Remember seeing your buddy's flimsy fake ID in college that said he was 35 and several inches shorter than he really was? Well, Chinese criminals have apparently come up with a potentially terrifying alternative by crafting nearly perfect false driver's licenses and shipping to the US by the hundreds. To the naked eye, they're indistinguishable from the real thing.
According to a report from CBS 2 in Chicago, many of the fakes are coming into O'Hare International Airport hidden in boxes of Chinese tea sets and jewelry, and they can reportedly be purchased online for about $150 each. According to the report, at least one box was destined for a group of 20 college students.
"Instead of a generic hologram, they are imitating our actual holograms. These are some of the best I've seen," said Tyler DuMontelle, one of the investigators into how the fake licenses are made. Thankfully, the IDs aren't entirely perfect. Their holograms aren't good enough to pass the laser and ultra-violet tests, which means that they couldn't be used to easily board a plane.
Obviously, there are security implications here far beyond underage drinkers tipping back some beers a few years early, and the Illinois Secretary of State is looking deeper into the problem. Also, for any curious college students, in many places, trying to pass a fake ID is a crime. Scroll down to watch a video of the whole report.
According to a report from CBS 2 in Chicago, many of the fakes are coming into O'Hare International Airport hidden in boxes of Chinese tea sets and jewelry, and they can reportedly be purchased online for about $150 each. According to the report, at least one box was destined for a group of 20 college students.
"Instead of a generic hologram, they are imitating our actual holograms. These are some of the best I've seen," said Tyler DuMontelle, one of the investigators into how the fake licenses are made. Thankfully, the IDs aren't entirely perfect. Their holograms aren't good enough to pass the laser and ultra-violet tests, which means that they couldn't be used to easily board a plane.
Obviously, there are security implications here far beyond underage drinkers tipping back some beers a few years early, and the Illinois Secretary of State is looking deeper into the problem. Also, for any curious college students, in many places, trying to pass a fake ID is a crime. Scroll down to watch a video of the whole report.
Sign in to post
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Continue