forensic document examiners Archives

When Creepy Stalker Notes Turn Out to be Something Else

Marti found the first anonymous note lying on top of paperwork on her desk when she came back from lunch break. It was hand printed on common lined paper that was folded in half. The printing was bold and slanted slightly to the left. To Marti, it looked like a man’s writing. The note said, “I’m watching you.” At the time, Marti dismissed it as a joke by a bored co-worker and threw it away. A few days later, Marti found the second anonymous note on her car windshield when she was leaving work for the day. This note looked just like the first one but this time it said, “Pretty in pink.” She was wearing a pink blouse that day. Marti was upset and [...]

Your Signature Isn’t Always as it Seems – Handwriting Forgery Analysis

The methods to detect document forgery vary based on the type of forgery committed; it requires a trained eye, a specialist to assist in the detection. For instance, attorneys will contact us to have our handwriting document specialist examine writings for qualities that may indicate a forgery. Our Handwriting expert looks for points at which the alleged forger started and stopped while writing or other evidence of a conscious formation of letters. Such a lack of fluidity is an indication of document forgery since writing is done without thinking of your next pen stroke. This is a case where we were called upon to examine a contract that was allegedly signed by an employee, Bob, who had authorization to engage into contracts with manufacturing companies [...]

Using Handwriting Analysis to Prove a Forged Will

While a forged or fraudulent will may seem like a plot twist in a novel or movie, it’s a crime that happens more often than people think. For example, a home care aide who takes care of an elderly shut-in decides she deserves more money once the family patriarch has died since she’s cared for him more than his children. She creates a new will and forges the signature of the sick man to scam his family out of some of their inheritance. However, more often than not, document forgery of a will is committed by a relative of the deceased. The family member may feel he is entitled to more assets than what’s outlined in the will, or she may have a grievance with [...]