The making, issuing, and distributing of false documents by alteration and fraud
For forgery to qualify as a crime and not just a civil action, it must involve a subject matter considered by the government to be officially signed. Such as the alteration of official public documents such as a forged driver’s license, forged guardianship documents, or forged wills.
On the financial document side, forging currencies, banknotes, stock, and bond certificates are counterfeiting forms that carry even higher criminal penalties.
Common Forgery of Medical Prescriptions
Typical forgery schemes include forging medical prescriptions by people addicted to certain drugs or by those who are selling such prescriptions to those victims.
Cyber Crimes
The most penalized types of forgery are cyber crimes, specifically identity theft and the hacking of financial data from financial institutions.
Punishments Vary Between Federal and State Governments
Both federal and state governments have different approaches to the punishment of forgery. Certain types of forgery are considered misdemeanors, while others are charged as serious felonies.
