The Most Common Complaints About California Fake ID, and Why They're Bunk

Posted by Grayce on June 29th, 2021

An ID card scanner displays and records the data stored on a driver's license, state ID or military ID. This typically includes age, date of birth, name, address and card expiration date. While this can easily help a bouncer weed out expired IDs and underage IDs, it does not automatically detect fake IDs. For an ID scanner to be most effective at detecting fake IDs, the operator must manually compare the information printed on the ID with the information stored within the ID.

The barcode and magnetic stripe on a typical driver's license contains the name, address, date of birth, height, weight, eye color, hair Indiana Fake ID color, license number, and license issue and expiration dates. The ID card scanner displays this information in an easy-to-read format on a screen and records the transaction in a database.

On many fake IDs, the information encoded on the magnetic stripe or barcode does not match what is physically written on the front of the ID card. For instance, an Identification Card card may read that a person is named "Jane Doe."

However, the name stored on the card may read "John Smith." It is common practice for fake IDs makers to simply print new information on a card that has already been encoded with other information. Since it is much harder to encode the data stored on a magnetic stripe or barcode than it is to print on a blank card, fake ID makers often purchase pre-encoded cards in bulk and print different names, addresses and birthdays on the front. These cards are marketed to minors as "scannable fake IDs." They will scan, but the information printed on the card will not match the information stored within the card.

An ID card scanner makes it possible for a bouncer, bartender or liquor store clerk to see the data encoded on the ID card. Without an ID scanner there is no way to access this information. An ID scanner operator must physically compare the information shown on the ID to the information displayed on the ID scanner. If the data on the front of the card does not match the data stored in the card, it is likely that the ID is fake. In this way, an ID scanner can prove an invaluable tool for checking the authenticity of IDs.

An ID card scanner is a tool to display and record the information stored on an Identification Card. It can help a bouncer uncover a fake ID by revealing the information encoded on the card and making it available to be compared with the information printed on the card. However, an attentive user must manually compare the two sets of information. A bouncer may also refer to other physical security devices like holograms, pictures and card material to help determine the authenticity of an ID.

Contrary to popular belief, commercially available ID scanners do not run the license number against the official state database for authenticity. The state-controlled databases that contain license data cannot be accessed by the public. An ID scanner records the license number and information as evidence that age was diligently verified, but it does not check to see if the license number is valid in a state database. Only legal authorities can check to see if a license number is valid.

Some companies market "Fake ID Scanners." These products are purposefully misleading. An ID scanner is a crucial tool for accessing identification card information, but it is not a machine to detect fake IDs. If you are looking to purchase an ID scanner for your business, look for a reputable company that honestly describes the capabilities and limitations of its products.