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The article surveys the history of money counterfeiting in the U.S. During the American Revolution British forces sought to undermine the rebellion by counterfeiting the Colonials' currency. The U.S. Secret Service was established in the 1860s to combat counterfeiters. In 2010 the U.S. government introduced a new $100 bill that incorporates several anti-counterfeiting properties.

The comic strip "More Monetary Makeovers" is presented.

Reports that forgers of United States postal money orders have grown in numbers and skill. Report that more than 3,700 counterfeit postal money orders were intercepted from October to December 2004; Report that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation issued a special alert regarding the counterfeit postal money orders.

The article examines a case of academic fraud at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill in which professors' signatures were forged to alter grades and undergraduate students, many of whom were athletes, received credit for courses that never met. According to the school's investigation, the fraud was led by Julius E. Nyang'oro who acted as the chairman of the African- and Afro-American studies department. Nyang'oro's career at UNC is covered.

Saved by the watermark? A faint stamp on each of the three sheets of paper that made up the third amendment to Brooke Astor's will shows it is highly unlikely that her signature was forged on one of them, a forensic document examiner testified on Wednesday. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Regulators sued a former professor and a business partner on Tuesday over claims that they had used forged bank records to make it appear they reaped annual returns of more than 20 percent in foreign-exchange trading. Robert Watson, who taught at Texas A.& M.'s Mays Business School until last month, and a lawyer in Houston, Daniel Petroski, have raised more than $19 million from investors since 2006 by promoting their ability to earn profits by using foreign-currency trading software they called Alpha One, the Securities and Exchange Commission said in a statement. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports that U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Thomas Agresti has rejected the request of Countrywide Financial Corp. to settle a dispute with its borrower Sharon Diane Hill after it threatened her to foreclose her home using false documents. Hill refused to settle arguing that the threat has affected her credit image. Agresti said he wants to investigate more on the alleged letters sent by the company to her lawyer whom denied their existence for forgeries. He added that he will only approve the settlement until the investigation is over.

Discusses the popularity of fake IDs among American youth. Efforts of police and bar owners to battle against false identification cards; Technological methods used in identifying counterfeit IDs; How students acquire fake IDs; Why the nation's fixation with security cards and ID systems has been a boon for manufacturers of fake IDs; Sales of IDs offshore and online; Penalties for possessing and making fake IDs; Comments of Sergeant William Planeta, who runs the New York Police Department's document fraud squad.

Reports that Joan E. Mahon-Powell, high-ranking school official in the New York City public school system, was arrested on two felony counts, charging her of forging her credentials throughout her career. Statement by investigators that she was never even certified as a teacher; Plea of guilty to reduced charges of presenting a false instrument; Details of her climb through the ranks from a substitute teacher in the late 1970's to school superintendent to chief of staff to Chancellor Harold O. Levy.

Profiles Ronald A. Roberts, also known as Sachem Golden Eagle of the Western Mohegans, who has plead guilty to United States federal charges of submitting false documents and perjury. Report that Roberts tried to convince New York state that he was the descendant of a Mohegan chief and the leader of a lost tribe of American Indians; Desire of Roberts to run a casino; Statement that Roberts submitted a false genealogy to the federal government; Law that allows legitimate Indian nations to operate casinos.

Reports on Antoinette Millard, a native of Buffalo and a former executive at an investment bank who was indicted on charges of fraud, grand larceny and criminal possession of a forged document. Results of investigation denying Millard and her claim of royal connections; Status of the case.

Reports on the arrest of a supermarket customer in Georgia for trying to use what appeared to be a million dollar bill.

Reviews 'Fakes, Forgeries and Facsimiles,' an exhibition at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. Observation that Shakespearean fraud can be good material for comedy; Examples of fraudulent manuscripts; Deals in which Henry C. Folger, the library's founder, was tricked; Mention of forger John Payne Collier, who never confessed to his forgeries; Controversial exhibits.

Discusses the campaign of the U.S. government to introduce a counterfeit-resistant twenty dollar bill into circulation. Observations about the visage of former U.S. President Andrew Jackson on the bill; Consideration of changes in the details of Jackson's appearance; How the color of the bills changes to pale green, peach, and gold in order to stop counterfeiting.

Reports on the issuance of tamper proof driver's licenses, with digitized photographs of the State Division of Motor Vehicles in New Jersey, to prevent counterfeiting of licenses.

Reports on the charges filed against the couple Richard and Eleanor Rinaldi for allegedly forging documents in their asbestos removal business in Westchester County, New York as of September 13, 2002.

Reports on the illegal manufacturing of identification in New York City. Creation of Governor George Pataki on a task force for forged identification operation; Arrest of phony identification traffickers; Efforts of Pataki on the seriousness of the forgery problem.

Focuses on the decision of the Illinois Board of Higher Education to support a bill to deal with online trafficking in fake college degrees. Provisions of the bill; Prevalence of online trafficking of fake degrees.

Focuses on creating and selling fake identification cards (ID) by students in the U.S. Computer software used in creating fake ID; Social relevance of fake ID; Penalties imposed on people caught for making and selling fake ID.

Reports on the decision of New Jersey to suspend its plan to replace its driver's license with counterfeit-proof digitized version.

Reports on an investigation by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation into the forgery of photographer Lewis Hine's prints. The possible involvement of Walter Rosenblum in making posthumous prints from Hine negatives; Complaints by dealers and collectors linking Rosenblum to the forgeries; Details of Hine's career; Analysis that shows inauthenticity of many supposed Hine photographs.

Focuses on James R. Baughman, director of recruiting at Lucent Technologies, who died of a heart attack in September 2000. Discovery during a routine audit of discrepancies in a contract which he had struck with an employee-search firm that led to a multimillion-dollar billing dispute; His criminal record, which included jail time for forgery and grand theft; Lies about his attendance at Stanford University; Details about his personal life and his career.

Reports that telecommunications company Lucent Technologies is investigating a former high-ranking executive, who had a conviction for embezzlement and forgery from his days as a school administrator. Investigation of James R. Baughman, Lucent's director of recruiting until his September 2000 death at age 46; His lying about having a doctorate from Stanford University; His embezzlement of student body funds while a high school principal in California; How Lucent discovered Baughman's criminal record.

Reports that the Florida authorities are investigating a letter that purports to be from Governor Jeb Bush to a Florida member of United States Congress that the governor's office says is a forgery. Contents of the letter; Involvement of Shandwick Washington in the case.

States that investigators with forged badges were able to gain entrance into federal agencies in the United States according to the General Accounting Office. Implications of their illegal entry; Problems of agencies in providing security.

Focuses on the litigation of Lawrence X. Cusack III, a former paralegal counsel accused of forging papers in John F. Kennedy's handwriting. Contentions of the United States government prosecutors in Federal District Court in Manhattan; Details of the litigation.

Focuses on the accusations against former paralegal Lawrence X. Cusack III on forging papers in the handwriting of John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon. Defense strategy of Robert F. Kazbert, Cusack's lawyer; How Cusack was caught with his fraudulent acts; Details on the testimonies of several investors.

Reports on the case of a Japanese woman named Yuriko Kawaguchi who was convicted of forgery in Cleveland, Ohio. Details on the crime committed by Kawaguchi; Request of her lawyers for the court to let her have an abortion; Information on her sentence.

Reports that two bus drivers and a bus dispatcher in New York City, New York have been accused by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Inspector General office submitting forged doctors' notes between 1989 and 1991. How the notes were detected as forgeries; Disciplinary action that will be taken against Robert Filan, Richard Bermudez, the bus drivers and dispatcher, George Figueroa.

Reports that New York City detective Roberto Neves was arrested on December 26, 1995 on a forgery charge. Details on forgery of Neves' supervisor's signature; Neves arraignment.

Cites the indictment of a lifeguard on charges of falsifying her Red Cross credentials and endangering the welfare of a minor at Mays Landing, New Jersey. Incident of a boy's near drowning and his rescue.

Presents information on the exhibition `Discovery and Deceit: Archaeology and the Forger's craft,' which is on show at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri. Show organized by Robert Cohon, Nelson's curator of ancient art; Information on the thermoluminescence test (TL); How it works; Why it has been valuable to museums; Types of items on exhibit.

Focuses on the investigation by a federal grand jury in Manhattan, New York pertaining to the sale of documents that were said to be written by United States President John F. Kennedy. What forensic specialist say about the letters; Cost of the documents; Comments from Lawrence X. Cusack, who sold the documents.

Reports the arrest of Nicyce A. Smith on July 5, 1995 for forging the signature of a doctor to get a job. Details of earlier charges against her.

Reports the accusations against Nicyce Smith of forging her signature on her Red Cross lifeguard's certificate, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Details.

Reports that New Jersey State Police have broken up a counterfeiting ring that reportedly created false driver's licenses for university students in 11 East Coast states. Amount of money made by the counterfeiters; Equipment used; How the false IDs were marketed.