When monitoring large sites, such as those in industries like rails, utilities, and event venues, security can become a major issue. Many of the workers are contracted and, as a result, are unfamiliar with one another. These types of scenarios make it easier for strangers to stroll in and create a security concern, which is why ensuring the authenticity of every security badge is critical. Some of the benefits of security badges include:
- Prevent theft of equipment and construction materials
- Control access to the construction zone and work site
- Keep accurate records of all individuals who enter and leave the construction site
- Ensure that only qualified individuals are working in the area
- Provide a safe and secure working environment
These benefits are completely compromised if someone creates a fake security badge. That’s why, in this post, we’re sharing just how easy it is to replicate a security badge as well as anecdotes of people getting into places where they shouldn’t be.
Spotting A Fake Security Badge
First things first, a security badge is very simple to make. Unless you’re using a scanning system that reads an internal chip or uses other technologies, making a simple identification badge is as simple as scanning a badge, switching up the person’s name and photo, printing it out, and then laminating it.
Identification fraud is becoming a huge issue, especially with the crackdown on illegal immigrants in the United States. According to Senator Charles Schumer, identification specifications only require social security numbers, names, and dates of birth, which makes it easy to create fraudulent IDs.
And while fake IDs may be primarily associated with college kids trying to get into bars underage, these span much deeper. For example, a man in Florida allegedly created fake identification and business ID cards to create fake checks, cashing them out at local stores. He got away with more than $300K before being caught.
It’s important to understand that with the advent of more and more online security breaches, personal identification information is becoming easier to steal. As a result, fraud is on the rise. This can directly relate to the security of your worksite if the stolen information is used to gain access with a fake security badge.
Utilize Digital IDs to Avoid Fraud
Overall, digital identification is safer than physical badges. Switching over to digital security badges is an investment of time and money, but the ROI, especially around incident prevention and remediation, makes the transition very valuable in the end. Typically, digital IDs use multiple layers of validation and can include everything from fingerprints to facial recognition. Similar to the technology used to access the latest versions of the iPhone. This is a beneficial and more secure method of access to worksites because it’s much harder to manipulate, especially when using one of the aforementioned methods of identification. Read more about digital IDs in this post.
Identifying Fake Security Badges
With so many different security badge options on the market, it can be difficult to identify a fake. But if your team isn’t ready to make the switch to digital IDs, here are tips for identifying fakes:
- If someone is unfamiliar to your team, ask them for a second form of identification
- Look closely at their picture and make sure it matches
- Try asking the person about details on their card or their position
Finally, it can be as simple as feeling the security badge. You will have a good idea of how your particular security badges feel. Make sure that you ask to hold it if you have any concerns.
Fraudulent badges are nothing new. Thanks to tighter security methods and stricter check-ins, fake IDs have been on the rise over the past 10 years. There are ways to create secure badges and monitor badge security. We suggest working with professionals to ensure that your worksite has the strongest security measures possible, especially when managing large teams of contractors.
If you have more concerns or questions about managing safety and protection in the rails, utilities, or even venue management industries, we’re your resource. If you have any questions about contractor identification, do not hesitate to reach out to our team by clicking here. Thank you for reading!
**This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute legal advice.