| Aspect | Forgery | Document Examiner |
|---|
| Required Credentials | Often no formal certification, but knowledge of forgery techniques | Certification from professional bodies (e.g., AAFS, NASD) |
| Work Environment | Criminal investigations, forensic labs, law enforcement | Forensic labs, law enforcement agencies, courts |
| Industry Usage | Crime scene analysis, fraud detection | Authenticating documents, handwriting analysis |
Forgery involves creating or altering documents or signatures to deceive, often linked to criminal activity. Document examiners analyze documents to determine authenticity, focusing on handwriting, ink, and paper. While forgery is a criminal act, document examiners work to detect and prevent fraud, making their roles distinct but related within forensic investigations.