Fake Id For Sale Canada? The 86 New Answer

SafetyDetectives cybersecurity team

The people you see every day — the barista who makes your coffee, the bus driver who takes your kids to school, and the neighbor who waves at you every morning — could all be using fake identities to hide an unsavory past. Just a few years ago, such a scenario would have been a far-fetched storyline reserved for the Netflix series You. But lately, the dark web has made it extremely easy for anyone looking to start a new life to just buy themselves a brand new identity.

New identity seekers are typically criminals hiding from authorities, but given the current state of global affairs, many new identity seekers are political or economic refugees fleeing violence or other existential threats in their home country. The common thread is that those willing to illegally secure a new identity via the dark web feel that there is no legal way forward.

The dark web is giving new identity seekers unprecedented access to fake and stolen personal documents—things like passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, bank accounts, and even educational documents like bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

All these things must be really expensive, right? Not necessarily.

SafetyDetectives’ research team visited multiple dark web marketplaces representing over 50 identity brokers, identity thieves and identity forgers and compiled the average cost of the required documents one would need to start a brand new life with a brand new identity.

The minimal cost of a brand new identity

Although paying with fiat currencies like the US dollar is an option, many of these dark web-based services require payment with the flagship cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC). This cryptocurrency was originally used on the Dark Web as an untraceable payment method to purchase goods or services. While many authorities now have the power to track BTC transactions, bitcoin is still the preferred payment method on many dark web marketplaces.

While the cryptocurrency’s relative price can fluctuate rapidly, this report’s use of Bitcoin in conjunction with the US Dollar guarantees that the relative prices quoted here are accurate as long as the services continue to be offered at the same price and Bitcoin and the Der US dollar remains at a similar market rate.

Comparison of the cost of a new identity by country

The cost of an entirely new identity — including a new passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, education certificate, financial profile, and counterfeit money — varies.

First of all, not every new ID card is the same. Some passports are real, stolen from real citizens and resold to the new identity seeker. Others are 100% made by the counterfeiter. Likewise, counterfeit money may be genuine and contain government-level watermarks. Others are 100% fake and if caught, the user will be prosecuted. There are no “quality assurance checks” on the dark web. Anything bought can be counterfeit, ineffective and dangerous, and the buyer has every opportunity to be scammed. And of course it’s 100% illegal.

Depending on the location someone is looking to relocate to, the average cost of a new identity is:

$1,300 + 0.26 BTC

Different countries have different standards of living, and the value of obtaining fake identities depends on a variety of factors, including the difficulty of obtaining the documents, the purported source of the documents, the authenticity of the documents, and the perceived value of the standard in the country live where the documents are said to come from.

Here is the average cost of a fake identity, from cheapest to most expensive:

identity documents

passports

The average cost of a dark web pass varies. Our researchers discovered that passports advertised as “registered”, “authentic” and “verifiable” were expected to be genuine and therefore charged more money. There were also many passports labeled “fake” and “counterfeit” — which were not expected to be genuine, and as such charged significantly less money (up to $10). This report only considered those that were expected to be genuine.

Here is the average cost of a real passport from a developed country bought on the dark web, from cheapest to most expensive:

Australia – $745

Canada – $745

Europe – $750

United States – $850

European passports are not the same either. While the average price for a European dark web pass is $750, each European country has its own average price based on the previously mentioned factors that determine the cost of dark web documents.

Here is the average cost of a European country passport bought on the Dark Web, from cheapest to most expensive:

Spain – $690

France – $745

Germany – $745

Netherlands – $745

Switzerland – $764

Norway – $800

ID card/social security card

A passport only gets someone into the country, but in order to be considered a fully functioning member of society, a new identity seeker needs some form of documentation that they are a registered resident (or citizen). Each country has different specific forms of identification, and all countries use a driver’s license as a general identity card – so both specific and general identity cards are essential documents for new identity seekers.

birth certificate

In order to apply for natural citizenship, a new identity seeker must be able to prove that they were born in that country and that their name/date of birth/place of birth matches their new identity. As with real citizens, this is an important document when acquiring various country-related services.

Educational and professional background documents

A key element of a new identity is a person’s fake education and professional background. These documents help new identity seekers start fresh – by creating a brand new backstory that can be used to find a job, find community, and create plausible deniability.

Educational documents that can be acquired through the dark web include high school diplomas, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Correcting poor grades is also a common service offered – a D-grade student could have their entire profile changed to all A-grades.

financial records

Creating a brand new financial profile is a popular service offered by many dark web marketplaces – anyone can refresh their financial status – with brand new bank accounts, new credit cards, a new credit score, and even new PayPal accounts. There are also finance-related services that can be bought on the dark web, like getting bad credit fixed or providing a fake cash injection in exchange for bitcoin.

All of these solutions, in turn, come from a variety of sources. Some bank accounts are stolen, some are legitimate accounts supplied with stolen funds, and some are genuine accounts that are split between multiple owners so ultimate ownership is untraceable. Again, it’s impossible to know how authentic any of these things are.

The estimated cost of a new identity by country

5. USA (cheapest)

The minimum costs for a new identity in the US via the dark web are:

$1,267 + 0.2683 BTC

The cost of a US passport purchased through the dark web starts at $710. ID cards and driver’s licenses start at $200, and a brand new Social Security card/number ranges from $2 to $5.

Educational certificates or qualifications can be bought with bitcoin. The average cost of a bachelor’s degree from a US college or university is 0.0984 BTC. If someone is trying to get their diplomas or degrees legitimately — by actually going to school and studying for them — dark web services can guarantee anyone admission to a college in the US for an average of 0.618 BTC.

Creating a completely new financial profile in the US is quite cheap compared to some of the services above. Opening a bank account starts at $70, getting a new credit card starts at $45, and the minimum cost of a credit history check is $200 — very low prices for some of the most important components of a person’s financial identity.

4. Europe

The minimum costs for a new identity in Europe via the dark web are:

$1,370 + 0.2593 BTC

The price of a fake European passport starts from $600 – this is a relatively cheap option depending on which European country the passport is intended for. The cost of a new European driver’s license purchased through the dark web starts at $305, and an education package of a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree from a European school costs 0.1699 BTC.

New fake European birth certificates are one of the cheapest options in the developed world, starting at $220 – that’s $50 cheaper than a fake Australian birth certificate.

The minimum cost for a new financial profile in Europe is the same as in any other country – $70 for a new bank account, $45 for a new credit card and a minimum cost of $200 for current credit assessment.

3. Canada

The minimum costs for a new identity in Canada via the dark web are:

$1,290 + 0.2683 BTC

Although the cost of a Canadian passport purchased through the dark web is lower compared to fake US and UK passports – starting at $660 – the cost of a fake Canadian driver’s license is more expensive – starting at $275.

High school diplomas from Canadian schools cost an average of 0.0715 BTC, while a bachelor’s degree costs 0.0984 BTC. Guaranteed admission to a Canadian college costs 0.618 BTC.

The cost of 5,000 fake Canadian dollars is 0.0984 BTC.

2. United Kingdom

The minimum costs for a new identity in the UK via the dark web are:

$1,370 + 0.2861 BTC

Buying a fake UK passport on the dark web starts at $710, which is the same average price as a fake US passport. The average cost of a UK driving license is the same as other European countries – $305 – but cheaper than an Australian driving licence.

British birth certificates are slightly cheaper than Australian ones, starting at $240. Driving licenses are also cheaper compared to Australian ones, starting at $305 in the UK.

The cash cost is similar to the US and Australia – $115 for a new bank account and credit card, plus 0.1162 BTC for £5,000 of counterfeit money.

1. Australia (most expensive)

The minimum costs for a new identity in Australia via the dark web are:

$1,470 + 0.4292 BTC

The cost of buying a fake Australian passport through the dark web starts from $660 and a fake Australian driving license starts from $420. This is a significantly higher combined average than other countries’ ID cards.

High school, bachelor’s and master’s degrees from an Australian university start at 0.0715 BTC, and guaranteed admission into an Australian university averages 0.618 BTC.

The cost of creating a new financial profile in Australia is the same as in any other country, and AU$5,000 of counterfeit money costs 0.2593 BTC.

Your identity can be stolen and sold on the dark web

Many of the credentials for sale on the dark web are genuine — meaning they were stolen from a bona fide citizen and illegally sold to a new identity seeker. Credit card details, email logins, bank accounts, passports, PayPal accounts, and driver’s licenses are stolen every day because most people — including most of the companies we trust to protect our data — are unprepared for the growing problem of cybercrime are.

When a hacker steals another person’s identity and resells it, the identity theft victim is devastated – their bank accounts are drained, their credit score is shattered, and their lives are ruined. These are traumatic experiences that people often never recover from. You should find an insurance plan that offers guaranteed protection against the growing threat of identity theft.

Stay up to date on the latest cybersecurity trends

As you become increasingly connected to the digital world, it is important to remain vigilant and aware of all the unseen dangers that lurk on the internet.

If you’re looking to increase the level of security on your desktop and mobile devices, check out some of our top reviews of antivirus, anti-spyware and password managers including Norton, Dashlane, Bitdefender and Malwarebytes.

Disclaimer:

All dark web data and prices were sourced from SafetyDetectives’ dark web research team.

You are free to use the images and text from this article, with proper attribution to SafetyDetectives.

Released on: March 2, 2020

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In fact, ServSafe has a compiled list of documents that contain a lot of information about the various aspects of alcohol sales in each state. I’ve broken them down into three categories based on whether the state allows, prohibits, or doesn’t regulate it in one way or another.

Of course, keep in mind that these are state laws and city or county level laws may be even more specific.

States that allow confiscation of ID cards

Alaska

Yes, licensees may confiscate false IDs and must surrender confiscated IDs to law enforcement as soon as possible.

Arizona

allowed

California

A Licensee or its associate may confiscate any identification of an individual found to be under the age of 21 or false, so long as a receipt is provided to the individual from whom it was confiscated and the confiscated identification is turned over to local law enforcement within 24 hours for the premises is responsible.

Colorado

Colorado establishments may seize false IDs. Contact the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division or local government for relevant laws and information.

District of Columbia

Seizure is not permitted by law, it can be done by licensees

This language is unclear but seems to say that licensees can confiscate.

Georgia

Licensees may confiscate false IDs by reporting the confiscation to local law enforcement. Consult the Georgian statutes for details.

Hawaii

Yes, as it is illegal for a minor to use a fake ID or someone else’s identification to attempt to purchase liquor or obtain employment to serve or sell liquor in a licensed establishment.

Arguing makes no sense here. It’s illegal everywhere, but that doesn’t necessarily give licensees the right to confiscate them.

Idaho

Licensees may confiscate false IDs. After the ID is confiscated, it should be turned over to the ABC or a local law enforcement agency.

Iowa

Licensees may keep false IDs. If it appears to be altered, counterfeit, or belongs to someone else. If the ID is a state-issued driver’s license or ID card, Licensee must provide the person from whom the ID was taken with a written receipt of the withholding. Within twenty-four hours, the card must be turned over to local law enforcement and the licensee must report the incident in writing. Licensees may be subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability for retaining a government-issued ID if proper procedures are not followed or if excessive force is used to obtain the ID. See Iowa Code Section 123.48.

Kentucky

Operators should confiscate fake IDs and hand them over to the local police.

Maine

Licensees may retain false IDs without liability. It must be a reasonable period of time and Licensee must make a good faith effort to determine the legal age. The ID card holder must be informed as to why the ID card is being kept.

Michigan

Michigan empowers licensees to seize identification they determine to be false. Falsified/fraudulent IDs may be confiscated. Unfalsified IDs should not be confiscated (e.g. minors shopping with their own ID).

Minnesota

A licensed retailer or city liquor store may seize an identification card if the retailer or city liquor store has reason to believe that it has been altered, counterfeited, or is being used in violation of any law. It must be turned over to law enforcement within 24 hours of seizure.

Missouri

Yes

Montana

Yes, operators should confiscate fake IDs and hand them over to local authorities unless their lives are threatened.

Nebraska:

Nebraska does not prohibit licensees from confiscating false identification. Licensees may also use documentary proof of age

New Hampshire:

A false identification card may be confiscated for a reasonable period of time to establish in good faith whether the person is of legal age or to notify law enforcement officials of a suspected violation of the law.

New Jersey:

May confiscate but not required to take suspected forged ID with you. Licensees and servers are urged to exercise caution. Has the ability to refuse service at any time to any person suspected of being under the legal drinking age or intoxicated.

New Mexico:

New Mexico acknowledges that an ID card is personal property; if an institution decides to confiscate the document, that is their decision.

Honestly not sure how to parse this. The first sentence makes it seem like confiscation is theft, but the second seems to imply there’s nothing wrong with it.

North Carolina

Institutions can confiscate IDs they determine to be false.

Oklahoma

Licensees may keep an ID card until the authorities are notified and the ID card is surrendered.

Oregon:

Yes, and if the DMV identification is misrepresented, the minor’s driving privileges may be suspended for up to one year and/or the minor may have to wait up to one year to apply for a driver’s license.

Rhode Island

Yes

Wisconsin

125.039 Civil Liability Release for Preservation of Proof of Age. “No person holding a license or permit, or an employee of such person, shall have any civil liability for retaining any document presented as proof of age for a reasonable period of time in order to determine in good faith whether the person who presented the document , a minor, or to notify a law enforcement agency of a suspected violation of section 125.085(3)(a) or (b).”

States that do NOT allow confiscation of ID cards

Alabama

Alabama law does not authorize licensees to confiscate false identification. However, some companies have decided to take this step. Any confiscated ID should be turned over immediately to the local Alabama ABC Police Department.

The second sentence suggests that this might just be unregulated versus a hard ban, but is currently considered disallowed.

Arkansas

Institutions cannot confiscate false IDs. If a false ID is identified, facilities should call the local police department.

Connecticut

Rather than confiscate ID, the licensee may require the guest whose age is in doubt to sign an affidavit on forms provided by the state that they are of legal age and understand the penalties for misrepresenting their age when purchasing alcohol . In addition, Licensee may take a photograph of the Guest and make a photocopy of that Guest’s ID. Either can be used as a defense if the licensee is accused of serving a minor.

Florida

Florida does not authorize licensees to confiscate false identification. Licensees who detect false IDs should refuse the sale and contact local law enforcement.

Indiana

No, it cannot be confiscated. However, an entitled party has the right to require that a customer sign a written statement on a form prescribed by the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission certifying that he is not a minor. Retailers should contact local police if they suspect a minor is carrying a fake ID.

Kansas

The Kansas Authority does not recommend confiscating false IDs. Licensees should notify local authorities.

Although “not recommended” suggests it’s not really regulated.

Maryland

Maryland licensees have no legal authority to confiscate false identification.

new York

Licensees are not authorized to confiscate IDs they determine to be false. Licensees should notify the police or local law enforcement agency and refuse to sell.

North Dakota

Each Licensee may keep a ledger and require anyone who has submitted proof of age proving their age to enable the purchase of Alcoholic Beverages to sign the ledger if that person’s age is in question. The book must show the date of purchase, the identification used at the time of purchase and the corresponding numbers of this identification, the buyer’s address and the buyer’s signature.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania licensees should contact a law enforcement officer rather than hold an obviously fraudulent ID.

South Dakota

SDCL 35-9-2.1 allows a trafficker to arrest someone they believe is under the age of 21 or using a false identity if they have posted a notice that they may arrest someone they believe to be that he/she is under the age of 21 or a person uses false identification, in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable period of time to adequately verify his/her identification and notify law enforcement officials or parents of a minor.

Classified as not allowed as they are only permitted to detain and this implies that they are not permitted to arrest or confiscate unless proper signage is in place.

Tennessee

Tennessee law does not permit licensees to confiscate false identification. Licensees who identify an ID as false should contact a TABC agent or local police.

Virginia

Virginia Doesn’t Authorize Seizure of False IDs; Licensees should contact an ABC agent or local police station.

Washington:

Licensees may not confiscate any identification they believe to be false. Licensees are urged to call local law enforcement or their local liquor agents and inform them of the situation.

States that do not regulate

Delaware

Not regulated

Illinois

The operator may confiscate fake IDs when convenient and contact local law enforcement. But not officially regulated by the state.

Louisiana

According to the Louisiana Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control, “There is no written policy when it comes to licensed permit holder responsibilities and counterfeit IDs. Of course you want to get the fake ID from the suspect, but that can’t be. Always go in the safest way possible. If it becomes an unsafe situation, let the suspect go with the ID. If possible, remove the person’s name from the ID and notify the police. Don’t put your employees at risk trying to secure the fake ID. This is something that every site wants to discuss with their employees and develop some sort of policy.”

Massachusetts

Massachusetts has no law or state regulation addressing this issue.

Mississippi

For information on this subject, contact the Diverse Tax Division, State Tax Commission at 601-923-7175.

Nevada

Regulated at city and county level.

Ohio

Ohio does not have specific state laws that dictate whether or not an establishment may or may not confiscate false identification.

South Carolina

none

Texas

Not regulated

Utah

Not regulated

Vermont

none

Wyoming

none

The West Virginia page doesn’t seem to exist.

There is little legal risk for underage students attempting to enter Kingston’s bars with fake ID.

The police are rarely contacted when incidents occur. In 2012, there were only three Kingston Police Force (KPF) incidents in which individuals were charged under the Liquor License Act for producing false documents.

Section 30.12 of the Act reads: “No one shall produce any document other than documents lawfully issued to him or her as proof of his or her age.”

Violators of this law can be fined $125. However, licensed operations often take enforcement action into their own hands.

Although the number of charges is small, Mike Wieber, the Brass Pub’s general manager, said the use of fake ID is something bouncers at the facility are constantly on the lookout for.

The Brass Pub is part of Hub Group Inc., a company that also owns the Grizzly Grill, The Ale House and Canteen and Stages Nightclub.

All of these bars have ID swiping machines that read ID card barcodes.

“Usually we ask for two IDs and all IDs are always stolen. You can’t tamper with it because [the machine] reads the bar [code] on the back,” Wieber said.

The company started buying the machines five or six years ago. Wieber believes the devices deter minors from even trying to get in.

“Usually people who have fake ID see the swiper and they just turn and walk away,” he said.

However, nothing is 100 percent foolproof. Wieber’s people seen go to great lengths to deceive employees, such as taking a family member’s ID and putting their own photo on the front.

When a perpetrator is caught, the police are rarely alerted. Fake IDs confiscated at The Brass Pub. If there is a second incident involving this person, the police will be called.

So far this school year, Brass has not contacted the police about any incidents.

According to Melanie Boyles, the Sergeant of Street Crime and Constable at KPF, fake IDs are not seen as a major problem for police.

“Fake IDs are more of a pub problem than a police problem,” she said. “It might be a problem for the bars, but they don’t call us and say it’s an ongoing problem.”

More direct police involvement would mean stationing an officer at the door of bars and clubs, which they don’t think is necessary.

Over the past four years, the low number of reported incidents has remained constant with three in 2012 and 2011, one in 2010 and two in 2009.

Ben Lewis, ArtSci ’16, has never heard of anyone in Kingston being arrested for using a fake ID, but said using one is common among his friends.

Lewis himself is 19, but most of his friends use novelty fake IDs they bought in downtown Toronto. He hasn’t usually seen this type of ID accepted in Kingston.

“Usually the bouncers make it a lot harder for people … they laugh and tell them to get out,” he said. “I’ve seen very few people come in with the total knockoffs.” Others, he said, use IDs from older siblings or friends.

According to him, less crowded bars are more likely to accept fake IDs. He’s noticed that those with novelty cards are often not afraid to have their cards scanned.

“Some people are being affected by this intermittently, but I know that in fashion stores [in] downtown [Toronto] you can buy complete fakes that can be scanned. You can only come in from experience,” he said. “I’ve seen people go through a bouncer and a swiper with novelties.”

Establishments often have to deal with the consequences of false ID as they are regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), an organization whose responsibilities include ensuring that licensed establishments do not serve alcohol to minors.

Rather than seeing this as a “fake ID” issue, AGCO is more concerned about people under the age of 19 getting their hands on alcohol products.

If establishments are caught serving minors, they can have their alcohol license suspended by AGCO.

“There may be instances where someone just has an amazing fake ID,” said AGCO spokeswoman Lisa Murray. “We would look at the situation to determine if the staff knew or should have known if that ID was fake.”

Unlike some downtown establishments, the use of fake ID is not an active concern for the AMS Pubs Services (TAPS) and Student Constables (StuCons).

According to AMS Hospitality and Safety Services Director Keenan Randall, this is because there have been very few instances of customers attempting to use fake IDs at AMS-owned facilities, the Queen’s Pub (QP) and Alfie’s Nightclub.

“It’s not a problem we regularly face in our bars,” said Randall, ArtSci ’13.

“Patrons are always identified. That’s a policy we have across the board. Whether it’s an alumni or student event, we always identify with each other.”

During the day, servers identify customers who are buying alcohol, and in the evening, StuCons are at the door.

These bars also require guests to have Queen’s student ID or be the guest of someone with one.

StuCons are trained by campus security staff and senior police officers on proper IDing practice and identifying false documents.

Any underage person caught attempting to enter Alfie’s or QP will be banned for a period of six months from their 19th birthday. Only the months between September and April are counted for this period.

If someone is caught using a false identity, their case will be taken to an AMS-led pub ban committee, which will determine the impact. The fabled “Tri-Pub Ban” (QP, Alfie’s and Clark Hall Pub) may be true in practice, but not necessarily in name.

“We never actually call it the ‘tri-pub ban.’ [People have] called it that because we recognize Clark Hall Pub’s ban and they recognize ours,” Randall said. “They’re not the mythical lifetime ban that students sometimes talk about.”

TAPS has considered buying the ID swiping machines, but Randall said at the moment it’s determined their cost isn’t worth it.

“We’re getting to a point where we feel like we’re empowering our StuCons to take their time to use their best judgment.”

Randall believes that presenting both a regular and student ID makes it harder to sneak in and therefore discourages people from using fake IDs. The threat of a ban also serves as a deterrent.

“I think there’s a culture and a myth … Students are generally wary of doing this in our bars because it could mean they might not be able to go back in their sophomore or third year.”

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New machines scan ID cards at border crossings

— — Agents along the border with Canada and Mexico are using a controversial new machine that can “read” the personal information contained in some government-issued ID cards — like passports and driver’s licenses — when travelers approach a approach checkpoint.

The Department of Homeland Security says the new practice will tighten security and speed up traffic flow. Privacy advocates say the technology could compromise Americans’ security, as terrorists or other criminals could be able to steal personal information from ID cards remotely.

“There’s this weird rush for some fancy or shiny new technology,” says Lee Tien of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The cards are “pretty vulnerable” to being cloned or their codes cracked.

Machines are present at five intersections – Blaine, Washington; Buffalo; Detroit; Nogales, Arizona; and San Ysidro, California — as part of the government rule that anyone crossing the border must present a passport or other government documentation proving citizenship and identity. The machines will be activated in Buffalo today; Machines in Blaine and Nogales are in use; the rest will go online in the next few months.

The new technology will be used in conjunction with new government passports, passport cards and driver’s licenses, which will have embedded computer chips containing the holder’s name, date of birth, nationality, passport or ID card number and a digitized photograph. The personal data can be ‘read’ by an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) device when the person approaches a border crossing point.

When a car pulls up at the customs booth, the agent has everyone’s photos and information in the car. If a name is on a watch list or database, the individual will be used for questioning. The system will be “more efficient,” says Thomas Winkowski from Customs and Border Protection.

Privacy rights advocates warn that terrorists or other criminals can use their own machines in a process called “skimming” to read the information from up to 50 feet away. Privacy expert Katherine Albrecht says the chips create the “potential for building an entire surveillance network.” She says police could use them to find criminals, abusive husbands to find their wives and businesses to track clients.

According to Homeland Security, the chips are designed so that they don’t pass any personal information to machine readers — just a code, which then displays the information on border guards’ screens. The cards also come with protective sleeves when not in use.

The ID requirement for border crossings comes into force in June. To date, 600,000 State Department Passcards and 40,000 embedded licenses have been issued from Washington and New York states.

#SpoonTip: Spoon University does not support underage drinking or binge drinking. Spoon also never supports the use of fake IDs. Either drink responsibly or go get pizza.

If you’re a college freshman, sophomore, or even a junior, I’ll take a second to give you a call. You’re probably planning on auditioning in the dorm this weekend (call Burnett’s), wheeling into the bar with about 14 friends, and using your fake ID to slip right in. Sure it’s nbd, your older sister passed it on to you and you totally look 26. Seriously, no judgments here; most of us were there.

But beyond underage drinking, which you already know is illegal and “very bad,” according to some adults and J-Kown, your fake could get you in more trouble than you know.

Let’s say the bouncer isn’t the cute older liaison you’re sitting behind in COM 201 (or maybe he is and he’s just saltier than usual), but he notices your fake and won’t let you in. Honestly, that’s the best-case scenario. Text your best friend when she’s not standing next to you at the curb and find a party to go to or get Taco Bell.

But now let’s assume your fake ID is taken from you.

Scenario 1: The bouncer took your fake

you hate to see it You can either a) try to buy it back, or b) understand that it’s gone now. That’s why we can’t have nice things.

However, beware that some bars give fake IDs to the police at the end of the night. If your fake ID is in fact a fictitious or fraudulent document not created by the state (aka your boyfriend knew a man) and it contains a real photo of you with your real information minus your age, there is a good chance that it does You could get into serious legal trouble.

Laws vary by state, but the most common consequences of having a fake ID include being charged with a misdemeanor (a felony in some states), losing your driver’s license, paying a hefty fine, or even serving time in jail. In general, jail time can be avoided if it’s your first arrest and you only had the fake to get some alcohol, but it’s not guaranteed.

For example, in the state of New York, you could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor. It could result in three years of probation and a fine of up to $1,000, according to defense attorney Lance Fletcher, who spoke to MTV News. However, this is usually not the case.

“The greatest consequence of being convicted in New York is that it goes on your permanent record and stays with you for life,” Fletcher added. I still think that’s pretty serious, especially when applying for internships or jobs. Also, some jobs won’t be able to hire you if it’s on your record.

In the state of Illinois it’s a little different. Those using a fraudulent document can be charged with a Class 4 felony, punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. whoops

If your fake ID was just a friend’s or older sibling’s real ID and the police got it from the bar, you’re a clear prob as long as you don’t go back and try to claim it as your own (seriously, do that Not).

Scenario 2: You are caught by the police with your fake

Yes, this one definitely feels scarier. You should know that you are not allowed to present a fake ID to the police as a real ID. But you could also be caught with your ID in the liquor store, in the bar, or even handing it over to the bouncer.

Whether or not you are caught using the fake ID you received online, it is illegal to hold a fraudulent document and essentially the same potential consequences apply as outlined above.

On the other hand (again, laws vary by state), if your fake ID is in fact someone else’s real ID and you’re caught using it, you could be charged with a misdemeanor, or at least face vehicle or traffic fees. For example, in New York, you could be charged with second-degree criminal identity theft (a class of misdemeanor), which carries a penalty of up to a year in prison, three years probation, and a fine of up to $1,000. This is the same as owning a fake.

If you’re caught with someone else’s ID in Illinois, you could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.

Don’t freak out yet

Of course, getting caught with a fake ID is very serious. But if this has happened to you, there are a few things you should consider before you convince yourself that you will end up behind bars.

First, after being charged, you still have to be convicted. A judge will consider that you used the fake to get into a bar and not for something worse like financial gain, which can reduce the charge and punishment. Many lawyers can even have administrative offenses reduced to trespasses if it is your first crime.

Whether your punishment is as simple as having your driver’s license revoked, it will stay on your record for a period of time. Eventually you may be able to get it off, but it’s still something to think about.

Also, if you’re arrested for a fake ID while you’re in school, your college administration could issue a punishment. Check your school handbook for specific guidelines on the subject. Heck, while you’re in there, read all drinking guidelines (and look for a Good Samaritan guideline).

While all the cool kids make it look like they have fake IDs, these are some of the potential ramifications of using one. If you’re pretending to be a legal adult of drinking age, consider these before getting one or even using one this weekend.

However, if you insist on using a fake ID, educate yourself on your state’s laws and your school’s policies on the matter so you know what’s next if you get caught.