Income
Document Tampering: Definition & Example
What Is Document Tampering?
Document tampering is altering a genuine document, such as a pay stub, bank statement, or ID, to change key details like income, balances, names, or dates.
What does document tampering mean?
Tampering is different from fabrication. The document started out real, but someone changed it using PDF editors, image tools, or template services. Bank statement balances, deposit amounts, and pay rates are common targets.
Signs of tampering include mismatched fonts or spacing, numbers that do not reconcile (such as balances that do not follow from the listed transactions), altered metadata, and pixelation around edited fields.
Document-checking tools look for these signs, but they reduce risk rather than eliminate it. Getting data directly from the source, such as the employer or the bank with the applicant’s permission, avoids the editable document entirely.
Document tampering example
An applicant uploads a bank statement showing an ending balance of $12,480. Adding up the listed deposits and withdrawals from the starting balance gives $2,480. The PDF metadata shows it was last modified in an editing app the day before it was submitted.
Related terms
- Fake Pay StubA fake pay stub is a fabricated or altered earnings statement used to misrepresent income, often made with online pay stub generators or by editing a real stub.
- Bank Statement AnalysisBank statement analysis is reviewing a person’s or business’s bank transactions to estimate income, spot recurring expenses, check balances, and flag risks such as overdrafts or unusual deposits.
- Proof of IncomeProof of income is documentation showing how much money a person earns, such as pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, an employer letter, or a benefits statement.
- Read-Only Bank ConnectionA read-only bank connection lets an app view account data, such as balances and transactions, without being able to move money, make payments, or change anything in the account.
