Stopping Real Equipment from Making Fake Documents
The usual picture that comes to mind of a counterfeiter’s modus operandi is one of clandestine operations carried out under cover of darkness. But what happens when the illegal activities are carried out in plain sight and what is the industry doing to prevent them?
This article explores some of the key initiatives that have emerged over the past two decades to address the growing challenge of bona fide security print practitioners being duped into aiding in the unwitting production of fake documents.
Operation Genesius 1
In 2007, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency launched Operation Genesius, one of the earliest efforts to combat the illegal use of printing equipment. Named after the patron saint of various crafts, including printing, this initiative focused on fostering partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the printing industry.
The primary goal of Operation Genesius was to enlist the cooperation of security printing industry leaders, manufacturers, and suppliers to voluntarily report suspicious transactions related to the sale or use of high-end printing equipment and materials.
These could include transactions where individuals or organisations sought to acquire materials such as paper, inks, and printing presses commonly used in the production of counterfeit currency and fraudulent documents. By creating a direct line of communication between industry stakeholders and ICE, Operation Genesius aimed to detect and prevent counterfeiting operations before they could cause significant harm.
The initiative proved to be successful in identifying criminal activities and raising awareness among legitimate businesses in the printing sector of the risks associated with their products being used illegally.
Interpol’s Project S-Print 2
Building on the principles of industry collaboration, Interpol launched Project S-Print on a global scale, with similar goals to Operation Genesius. If anything, Project S-Print has a bias toward digital printing, which has become a preferred method for counterfeiters due to its accessibility, affordability, and the high-quality reproductions it can produce.
One of the key features of Project S-Print is its focus on capacity building and training for law enforcement personnel in member countries. The initiative provides specialised training to identify the signs of counterfeit document production, including understanding the technologies involved in digital printing, the types of materials used, and the criminal networks that engage in these activities.
Project S-Print represents a comprehensive international approach, recognising that counterfeiting is a transnational crime that requires coordinated responses across borders. By focusing on both training and international collaboration, the initiative enhances the ability of law enforcement agencies to detect and prevent the illegal production of security documents, including passports, currency, and ID cards.
The Intergraf certification code 3
A useful addition to the global fight against counterfeiting came with the introduction of the Intergraf certification code. This code is part of a quality standard framework for companies involved in security printing. Intergraf, an international organisation representing the printing industry, developed the CWA 15374/ISO 14298 security printing standard upon which the certification code is based.
The certification code plays a role in preventing legitimate security printers from unwittingly producing counterfeit documents. One of the central focuses of this code is to implement robust safeguards that ensure companies involved in the production of sensitive materials are fully aware of and in control of their processes to prevent exploitation by criminals.
The certification mandates a comprehensive security management system that covers all aspects of the printing process, from securing materials (like specialised inks and papers) to controlling access to production facilities. It requires companies to establish traceability protocols, ensuring that all materials used in security printing are carefully monitored and documented to prevent any unauthorised use.
Additionally, regular audits and risk assessments are conducted to evaluate the company’s operations, helping identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited for counterfeiting. Furthermore, the certification ensures that staff involved in the printing process are thoroughly vetted and trained to recognise potential threats.
By enforcing strict internal controls and fostering a culture of security awareness, the Intergraf certification code prevents security printers from becoming inadvertent participants in the production of counterfeit documents.
Central Bank Counterfeit Deterrence Group (CBCDG) 4
Every country has legal restrictions on the reproduction of banknote images. While restrictions vary from country to country, in some countries any reproduction of banknote images – even for artistic or advertising uses – is strictly forbidden. And even in countries that allow some limited use of banknote images, there are specific rules and requirements.
A counterfeit deterrence system (CDS) has been developed by the CBCDG to deter the use of personal computers, digital imaging equipment, and software in the counterfeiting of banknotes. The CDS has been voluntarily adopted by hardware and software manufacturers and prevents personal computers and digital imaging tools from capturing or reproducing the image of a protected banknote.
Security Image Register 5
To further enhance security in printing and counterfeiting prevention, the International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) introduced the Security Image Register (SIR) – previously known as the Hologram Image Register – to safeguard copyrights and underpin the use of optically variable devices (OVDs) in authentication and security printing.
The SIR is a secure registry of holographic images and other OVDs. It is the only system of its kind for the authentication community. The centrally held global database of secure OVDs is operated on behalf of the IHMA by the Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau (CIB) under the strictest confidence and security that supports the previously cited ISO 14298. As part of this standard, foil producers must register all security holograms they produce in a global registry – the SIR.
The SIR enables hologram and OVD manufacturers and producers to verify, at the time a new OVD is being designed or originated, that this design, or elements of it, do not infringe copyright or allow the unintentional copy of existing OVDs. This helps to ensure that the OVD image is not already in use and is the first step for the subsequent registration of the image. The SIR is available to law enforcement agencies to check for the provenance of a design when they need information on a suspect hologram or OVD.
Whilst the measures listed above may not be an absolute guarantee against fraudsters accessing professional grade machinery, supplies or services, they do go some way to avoiding any security print manager’s worst nightmare – being an unwitting accessory to counterfeiting!
1 - www.ice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Document/2016/operation-genesius.pdf
2 - www.interpol.int/Crimes/Counterfeit-currency-and-security-documents/Project-S-Print
3 - www.intergrafconference.com/dwl/IntergrafCertifications.pdf
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