Legal Definitions - double forgery

Double forgery refers to a situation where an individual commits two separate, but often related, acts of forgery as part of a single deceptive scheme. This can involve forging two different documents, or forging one document and then further altering or misrepresenting it in a way that constitutes a second distinct act of forgery. The intent is always to deceive and typically to gain an advantage or cause harm.

• Example 1: Forging a Check and a Fictitious Endorsement

  Imagine a scenario where someone steals a blank check from a business. First, they forge the authorized signatory's signature on the front of the check, making it payable to themselves. When they attempt to cash the check at a bank, the teller requires an endorsement on the back. To complete the fraudulent transaction, the individual then forges a fictitious name as the endorser. Here, the act of forging the original signature on the front of the check is the first forgery, and forging the endorsement on the back is the second, distinct act, both contributing to the overall scheme to defraud the bank and the original account holder.

• Example 2: Forging a Property Deed and a Notary's Seal

  Consider an individual attempting to illegally transfer ownership of a valuable piece of land. They create a fraudulent property deed, meticulously forging the signature of the legitimate property owner to make it appear as though the owner willingly transferred the title. To make this forged deed legally acceptable for recording with the county, they then proceed to forge the signature and official seal of a notary public on the document. This constitutes a double forgery because both the primary document (the deed) and the essential authentication (the notarization) are fabricated through separate acts of forgery to achieve the fraudulent transfer.

• Example 3: Forging a University Diploma and an Academic Transcript

  Suppose an applicant wishes to secure a highly competitive job that requires specific academic qualifications they do not possess. To deceive potential employers, they first create a counterfeit university diploma, forging the signature of the university president. To further bolster their false credentials and provide "proof" of their coursework and grades, they then create a separate, equally fraudulent academic transcript, forging the signature of the university registrar and replicating official seals. In this case, the forged diploma is one act of forgery, and the forged transcript, a distinct document, represents the second act, both working in tandem to create a comprehensive false representation of their educational background.