forfalskningsforsøk

Forfalskningsforsøk is a term used in Norwegian law to describe an individual's attempt to produce or use a forgery of a document with the intent to deceive others. The concept is defined under the Norwegian Penal Code, § 29, which treats forfalskningsforsøk as a separate offence from completed forgery. The key elements of the offence are the creation or possession of a fabricated document, the intent to present it as genuine, and an act of interference, such as signing, altering, or submitting the document to a public authority.

In practice, forfalskningsforsøk is punishable by up to five years of imprisonment or a fine. The penal penalty is lower than for completed forgery, but the legal consequences are still significant, especially when the forgery involves financial documents, identity papers, or official certificates. The law also imposes civil liability, allowing victims to seek damages for any loss caused by the fraudulent act.

Typical examples of forfalskningsforsøk include forging a bank statement to secure a loan, altering a birth certificate to obtain a passport, or signing a non‑existent invoice to receive money on commission. Norwegian authorities, particularly the Police and the Administrative Court, often prosecute such cases as part of broader investigations into financial crime.

The offence is also relevant in the context of digital documents. With the rise of electronic signatures and blockchain-based records, police prosecutors occasionally address cases where software is manipulated to produce a counterfeit electronic signature. The legal framework is adapted to cover both analog and digital forgery attempts, ensuring that the penalty remains consistent regardless of the medium.