Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Apply the scientific methodology of **Forensic Document Examination (FDE)** to authenticate banknotes, securities, and financial instruments.
• Master the use of specialized equipment, including **video spectral comparators (VSC)** and stereomicroscopes, for non-destructive analysis.
• Identify and verify all levels of **banknote security features** (Level 1, 2, and 3) using specialized lighting (UV, IR, oblique).
• Detect common counterfeiting and fraudulent techniques, including printing process analysis, paper forgery, and ink alteration.
• Establish clear, legally defensible protocols for the **chain of custody** and handling of questioned documents.
• Understand the legal requirements for providing expert testimony and preparing a professional FDE report for court.
• Analyze and compare the characteristics of authentic security inks, substrates, and printing methods (e.g., intaglio, offset).
• Develop a systematic approach for the forensic investigation of mutilated currency and altered financial documents.

• Banknote Authentication and Counterfeit Analysts.
• Security Feature Verification and Quality Control Specialists.
• Law Enforcement and Fraud Investigation Personnel.
• Internal Auditors focused on Document Integrity and Compliance.
• Legal Counsel involved in Counterfeiting and Fraud Litigation.
• Customs and Border Protection Officers involved in Currency Seizures.

• Hands-on Workshops with VSC and Stereomicroscope for Banknote Authentication
• Counterfeit Detection Simulation Exercises (Identifying Forgery Techniques)
• Case Studies on Successful FDE Investigations and Expert Testimony
• Group Activities on Drafting a Chain of Custody Protocol for Questioned Documents
• Expert Lectures on Printing Technology (Intaglio vs. Offset) and Ink Chemistry
• Individual Exercises on Preparing a Legally Defensible FDE Report

Unit 1: Principles and Methodology of FDE

• Defining Forensic Document Examination and its role in central banking and law enforcement.
• The scientific methodology: analysis, comparison, evaluation, and verification.
• Establishing the legally sound **chain of custody** and protocols for marking and handling evidence.
• Ethics and professional standards for forensic examiners and expert testimony.
• Introduction to the types of questioned documents relevant to finance (banknotes, checks, securities).

Unit 2: Advanced Banknote Feature Verification

• Detailed review of Level 1 (public), Level 2 (teller), and Level 3 (expert) security features.
• Mastering the use of **Video Spectral Comparators (VSC)** for multi-spectral analysis (UV, IR, visible light).
• Techniques for verifying covert security features (e.g., microprint, latent images, watermarks).
• Analyzing the integrity and performance of advanced security threads and optically variable devices (OVDs).
• Protocols for coordinating with banknote manufacturers and security feature suppliers for verification.

Unit 3: Detection of Counterfeits and Forgeries

• Identifying different counterfeit printing processes (e.g., inkjet, laser, digital vs. intaglio).
• Forensic analysis of printing inks (e.g., ink composition, color shift, magnetic properties).
• Techniques for analyzing banknote paper and substrates (e.g., watermark defects, fiber composition).
• Detecting alteration techniques in financial documents (e.g., erasure, chemical alteration, addition).
• Establishing a standardized library of known counterfeits and reference standards.

Unit 4: Legal and Reporting Requirements

• The legal framework and admissibility standards (e.g., Daubert Standard) for FDE evidence in court.
• Structuring and writing a comprehensive, legally defensible **Forensic Document Examination Report**.
• Protocols for preparing court exhibits and demonstrative evidence for expert testimony.
• Managing cross-examination: defending findings, methodology, and conclusions under scrutiny.
• The role of the FDE report in informing law enforcement and regulatory action.

Unit 5: Mutilated Currency and Future Trends

• Forensic examination of mutilated currency claims for evidence of intentional damage or fraud.
• Analyzing security feature degradation on notes near the end of their life cycle.
• FDE challenges posed by new substrates (e.g., polymer, hybrid) and digital security features.
• The role of AI and machine learning in enhancing the speed and accuracy of automated counterfeit detection.
• International collaboration and data sharing on emerging counterfeit threats.