73% of Documents Examined in Six-Month Forensic Investigation Found Fake, Ethiopian Federal Police Reveals
A six-month forensic investigation by the Ethiopian Federal Police found that 73% of 358 examined documents were fake, including forged signatures, altered certificates, and fraudulent financial records. The police urge the public to exercise caution when handling documents and engaging in online transactions to combat rising fraud.
73% of the documents examined in a six-month forensic investigation were found to be fake.
The Ethiopian Federal Police announced that during the 2017 fiscal year, it received 191 criminal cases and 167 identity-related investigation requests from the police and courts, which were then subjected to forensic examination.
Out of the 358 documents examined, 73% were confirmed to be fake.
The forensic laboratory established by the Ethiopian Federal Police investigates signatures on documents, alterations in certificates and diplomas, fraudulent activities on bank checks, passports, foreign currencies, as well as texts and numbers.
Additionally, it examines documents related to inheritance and issues connected to location maps to verify their authenticity or falsity.
According to Article 23 of Ethiopia’s Anti-Corruption Proclamation No. 881/2007, anyone who alters, modifies, reduces, increases, or destroys government or public organization documents, either fully or partially, rendering them fake, will face severe imprisonment proportional to the severity of the crime.
The Ethiopian Federal Police has urged the public to exercise due caution when handling any type of agreement, conducting online transactions, or signing documents, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in matters related to documentation.
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