Identification of Forged Fingerprints Generated with Polyvinyl Acetate

Abstract

Fingerprints are used for personal identification since ages. Because of their uniqueness, fingerprints are being used for authentication and for securing the security documents and electronic gadgets (phones, computers, and biometric sensors). Due to the unique features, fingerprints are considered as vital physical evidence, based on which, even one fingerprint found at the crime scene can easily lead to conviction. As a result, counterfeiting of fingerprints has increased many folds and the criminals are using forged fingerprints to manipulate the biometric machines and crime scenes. The polyvinyl acetate (PVAc)-based forged fingerprints are used very frequently due to their easy availability and preparation. The present study aims at the development of chemical methods that can differentiate between real and PVAc-based forged fingerprints, these providing an additional tool for the fingerprint experts. The study has been conducted with three stains (Hertzberg stain, C-stain, and Iodine potassium iodide) after thorough literature survey. The PVAc-based fingerprints have also been analyzed with the software which are routinely used for fingerprint detection. This study concluded that the selected stains successfully differentiated the real, and PVAc- based forged fingerprints. The stains were also applied in combinations with the conventional methods like powder method, ninhydrin, silver nitrate and iodine fuming. newline