Passports issued before November 2015 have 32 pages (48 for a business book). Passports issued after November 2015 have 34 pages.
They must feature the holder’s signature, a nine digit number on the first page and a perforated serial number throughout the pages.
The government change UK passports slightly every 5 years to prevent the production of genuine-looking fake passports.Īuthentic UK passports must be the correct size and feature a digitally printed photo with a holographic overlay. Businesses need to protect themselves by knowing who they are entering into contracts or financial commitments with. Passports are essential pieces of ID if you’re making large purchases, renting a house or getting a job. This makes them popular targets for fakes. It’s harder to determine the validity of foreign passports and IDs if you are unfamiliar with their design. Using an ID that has been altered or belongs to an older sibling carries a £5,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison.įraudulently obtained documents include passports that have been stolen, while counterfeit documents are often the product of organised crime. A fake document which is a form of ID that does not existĪ real document used by someone else is a common trick for underage people buying alcohol or trying to get into clubs.A fake document which is a copy of a genuine document.A genuine document which has been fraudulently obtained.A genuine document which has been altered.A genuine document which is being used by someone else.Government guidance explains that there are five types of false documents: Transactions such as buying a car, going on a date, renting a property, or even a small business owner needing to carry out a right-to-work check are all targets for scams and fraudulent activity. This is a serious problem for many businesses across the UK. This influx of counterfeit passports and IDs increases the likelihood of people encountering them.Ī recent study of 1,013 people revealed that more than 60% of Brits are unable to correctly identify a fake passport. The black market sale of fake IDs is booming as legislation changes force people to declare their legal status. According to Frontex, the number of fake IDs at the border has increased by 70% and the techniques for creating them are becoming more sophisticated. For pubs, serving underage customers can result in a £10,000 fine or even the closure of your premises. Counterfeit ID and passports are a serious risk to the security of the country and to businesses.