Fake IDs in Colorado
A Growing Problem

Like states across the nation, Colorado is trying to meet the challenge of more fraudulent IDs whether presented in person or by digital image. Many of these fake IDs come from counterfeiters located overseas with sophisticated equipment. As stories below illustrate, fake identification is getting easier to obtain in Colorado and is often associated with illegal alcohol purchases by minors and financial fraud.

Alcohol Sales & Service Guidelines for Colorado

- Age to consume: 21
- Age to serve: 18, if supervised by someone who is 21 over and except in taverns & retail liquor stores
- Age to pour: 18, if supervised by someone who is 21 over and except in taverns & retail liquor stores
- Age to sell (packaged liquor): 21
- Minors allowed on premise? Minors are permitted in any establishment unless the establishment has house policies regarding admittance of minors.
- Penalties for serving or selling to a minor: Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by 3-12 months imprisonment and/or $250-$1000 fine.

  • id check during purchase of car
  • police officer checking id
  • identity verification at airline check-in counter
  • bartender verifying id of two patrons

How to Spot a Fake Colorado ID

For law enforcement officers, bank tellers, car rental agents, human resources professionals and others who must verify ID in a professional capacity, the recent surge in fake IDs is challenging. The liability and losses that result from accepting a fake ID are large. The I.D. Checking Guide assists in the ID verification process by showing what an actual, valid ID looks like at full-size, and highlights the details of the licenses, making it much easier to spot the fraud. Before approving an expensive car rental, opening a new bank account or hiring a new employee, make sure the driver’s license or ID card has the correct numbering, UV, microprint, ghost images, expiration, and other details that counterfeiters often miss.

What the I.D. Checking Guide Includes:

  • A full page or more for each U.S. state and Canadian province, showing driver’s licenses and ID cards.
  • Security image information for ghost images, laser perforation, microprint, UV and other validation details.
  • Explanation of what the proper alphanumeric sequencing of a Colorado ID or Driver’s License should be (how many letters, numbers, etc.).
  • U.S. Federal documents including immigration, military ID, Visas and passport cards.
  • “How to check driver’s licenses” techniques for training.