forgeries

Forgery is the act of creating a false document, object, or signature with the intent to deceive and to pass it off as genuine. It covers a range of activities, including art forgeries, currency counterfeiting, forged documents and signatures, and increasingly, digital forgeries and manipulated media presented as authentic.

Art forgeries are among the most historically noted forms, relying on misrepresentation of authorship, date, or provenance. Notable cases include forged paintings attributed to well-known artists, which have challenged experts and museums for years. Currency counterfeiting involves producing imitation banknotes to resemble genuine money, sometimes with sophisticated replication of security features. Document forgery targets legal papers, wills, contracts, and identifications, while signature forgery imitates the handwriting of another person. Digital forgeries, such as manipulated images, audio, or video, have become more prevalent with advances in technology and pose new challenges for authentication.

Detection and authentication rely on provenance records, stylistic and historical analysis, and non-destructive scientific tests, as well as the examination of materials, tools, and production methods. Financial and cultural institutions employ security features, updated verification procedures, and expert appraisal to combat forgery and to preserve trust.

Legally, forgery is typically prosecuted as fraud, counterfeiting, or the creation of fraudulent documents, with penalties that vary by jurisdiction. The economic and cultural impact of forgery includes losses for collectors, institutions, and economies, as well as broader concerns about authenticity, trust, and the integrity of markets and historical heritage.