The punishment for forgery varies from place to place. In most states, a person convicted of misdemeanor must face a jail sentence of at least one year. However, a conviction for felony must face an imprisonment more than one year.
To prove someone is guilty of PC 470, the prosecutor must prove the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt: Defendant signed with another person's name or name; Defendant knew they did not have the authority to do so; Defendant did not have the authority to sign a name or another person's name;
Simple Forgery: The act of imitating someone else's signature for fraudulent or deceptive purposes. Simulated Forgery: A more sophisticated form where technology is used to duplicate the signature. Traced Forgery: Involves using a genuine signature as a template to create a forged one.
Defenses Against Forgery Charges Lack of fraudulent intent — If you did not have the intention to defraud, you may have a valid defense to forgery charges. Document Lacks Legal Significance — To be considered forgery, the document in question must have some sort of legal importance.
Any person who forges any document or electronic record is guilty of an offence which, unless otherwise stated, is a felony and he is liable, unless owing to the circumstances of the forgery or the nature of the thing forged some other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for three years.
Safeguarding personal information: Protect documents and sensitive materials that could give ideas to forgers. Technology-based prevention: Utilize digital signatures and pick highly secure e-signature platforms like Blueink that use two-factor authentication.
How to combat document forgery Start with advanced security measures. Utilize digital document verification systems. Update and audit your workflow. Comply with legal and regulatory measures. Conduct regular education and training.
Consent: Prove that you had permission to sign or alter the document in question. Authenticity: Show that the signature or instrument is genuine and not forged. Coercion: Argue that you were forced to forge the document under threat or duress.