Forgery Against the United States (also known as counterfeiting) is a federal crime in which an individual knowingly alters, counterfeits, or reproduces any kind of document, instrument, or currency with the intention of using it to defraud or deceive another person. Common types of forgery include creating false documents such as birth certificates, identification cards, and passports; counterfeiting money; producing and selling false securities; and forging signatures on checks, contracts, and other documents. The federal government takes forgery very seriously and prosecutes it aggressively, which can result in significant fines and prison sentences of up to twenty years. The penalties for forgery are severe and depend on the type of document and value of the item in question. Types of forgery against the United States include: • Counterfeiting money • Making false documents such as birth certificates, identification cards, and passports • Forging signatures on checks, contracts, and other documents • Producing and selling false securities • Uttering (making use of) a false document or a forged instrument • Making false entries in records odocuments.ts.