The implications and consequences of such incidents are direly devastating. When we look at it in retrospect, it is evident that these situations could have been easily averted using Digital Signatures.

1. Transparency and Security with E-Signatures| DrySign
Signature Forgery - Enhancing Transparency and Security
with Digital Signatures - DrySign by Exela
Digital signatures have sparked a revolution since the development of the RSA algorithm (named
after its inventors – Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman) in 1977. RSA went on to
become the most common asymmetric algorithm in use, ensuring electronic messages and data
storage remain secret, secure, and accurate. This marked the dawn of various digital signature
schemes that began emerging soon after.
Besides saving time, paper, and a lot of effort, did you know that digital signatures could have also
averted several crimes and scandals in the past? Let’s look into a couple of interesting cases.
Digital signatures in courts
Back in 2013, a band of six cybercriminals forged release documents and had them signed by the
judge to facilitate a legitimate-looking prison break. Also, in 2012, a man in Pennsylvania forged
release papers to escape from his sentence for tax fraud. All these cases could have been easily
avoided using the traceability offered by digital signature solutions.
Search warrants are another area where digital signatures can make a significant difference. A
search warrant is a document signed by the magistrate that grants authority to law enforcement
officers to search a property. Search warrants contain sensitive information like names & social
security numbers of people and informants involved, along with evidence. The search warrant is
based on another document called an affidavit signed by a law enforcement officer, stating the
facts and the reasons to search the property.
With digital signature solutions in place, it is possible to speed up this process while adding a layer
of virtually impenetrable security. A quickly signed warrant can be the thin line separating a major
bust and an escaped felon in mission-critical situations.
Also Read: E-Signatures: The Impact on Workplace Productivity

2. Transparency and Security with E-Signatures| DrySign
Some recent cases of signature forgery
A resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, named Robert Hallick, was arrested on account of forgery.
He allegedly used his real name for his initial application to carry a firearm. The Tennessee
Department of Safety and the Homeland Security Handgun Unite rejected his application due to
an active warrant in Michigan. He then applied for the second time using the name of the former
president Barack H. Obama and forged the signature of the Commander-In-Chief. Eventually, in
February 2021, he was caught and sent to prison.
A Canadian passenger from Stratford was arrested on 11th February, 2021 on account of forged
COVID-19 tests at the Pearson International Airport. After a thorough investigation, he was found
to test positive for COVID-19.
In November 2020, there was yet another case in New Jersey where a Hunterdon County resident
named Brian Shilling was arrested for forging a signature while casting a mail-in vote. He forged
another individual’s signature, certified it, and sent it to the Hunterdon County Board of Elections,
purporting the vote was cast by someone else. He was charged with tampering with public
records, falsifying records, and disorderly persons offense, among other charges.
Conclusion
The implications and consequences of such incidents are direly devastating. When we look at it in
retrospect, it is evident that these situations could have been easily averted using Digital
Signatures.
Unlike traditional, hand-written signatures that can be easily forged, digital signatures offer multiple
layers of protection. Even before a signer can access a document and sign, e-signatures can
verify the signer’s identity through various options such as email address, SMS, OTPs, ID
verification, and knowledge-based questions.
Then come the physical and platform security measures, including malware protection,
commercial-grade firewalls, strict access control, data encryption, multiple authentication, and
security certifications.
With all these fool-proof measures in place, do you think any of the above forgery cases would
have transpired? No chance.
Sources: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/six-charged-florida-prison-escape-
used-forged-documents-flna2d11778731
http://index-of.es/Hack/Scene%20of%20the%20Cybercrime%20-
%20Computer%20Forensics%20Handbook%20(Syngress).pdf
https://www.ktvu.com/news/tennessee-man-arrested-after-forging-former-president-
obamas-signature-on-handgun-permit-reports
https://www.nj.com/hunterdon/2020/11/nj-man-charged-with-voter-fraud-after-forging-
signature-on-mail-in-ballot-authorities-say.html

3. Transparency and Security with E-Signatures| DrySign
https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/stratford-man-charged-with-using-false-covid-19-
document-at-pearson
DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for general information purposes only and is
not intended to serve as legal advice. Laws governing the subject matter may change
quickly, and Exela cannot guarantee that all the information on this site is current or
correct. Should you have specific legal questions about any of the information on this site,
you should consult with a licensed attorney in your area.
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