Document fraud has been qualified by Europol as one of the major cross-cutting engines of organised crime. The use of fraudulent identity and travel documents has been linked to a broad spectrum of criminal activities, ranging from financial scams and trafficking in human beings to terrorism and beyond. Criminals have used counterfeit and forged documents since the emergence of official identity and travel documents in the Late Middle Ages. Since then, criminals have become more creative, adapting and evolving in response to technological advancements in document security. In this regard, despite the introduction of biometric documents, the promise of tamper-proof official documents remains a holy grail, and document fraud still has a future ahead in the twenty-first century. Based on scientific and law enforcement data and sources, this article presents the imaginative modus operandi used by defrauders to counterfeit and forge documents. Considering the point of view of criminologists, forensic scientists, law enforcement and forgers, this article provides insights and opinions about current trends and challenges as well as future prospects. Key issues are raised, such as the involvement of organised crime and criminal networks, as well as the use of the Internet to trade fraudulent identity and travel documents. Current and future methods to investigate and study document fraud are also outlined, and finally four main challenges are presented to provide guidance for future policy implications.

中文翻译：

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文件欺诈：您的身份在 21 世纪是否安全？

文件欺诈已被欧洲刑警组织认定为有组织犯罪的主要交叉引擎之一。伪造身份和旅行证件的使用与广泛的犯罪活动有关，从金融诈骗和贩卖人口到恐怖主义等等。自从中世纪晚期出现官方身份和旅行证件以来，犯罪分子就使用伪造和伪造的证件。从那时起，犯罪分子变得更具创造力、适应和发展以响应文档安全方面的技术进步。在这方面，尽管引入了生物识别文件，但防篡改官方文件的承诺仍然是一个圣杯，文件欺诈在 21 世纪仍然有前途。根据科学和执法数据和来源，本文介绍了欺诈者用来伪造和伪造文件的富有想象力的作案手法。考虑到犯罪学家、法医科学家、执法人员和伪造者的观点，本文提供了有关当前趋势和挑战以及未来前景的见解和意见。提出了一些关键问题，例如有组织犯罪和犯罪网络的参与，以及使用互联网交易欺诈性身份和旅行证件。还概述了当前和未来调查和研究文件欺诈的方法，最后提出了四个主要挑战，为未来的政策影响提供指导。执法和伪造者，本文提供了有关当前趋势和挑战以及未来前景的见解和意见。提出了一些关键问题，例如有组织犯罪和犯罪网络的参与，以及使用互联网交易欺诈性身份和旅行证件。还概述了当前和未来调查和研究文件欺诈的方法，最后提出了四个主要挑战，为未来的政策影响提供指导。执法和伪造者，本文提供了有关当前趋势和挑战以及未来前景的见解和意见。提出了一些关键问题，例如有组织犯罪和犯罪网络的参与，以及使用互联网交易欺诈性身份和旅行证件。还概述了当前和未来调查和研究文件欺诈的方法，最后提出了四个主要挑战，为未来的政策影响提供指导。