.

           The impulse to form a letter begins in the brain’s writing center in the cortex. This center
is akin to brain areas that control vision, hearing, talking and walking, and it guides the muscles
of the hand as they glide to through the complex movements that make the words.
 The writing center near the motor area of the cortex is responsible for finger movement
involved in handwriting.
 The hand contains two kinds of muscles which function in the act of writing.
 A group of “extensor” push up the pen to form the upward strokes adds/ease the
tension produced as a result of flexion by the group of muscles called the “flexor” which
pushes the pen to form the down ward strokes.
 The flexor and extensor muscles combine with lumbrical muscles to form lateral strokes.
Generally speaking, four groups of muscles are employed in writing, those which
 operate the joints of the fingers, wrist, elbow and

shoulder. 
 The delicate way in which the numerous muscles used in writing together to produce
writer forms is known as “motor coordination.”
 Agraphia is a disease where one losses the ability to write even though he could still
grasp a writing instrument.

Stages in the Development of Handwriting

 
First Step – When a person first begins to learn the art of penmanship copybook forms and
blackboard illustrations of different letters are placed before him. His first step is of imitation
only, by a process of drawing, meticulous, ardent slow copying of the letterforms. The form of
each letter at first occupies the focus of his attention.
Second Step – As the person progresses, the matter of form recedes, and the focus of attention is
centered on the execution of various letters, that is, they are actually written instead of drawn.
Third Step – The manual operation in the execution of letters, after more progress, is likewise
soon relegated to the subjective mind and the process of writing becomes more or less automatic.
As the person attains maturity in writing by many repetitions, writing becomes an unconscious
coordinated movement that produces a record. Attention is no longer given to the process of
writing itself because the subject matter to be written now occupies the focus of attention.
Two Groups of Muscles Involve in Handwriting:
1. extensor muscles  - push up the pen to form the upward strokes
2. flex muscles which push the pen to from the downward strokes.
        Generally speaking, four groups of muscles are employed in writing - those which operate
the joints of the fingers, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. The delicate way in which the
various muscles used in writing work together to produce written form is known as motor
coordination.
INDIVIDUALITY OF HANDWRITING

             The particular style or system of penmanship learned at the early stage of writing leaves
an impress upon the mind, which influences greatly the writing of later years. The writing pattern
of each child or learner embodies a unique combination of such deviation from the standard
letterforms or copybook forms, and become his personal habits.
 
             Mature writing is further modified by other factors such as education, training, personal
taste, artistic ability, musculature and nerve tone, and the like.
These deviation from the copybook forms and modifications in mature writing may be caused or
done in the following:
 
1. Simplification – discarding of unessential details and may go as far as to strip the letter to the
skeleton making it either clear-cut and precise, or bare and careless.
 
2. Elaboration – decorative strokes are added to the plain letterforms, giving writing rich and
ample, or too ornate character.
 
3. Linear pattern – writing shows no concern for form so that lines and angles predominate, and
loops and angles are not pronounced.
TYPES OF WRITING
1. Cursive writing – inscription or lettering wherein the letters are for the most part joined
together.
2. Disguised writing – A writing specimen that is executed deliberately with an attempt to alter
the usual writing habits in the attempt to conceal the identity of the one executing the

writing. 
3. Guided – Also known as assisted writing it is executed while the writer’s hand is steadied in a
way. They are most commonly written during a serious illness or on a deathbed and employed as

a method for beginners in writing. 

4. Hand lettering – Refers to a specimen of writing characterized by a disconnected style.  
5. Natural writing – Refers to that specimen of writing that is written or executed normally
without any attempt to control or alter its identifying habits and its usual quality of execution.

SIGNATURES
A signature is a combination of rather limited letters and designs and due to its frequent use; it
becomes almost automatic with its source.
        The identification or the so called “verification” of signature is a specialized branch of
handwriting examination.
        Known signatures may contain elements and features not common to the writer are other
classes of writing.
         Factors identification given closest style in signature examination may not be given the
same special emphasis in general writing.
CLASSES OF SIGNATURE
1. Formal or complete – It usually executed in signing significant and important documents
and papers.
 2. Cursory or Informal– It is usually executed in the conduct of one’s own daily affairs.

Primarily of routine nature. 

3. Careless scribble – It is usually executed for signing receipts and similar insignificant
documents.

Questioned Document
ACTIVITY NO. 3
Period: First-Preliminary (3rd week)
Instructions:
1. Use any of the following suggested piece of paper:
 Yellow paper
 Bond paper (long or short)
2. Answer should be made in a handwritten form.
 3. Make sure to indicate your full name (family name first), course year level and subject
at the top of your answer sheet.
4. Just wait for the go signal from your instructor for the schedule of the submission.
5. Make sure to follow instructions.
6. God Bless and keep safe.
TEST I. IDENTIFICATION
1. Is a visible effect of bodily movement, which is an almost unconscious expression of
fixed muscular habits, reacting from fixed mental impression of certain ideas
associated with script form?
2. A combination of rather limited letters and designs and due to its frequent use; it
becomes almost automatic with its source.
3. Writing shows no concern for form so that lines and angles predominate, and loops
and angles are not pronounced.
4. Discarding of unessential details and may go as far as to strip the letter to the skeleton
making it either clear-cut and precise, or bare and careless.
5. Decorative strokes are added to the plain letterforms, giving writing rich and ample, or
too ornate character.
6. It usually executed in signing significant and important documents and papers.
7. It is usually executed in the conduct of one’s own daily affairs. Primarily of routine
nature.
8. It is usually executed for signing receipts and similar insignificant documents.
9. A writing specimen that is executed deliberately with an attempt to alter the usual
writing habits in the attempt to conceal the identity of the one executing the writing.
10. Refers to that specimen of writing that is written or executed normally without any
attempt to control or alter its identifying habits and its usual quality of execution.  
11. Also known as assisted writing.
12. Inscription or lettering wherein the letters are for the most part joined together.
13. It is executed while the writer’s hand is steadied in a way. They are most commonly
written during a serious illness or on a deathbed and employed as a method for
beginners in writing.
14. Is a disease where one losses the ability to write even though he could still grasp a
writing instrument.
15. It is the result of a very complicated series of acts, being as a whole a combination of
certain forms, which are the very visible result of mental and muscular habits, acquired
by long continued, painstaking effort.
TEST II. WORD HUNT. Make 5 words in each word that is given below. Two letter word will
not be counted.
1. SIGNATURES
2. ELABORATION
3. SIMPLIFICATION
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who
goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
GOD BLESS! ☺
VHIA M.CASTAÑEDA
Instructor
 QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
EXAMINATION
Second Preliminary
        

Week No. 4
Module No. 4
Main Topic: Module 4: (Forged Signatures)
Sub Topics:  Classes of Forged Signatures
 Different Processes of Tracing
 Handwriting Examination
Phases
 Handwriting Characteristics
FORGED SIGNATURES
A forged signature is a signature of another person, or of a fictitious character written by
another person who has no authority to do so, with intention to defraud.
Classes of disputed Signatures:
 Forged signatures where no attempt has been made to make a copy of facsimile of the
genuine signature of the person purporting to sign the document.
 Forged signatures of fictitious persons.
 Forged signatures that closely resemble the genuine signature.
 Genuine signature which the writer is unwilling to accept as genuine.
 Genuine signature obtained by trickery.
CLASSES OF FORGED SIGNATURES
1. Simple Forgery – It is also known as a spurious signature which refers to a bogus
signature where no attempt has been made to make a facsimile or copy of the genuine
writing or signature of a person ported to make or sign a document.
 2. Copied or Simulated Forgery – Regarded as the most skillful form of forgery, it is a fake
signature which resembles the genuine signature executed in free-hand.

 Others refer to it as a freehand imitation forgery (termed as the “model”).

 The forger labors under strained mental and muscular condition that makes it difficult, if
not altogether impossible to do his work in skillful manner brought about by:
 Painful anxiety to do the work well;
 The realization that forgery is a criminal act;
 And the fear of discovery which will result to dishonor and punishment.
 The fundamental common forgery defect is not divergence in form but is the quality or
stroke showing tremors of fraud, hesitations, stops and other indications of a poor,
defective line quality.
 It is impossible to identify the author of a simulated forgery for in the dual process, he
assumes the characteristics of the writing imitated and unconsciously injected his own
characteristics in a very limited quantity.
 The writing characteristics will not provide any basis for identification.
Copied forgery always shows natural result of strained condition by:
1. slow,
2. hesitating,
3. unnatural appearance and
4. too much attention on details.
3. Traced Forgery – This refers to a fraudulent signature which closely bears a resemblance
to the genuine signature but made by using any of the following: carbon outline process,
indention process, transmitted light or projection process or the laser method.
 The types of Traced Signatures are:
1. CARBON PROCESS
2. INDENTION PROCESS
3. TRANSMITTED LIGHT PROCESS
Proof of Traced forgery:
 Discovery of the actual model or genuine signature from which it was made.
 Presence of pencil, carbon or indented outlines that point to the tracing process.
 Discovery of two or more identical attendant forgeries which could only have been
drawn from one model or original.
DIFFERENT PROCESSES OF TRACING
1.Carbon outline method or Carbon process where a carbon paper is placed between the genuine
signature (top sheet) and the fraudulent document (lower sheet) Outline of model signature is
traced with dry pen or pointed object to make a carbon offset on the lower sheet. Outline is
finally re-written or retraced with suitable ink stroke.
2.Indention process where a canal like outline of the genuine is produced on the fraudulent
documents (lower sheets) by tracing the outline of the genuine signature (top sheet) with a
pointed instrument. The outline is then directly inked, in some instances; the outline is first
retraced lightly with pencil before it is finally retraced with suitable ink.
3.Transmitted light process or projection process where the spurious document is placed
immediately over the genuine signature with strong light directed through the two sheets of paper
from below or behind; outline that is seen through upper sheet is then traced.
HANDWRITING EXAMINATION PHASES
Three essential phases in handwriting/questioned documents examination:
 Recognition (analysis) of characteristics. Analysis where properties or characteristics are
observed, calibrated and determined.
 Comprehensive comparison of all characteristics where properties of the unknown
determined thru analysis are now compared with the familiar or recorded properties of
known items.
 Evaluation. Correct interpretation of characteristics.
The examination involves the recognition, thorough comparison and correct interpretation or
evaluation of the elements, features, qualities and characteristics of the handwriting.
 Quality refers to that peculiar or distinct character which is used in describing handwriting to
any identifying factor which is related to the writing movement itself.
Features included among the qualities of handwriting are its distinctive traits.
Element which refers more to the separate physical parts of a thing is also an appropriate
descriptive term and in some connections preferable.
HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTICS
Recognition of writing characteristics:
1. Alignment- which is the relation on successive characteristics or letters of a word,
signature or line or writing to an actual or imaginary baseline. Deviations are mainly
due to movement and the position of the writing arm especially in relation to the
line of writing.
2. Angles-  which usually serves as junction between straight lines and curves in writing
strokes.
3. Arrangement-  which is governed by artistic ability or sense of proportions.
4. Connections  which refers to the strokes or links that hook up a letter with the one
following. In signatures, it is a common practice to write signatures with the initials
and names connected without lifting the pen.
5. Curves-  writings produced with smooth muscular accord, lack of muscular accord
manifest itself at places of the writing at or near top or bottom of the letters where
movement impulse changes from one unit to the other, so that instead of curves at
the tops or arcs of letters, angles may be formed.
6. Form- which refers to the shape or design of the individual letters.
7. Line quality-  the delicate characteristic of line quality in writing freely produced
with harmonious relation of strokes and unconscious emphasis is the most difficult
of all handwriting characteristics to imitate successfully.
8. Pen-lifts- with most writers, disconnections in words are more closely related to
design of letters than in movement, the habits having been acquired during the
onset of writing learning stage.
9. Movement of the finger, hand, forearm and whole hand-  In finger movement the
thumb, index and middle fingers are used exclusively in the writing of letter. Hand
movement involves action of the hand with fingers playing minor role action being
limited mainly to the formation of the smaller parts of the letters, pivot of lateral
motion of the wrist. Forearm or muscular movement, the elbow is the pivot of
lateral movement and gives great command of the hand and the most complete
lateral freedom. Whole-arm movement involves the entire arm without rest and is
employed in very large writing and ornamental penmanship.
10. Muscular habits or co-ordinations- in the execution of down strokes, the impulse
originates from the flexor muscles of the index and middle fingers and the thumb
yields. In upward strokes, the movement impulses originates from the thumb which
pushes the pen against the index and middle fingers which must yield to the impulse
with just a sufficient force to allow the upward movement muscles involved in this
operation arm the extensor muscle.
11. Pressure-more accurately describes the proportions of strokes to each other in
width as affected by shading and by unconscious emphasis.
12. Proportion of a part to other part of a letter,  or relative height of one letter to
another letter can be found in different writing. It is one of the hidden features of
writing it being unknown even to the writer.
 13. Retracing  -wherein some writers execute letters with upward strokes moving over
or retracing downward strokes and this characteristic of retracing is very slight.
14. Rhythm-  which is referred to as “a flowing hand” is a coordinated succession of
movement impulses that glide into each with a rhythm.
15. Rubric or embellishment- which is unnecessary to the legibility of letter forms or
writings but incorporated in writing for decorative or ornamental purposes.
16. Shading and pen position.
17. Size-  as a writing characteristic is somewhat divergent under varying conditions and
has little significance when applied only to one example.
18. Skill-  which is judged in terms of legibility and symmetry.
19. Slant-  which refers to the slope of writing in relation to the baseline, it is a fairly
stable habit.
20. Spacing-  between letters in words depends upon the length of the connecting
strokes or links. Speed and movement influence spacing.
21. Speed-  handwriting shows great variation in speed and muscular skill among
different writers ranging from clumsy hesitation of the illiterate and the palsied
(related to paralysis) feebleness due to age, up to skillful dash and the grace of the
adept.
22. Straight lines-  generally, straight lines are found mostly in writings executed with
speedy forearm movement, and the most irregular are in writing made with the
finger movement.
23. System- which refers to the particular style of system of penmanship practiced or
learned in childhood.
24. Terminal strokes and initial strokes-  when a letter or word or signature is
completed in a free, natural writing, the pen is usually raised from the paper while
in motion with a “flying finish” and with many writers the motion of the pen also
slightly precedes the putting of the pen on the paper at the beginning with a “flying
start” so that the strokes at the beginning and the end of words gradually diminish
or taper to a “vanishing point”.
25. Tremor- which is deviation from uniform strokes or lack of smoothness entirely
apparent even without magnification. Lack of muscular skill with the pen is shown
by lack of uniformity of speed in making strokes, pen stops and involuntary vertical
and horizontal movements uncontrolled sidewise movements produce a line with
abrupt changes of direction or zigzag character.
Questioned Document
ACTIVITY NO. 4
Period: Second-Preliminary (4th week)
Instructions:
1. Use any of the following suggested piece of paper:
 Yellow paper
 Bond paper (long or short)
2. Answer should be made in a handwritten form.
3. Make sure to indicate your full name (family name first), course year level and subject
at the top of your answer sheet.
4. Just wait for the go signal from your instructor for the schedule of the submission.
5. Make sure to follow instructions.
6. God Bless and keep safe.
 TEST I. WHAT MAKES ME DIFFERENT? Distinguish the given names below.
1. Copied or Simulated Forgery from Traced Forgery.
2. Retracing from Embellishment.
3. Carbon process from Indention Process.
TEST II. PROVIDE. 
1. Provide a specimen of forged signature and genuine signature. Write it in a piece of
bond paper.
TEST III. HOW MUCH LEARNING YOU GAIN?
1. Write at least 300 words about your learnings regarding this topic.
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who
goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
GOD BLESS! ☺
VHIA MURIERA CASTAÑEDA
Instructor

QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
EXAMINATION
Second Preliminary
        

Week No. 5
Module No. 5
Main Topic: Module 5: (Class and Individual
Characteristics)
Sub Topics:  Rules of Handwriting
Identification
 Handwriting
Characteristics and other
Identifying Features
 Rules of Handwriting
Identification
 Writing Characteristics
 Indication of
Genuineness
CLASS AND INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
Class Characteristics these are common to a group also referred to as general characteristics;
while, Individual Characteristics are highly peculiar or personal to a particular writer and is
likely to occur in other instances.
HANDWRITING CHARACTERISTICS AND OTHER IDENTIFYING
FEATURES
Writing Habits - Writing by all its thousands of peculiarities in combination is the most personal
and individuals thing that a man does that leaves a record which can be seen and studies. This
is what constitutes individuality in handwriting.
   A.  GENERAL(CLASS) CHARACTERISTICS - These  characteristics  refer to those habits
are  part  of basic writing system or which are modifications of the system of
writing found among so large a group of writes that  have  only slight identification value.
  B. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS - They are characteristics which are the result of the
writer's muscular control, coordination, age, health, and nervous temperament, frequency of
writing, personality and character.  They are found in Writing movement, Form and design of
letters, Motor Coordination, Shading, Skill, Alignment, Pen pressure, Connection, Pen hold,
Rhythm, Disconnections or pen lifts between letters, Speed, Slant as a writing habit,
Proportion of letters as an individual characteristic or habit, Quality of stroke or line
quality, Variation and Muscular control or motor control -
1. Loose writing - this is characterized by too much freedom of movement and lack of
regulation.  This is noticed especially in tall letters forms.
2. Restrained writing - there is lack of freedom and inhibited movements.   It gives you
the impression that every stroke was made with great difficulty.   This writing is
small.  There is   distortion of letter forms which may lead to illegibility.
RULES OF HANDWRITING IDENTIFICATION
Basic Rules for the identification of Handwriting:
Rule 1. Each mature writer has a handwriting which is personal and individual to him alone.
 Every individual’s handwriting undergoes gradual changes in the course of his
life.
 The gradual changes in handwriting which occur during a person’s lifetime while
following certain general patterns are individual to each writer.
Rule 2. Deterioration of an individual’s writing due to any cause effects all of the writing
properties and is not confined to change of one or two elements.
 An individual’s handwriting may deteriorate very rapidly due to sharp physical
decline resulting from either old age or severe illness.
 A transitory change may be injected into handwriting by temporary physical and
mental conditions, such as fatigue, nervous tension, intoxication or severe
illness from which the writer ultimately recovers.
Rule 3. A writer cannot exceed his maximum writing ability or skill without serious training and
effort applied over a period of time.
 Rule 4. Attempted disguise leads to an inferior never better a quality of
handwriting. A lack of uniformity in execution and form is an extended
specimen of handwriting is an indication of lack of disguise.
 Conversely, uniformity of writing qualities is an extended specimen of
handwriting and is an indication of lack of disguise.
Rule 5. Variation in writing is an essential property of everyone’s handwriting. The degree of
variation in writing tends to increase with more rapid and less careful execution.
  Variation in writing is related to the conditions under which it was prepared.
The purpose for which writings were intended may govern the degree of
variation in them.
 In repeated specimen of writing prepared at one time, variation tends to be less
than between specimens written from day to day.
How Handwriting is identified
Rule 1. The individuality of writing is the basis of all identifications.
Rule 2. Handwriting is identified by the combination of all its attributes on qualities, including
both those derived from the writing movement and those related form.
Rule 3. Writing standards are necessary to establish the individual’s normal writing habits and to
show the degree of variation common to his writing.
 The best standards include writing which was prepared for a comparable purpose and
under similar conditions to the matter under investigation.
Rule 4. A specimen of writing was written by a particular person if all its identifying elements
are a part of his handwriting and furthermore the variation within its specimen falls within his
range of writing variation.
WRITING CHARACTERISTICS
Factors that affect writing characteristics:
1. Natural variations – Refers to the normal or usual deviations found in a repeated
specimen of an individual’s handwriting or in the product of any typewriter.
2. Transitory change – Those changes which only continue to exist while the basic cause of
the deterioration is still affecting the writer, once such cause has been removed from
the writer, his writing will revert to its normal form.
3. Writing Conditions – Which covers all factors affecting the over-all quality of writing
such as the writer’s condition under which the writing was prepared.  
4. Writing instrument – The utensil or means used to execute the writing such as ball point
pen, fiber pen or fountain pain.
5. Tremor – Refers to the weakening of strokes set apart by a wavering or shaky stroke.
This may be due to genuine tremors caused by either sickness, weakness, old age or
illiteracy or a tremor of fraud.
 A genuine tremor shows some free connecting and terminal stroke made by the
momentum of the hand. A tremor of age or weakness shows unnatural erratic
departures of the line from each intended course, abrupt recovery, awkward
digressions, and indication of muscular movement beyond the control of the writer.
6. Tremor
 Tremor of illiteracy is characterized by general irregularity due to the lack of will and
mental uncertainty as to the form and a general clumsiness, resulting from unfamiliarity
with the whole writing process.
 A tremor of fraud which is drawn even though quite perfect in general form, shows but
little, if any freedom and will often show hesitation at the wrong places and tremor
slowly placed.
Causes of Tremor
 Lack of skill on the part of the writer
 Self-consciousness of the writing process
 Hesitation resulting from copying or imitation
 Uncontrollable nervousness of the writer
  In illiterate writing, due to clumsiness partly due to lack of clear mental impression of
the form being made.
INDICATION OF GENUINENESS
 Abbreviated form.
 Broken and unfinished signature.
 Certain natural variations in details of the writing
 Consistency of refined line quality.
 Correct general appearance with incorporated refined qualities of an individual
character.
 Distorted forms.
 Flying or flourishing starts (initial strokes).
 Flying or vanishing finishes or strokes (terminal strokes).
 Freedom in writing.
 Genuine retouching or overwriting.
 Illegible forms written in sufficiently free and rapid manner.
 Ink failure.
 Intermediate strokes when pen comes off the paper but not stooped and shows
continuity of motion.
 Skillful shading.
 Abrupt changes in direction of line or strokes, showing uncertainty of movement.
 Bulbous or blunt initial and terminal strokes.
 Concealed of hidden amalgamations.
 Defective line-quality-stilted, drawn quality devoid of free, natural, normal writing
movements.
 Erratic change of slant.
 Hesitations – pen stops at unusual places.
 Lack of variation of pen pressure.
Questioned Document
ACTIVITY NO. 5
Period: Second-Preliminary (5th week)
Instructions:
1. Use any of the following suggested piece of paper:
 Yellow paper
 Bond paper (long or short)
2. Answer should be made in a handwritten form.
3. Make sure to indicate your full name (family name first), course year level and subject
at the top of your answer sheet.
4. Just wait for the go signal from your instructor for the schedule of the submission.
5. Make sure to follow instructions.
6. God Bless and keep safe.
TEST I. ARRANGE ME IF YOU CAN!  Arrange the given jumbled words below.
1. KCAL        6. RIGNITW
2. KNI        7. LARNATU
3. ROMERT        8. MORF
4. NUIENGE        9. ORBENK
5. ITLAINI        10. UTRENAGIS
 TEST II. SYNOPSIS. Briefly summarize your learnings base on your own
understanding.
1 How handwriting is identified.
2 Individual Characteristics.
3 Rules for the identification of handwriting.
        Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God
who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
GOD BLESS! ☺
VHIA MURIERA CASTAÑEDA
Instructor

QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
EXAMINATION
Second Preliminary
        

Week No. 6
Module No. 6
Main Topic: Module 6: (Indication of Forgery)
Sub Topics:  Legal Aspect of Forgery
 Elements of Handwriting
Forms
 Apparatus and Instruments
 Identity Theft
INDICATION OF FORGERY
 Misplaced shading.
 Non-continuous broken strokes.
 Presence of carbon, pencil or indented outlines along the strokes of “inked” patterns.
 Shading in more than one direction indicating frequent change of pen hold due to
hesitation.
 Tremors
 Unnatural pen-lifts.
 Unnecessary, careful patching or retouching.
LEGAL ASPECT OF FORGERY
FORGERIES - What are the crimes called forgeries?
1. Forging the seal of the government, signature or stamp of the chief Executive (Art.
161).
2. Counterfeiting coins (Art. 163).
3. Mutilation of coins (Art. 164).
 4. Forging treasury or bank notes or other documents payable to bearer (Art. 166).
5. Counterfeiting instruments not payable to bearer (Art. 167).
6. Falsification of legislative documents (Art. 172).
7. Falsification by public officer, employee or notary or ecclesiastical minister (Art. 171).
8. Falsification by private individuals (Art. 172).
9. Falsification of wireless, cable, telegraph and telephone messages (Art. 173).
10. Falsification of medical certificates, certificates of merit or service (Art. 174).
1. ACTS PUNISHABLE UNDER ART. 161: Forging the great seal of the Government of the
Philippines; Forging the signature of the President; Forging the stamp of the President.
2. Reason for punishing forgery - Forgery of currency is punished so as to maintain the integrity
of the currency and thus insure the credit standing of the government and prevent the
imposition on the public and the government of worthless notes or obligations.
ELEMENTS OF HANDWRITING FORMS
1. Arc – Refers to the rounded inner part of an upper bend, crook or curve.
2. Baseline – The imaginary or ruled line upon which the writing rests.
3. Beard – Also known as a double hitch is an introductory up and down stroke found in
some capital letters.  
4. Blunt – This is a part of a stroke characterized by a sudden beginning or end at which the
pen does not create a diminishing stroke.
5. Buckle Knot – Is a horizontal or loop stroke used to complete letters A, D, F and H.
6. Central part – Refers to the body of a letter, usually characterized by circular or small
rounded strokes.
7. Copy Book Form – The design of letters which are fundamental to a writing system.
8. Ductus-link – Or a Ductus broken is the connection between letters, either joined or
disconnected.
9. Embellishment – Added strokes which serves as an ornament or flourish to the design of
the letters. Considered as unessential to the legibility of writing.
10. Eyelet – Are small oblong strokes.
11. Hitch – Introductory backward stroke found in most capital letters and some small
letters.
12. Hump – The upper part of an upper bend, crook or curve.
13. Knob – Refers to that tiny pool of ink at the beginning or ending stroke.
14. Line quality – Refers to the visible record in the written stroke of the basic movement
and manner of holding the writing instrument. Derived from a combination of factor
including skill, speed, rhythm, freedom of movement, pen position and shading.
15. Loop – Are oblong strokes. Stem/Staff/Shank – Referred to as the backbone of the letter
characterized by a lone downward stroke.
16. Slant – Refers to the angle or inclination of the axis of letters relative to the baseline.
17. System of writing – Refers to the combination of the basic design of letters and the
writing movement as taught in school.
18. Through – Any garland form of letter strokes.
19. Whirl – The lone upward stroke usually located opposite the stem.
20. Writing movement – An important element of handwriting which embraces all the
factors which are related to the motion of writing.
APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS
1. Magnifying lens – Utilized by bank personnel the maximum character of which is four
inches and while this appears big with its wider frame the magnifying power of hand
 held lens is only two times the original. A magnifying glass (called a hand lens in
laboratory contexts) is a convex lens that is used to produce a magnified image of an
object. The lens is usually mounted in a frame with a handle.
2. Shadowgraph – Shadowgraph is an optical method that reveals non-uniformities in
transparent media like air, water, or glass. Shadowgraph is a type of flow visualization.
3. Stereoscopic Binocular microscope where a tri-dimensional enlargement is possible. In
this way it produces a three-dimensional visualization of the sample being examined.
4. Ultra-violet lamp - Ultraviolet (UV) light is an electromagnetic radiation with a
wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10nm
to 400 nm, and energies from 3eV to 124eV.
5. Infrared Viewer - Infrared (IR) light is an electromagnetic radiation with longer
wavelengths than those of visible light, extending from the nominal red edge of the
visible spectrum at 0.74micrometers (nm) to 300nm.
IDENTITY THEFT
The term identity theft was coined in 1964; however it is not literally possible to steal an
identity—less ambiguous terms are identity fraud or impersonation.
Techniques for obtaining and exploiting personal information for identity theft - Identity
thieves typically obtain and exploit personally identifiable information about individuals, or
various credentials they use to authenticate themselves, in order to impersonate them.
Identity fraud may occur when someone steals personal information, opens credit card
accounts in the victim's name without permission, and charges merchandise to those accounts.
1. Conversely, identity fraud does not occur when a credit card is simply stolen.
2. Stealing one’s credit card may be consumer fraud, but is not identity fraud.
3. Identity fraud is a synonym of unlawful identity change.
4. It indicates unlawful activities that use the identity of another person or of a non-
existing person as a principal tool for merchandise procurement.
5. Identity fraud can occur without identity theft, like where the fraudster has been
given someone's identity information for other reasons but uses it to commit fraud,
or when the person whose identity is being used is colluding with the person
committing the fraud.
6. An impersonator is someone who imitates or copies the behavior or actions of
another as part of a criminal act such as identity theft. This is usually where the
criminal is trying to assume the identity of another, in order to commit fraud, such
as accessing confidential information, or to gain property not belonging to them.
Examples are:
1. Advertising bogus job offers in order to accumulate resumes and applications typically
disclosing applicants' names, home and email addresses, telephone numbers and
sometimes their banking details,
2. Befriending strangers on social networks and taking advantage of their trust until private
information are given.
3. Browsing social networking websites for personal details published by users, often using
this information to appear more credible in subsequent social engineering activities,
4. Brute-force attacking weak passwords and using inspired guesswork to compromise
weak password reset questions,
5. Common-knowledge questioning schemes that offer account verification and
compromise: "What's your mother's maiden name?", "what was your first car model?",
or "What was your first pet's name?”, etc.
 6. Diverting victims' email or post in order to obtain personal information and credentials
such as credit cards, billing and bank/credit card statements, or to delay the discovery of
new accounts and credit agreements opened by the identity thieves in the victims'
names,
7. Exploiting breaches that result in the publication or more limited disclosure of personal
information such as names, addresses, Social Security number or credit card numbers.
8. Exploiting insider access and abusing the rights of privileged IT users to access personal
data on their employers' systems.
9. Guessing Social Security numbers by using information found on Internet social
networks such as Facebook and MySpace.
10. Hacking computer networks, systems and databases to obtain personal data, often in
large quantities.
11. Impersonating trusted organizations in emails, SMS text messages, phone calls or other
forms of communication in order to dupe victims into disclosing their personal
information or login credentials, typically on a fake corporate website or data collection
form or known as phishing.
12. Infiltrating organizations that store and process large amounts or particularly valuable
personal information
13. Low security/privacy protection on photos that are easily clickable and downloaded on
social networking sites.
14. Observing users typing their login credentials, credit/calling card numbers etc. into IT
equipment located in public places shoulder surfing
15. Obtaining castings of fingers for falsifying fingerprint identification.
16. Retrieving personal data from redundant IT equipment and storage media including PCs,
servers, PDAs, mobile phones, USB memory sticks and hard drives that have been
disposed of carelessly at public dump sites, given away or sold on without having been
properly sanitized
17. Rummaging through rubbish for personal information  or what is known as Dumpster
Diving
18. Skimming information from bank or credit cards using compromised or hand-held card
readers, and creating clone cards
19. Stealing bank or credit cards, identification cards, passports, authentication tokens ...
typically by pick pocketing, house breaking or mail theft
20. Stealing checks to acquire banking information, including account numbers and bank
routing numbers
21. Stealing personal information from computers using breaches in browser security or
malware such as “Trojan Horse” keystroke logging programs or other forms of spyware.
Questioned Document
ACTIVITY NO. 6
Period: Second-Preliminary (6th week)
Instructions:
1. Use any of the following suggested piece of paper:
 Yellow paper
 Bond paper (long or short)
2. Answer should be made in a handwritten form.
3. Make sure to indicate your full name (family name first), course year level and subject
at the top of your answer sheet.
 4. Just wait for the go signal from your instructor for the schedule of the submission.
5. Make sure to follow instructions.
6. God Bless and keep safe.
TEST I. PICTURE FINDING. (1 picture is enough). Provide a picture of the following
apparatuses and instruments:
1. Magnifying lens
2. Shadowgraph
3. Stereoscopic Binocular microscope
4. Ultra-violet lamp
5. Infrared Viewer
TEST II. WHAT OH WHAT? Explain briefly.
1 What do you call an act that is punishable under Article 161?
2 What is identity theft?
3 What are the crimes under forgery?
        Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God
who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
GOD BLESS! ☺
VHIA MURIERA CASTAÑEDA
Instructor