ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 2

The Examination of Disguised Numbers
Seaman-Kelly, J
Forensic document examiner, Las Vegas Metropolitan Crime Laboratory, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept., Nevada

(Received 1 September 1998; accepted 24 November 1998)

Abstract

Numbers in a requested text bear valuable insight into whether the exemplar bears disguised writing. If a writer disguises the writing on a requested exemplar, the numbers are usually written naturally, free of disguise. The paper discusses the methods of disguise used when the writer is asked to disguise the numbers in a requested exemplar.

Two hundred participants completed a four-page exemplar consisting of three pages of naturally executed numbers and one page of disguise. For the disguised exemplar, the participant was requested to disguise the set of numbers to avoid identification.

Results of the 200 participants in this study indicate the use of the alternate number form as the most popular method of disguising numbers. This paper lists the participants' preferences as to the method of disguise employed and to the choice of alternate number form used.

Keywords:
forensic science, questioned document, alternate number form, disguise, numbers

Paper ID: JFS12033J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12033J
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