Just signed up for Foley-Belsaw locksmithing school...

by **Romstar** » 13 Jul 2004 23:53

The hard thing to duplicate is the seal. The type faces are all Windows or MAC standard fonts.

The paper is just as easy.

A good scanner, and you have everything but the seal. If you know anything about embossing, and you have a steady hand and a good eye for detail, you can get past that.

If you can't, find someone with a laser engraver. Looks a lot like an oversize laser printer. Commonly found in trophy and engraving shops.

The real drawback to doing something like this is providing transcripts, or your student number for verification. That is what will get you caught.

My advice, spend the money and take the course. Even if you do breeze through it.

Romstar

by **Guitar_J** » 13 Jul 2004 23:58

so... you've had.. ummm.... experience with this befeore romstar?

by **stobby101** » 13 Jul 2004 23:59

I just read this entire post today and now thinking of signing up. However, even at it's lowest price of about 600, thats alot of money to come up with when you live paycheck to paycheck and are void of anything that could ressemble a savings.

by **Guitar_J** » 14 Jul 2004 0:09

I setting up my masterkey system for my course work now...

I enjoy this course... and I have many positive comments to make about it, however... check out the video courses... there is usually a set of them on ebay for $160... I may order them when I finish my F-B course... anywho... like i said.. I enjoy this course.. however... They could make some major improvements for what you spend. they could send you more hands on stuff... I would have loved it if they would have included a GM Sidebar lock when they were talking about automotive locks... stuff like that... it would also be nice if you got to keep more of the locks... I dunno.. I do really like the course.. but they could improve... I'd like to see someone give the video course a try.. I'd like to findout what it's all about...

as for the difference in cost... tack on an extra hundred or so to buy some educational tools...
Vice, files, keyblanks, locks, small pin kit, pick set... true you get a key copier at the end of the course, but if you pay 160 for the vids, 100 for supplies (this would be close, but i think it could be done as long as you shop E-bay and such) then invest a few hundred into a (used?) key cutter and still come out several hundred in the good...

I may have went that route if I'd known what I know now... oh well.. I'm still satisfied with F-B

by **stobby101** » 14 Jul 2004 0:37

That may be a more economical way to go. The only thing it could lack is quality, of course.

by **Mad Mick** » 14 Jul 2004 17:03

I'd much prefer to take the course and earn the diploma honestly. Maybe the joke was missed somewhere....

by **Romstar** » 14 Jul 2004 17:18

Guitar_J wrote:so... you've had.. ummm.... experience with this befeore romstar?

No, of course not. :lol:

It's just something I came across in my many studies. I am a habitiual learner. If I find ANYTHING interesting, I will study it.

Believe it or not, more documents are forged in a year than money or works of art. The forger's art is fascinating, very much like lock picking. Important documents and especially money have many embedded security features. Some of the methods used to duplicate these features border on the brilliant or genius. It's a fascinating study, and the more I learn about it, the easier it is for me to spot fakes. Whether it's a 20 dollar bill, or an ID, or a diploma. It's a very useful skill.

Please don't take my silliness as any sort of direction or advice for such an act. :shock:

Romstar

by **Romstar** » 14 Jul 2004 17:21

Mad Mick wrote:I'd much prefer to take the course and earn the diploma honestly. Maybe the joke was missed somewhere....

Nope. I didn't miss your joke.

I think someone might have missed mine though.

I have to learn to use smilies more often. People often take me as far more serious than I mean to be.

Romstar

by **Chucklz** » 14 Jul 2004 17:39

Agreed Mick. I hope we both weren't too badly misunderstood.

by **Mad Mick** » 14 Jul 2004 18:21

No probs guys. I just didn't want anyone to think I'd attempt it.

As an aside, I did hear years ago (probably about ten) that photocopier technology had to have restrictions placed upon it, due to the ability of the machines to faithfully duplicate practically anything....currency etc. Don't know how true it was, and whether it's still in force but with the correct paper, someone willing to purchase a high end copier could stand to make a lot of $.

by **Romstar** » 14 Jul 2004 18:35

To the best of my knowledge, in both Canada and the United States, possession of currency paper is a federal offence. Despite the fact that you can obtain currency "grade" paper, you are not supposed to be able to get the actual paper.

As for photocopiers, the restrictions are pretty basic. A laser colour copier is constrained by the fact that the toner and the imaging drum produce a glossy type image. Secondly, the scanning resolution is intentionally misaligned.

There is a type of "laser" copier/printer that avoids the pitfalls of the toner system. Dye Sublimation. Proper dye or ink sticks produce an image that is very similar to offset print. Imaging drums can be remanufactured with the proper chemicals to produce a clearer image. Also, there are ways to realign and clarify the scanning resolution of the copier.

Like lockpicking, anything that can be made can be copied. It's all a matter of knowledge and ability.

These restrictions on copiers and printers are still in effect, but to a much more limited degree. Mostly because the major scare was reproduction of currency. With the changes to both American and Canadian currency, this is less of a threat than ten years ago. Further, as I said previously, reproduction of documents carries the severe problem of backing up the supposed legitimacy of the document.

With the serious spread of computer database technology, and the ability to instantly verify these documents, it requires much more than simple duplication. A feat that very, very few people are capable of.

My considered opinion on the entire matter is simple. Don't ever be silly enough, or tempted enough to try something like this.

Romstar

by **WhiteHat** » 15 Jul 2004 2:01

Romstar wrote:To the best of my knowledge, in both Canada and the United States, possession of currency paper is a federal offence. Despite the fact that you can obtain currency "grade" paper, you are not supposed to be able to get the actual paper.

Romstar

Australia uses plastic money - ridiculously hard to duplicate because of the transparent patches etc. and you can put the notes through the wash and the come out fine - also harder to rip or burn...

sorry, don't mean to turn this into a forgery101 thread....

by **Romstar** » 15 Jul 2004 2:43

I'd have to see some to judge, but I am sure that someone has done it. I stand by my previous axiom; If someone can build it, someone can bypass it.

I hope nobody thinks this is forgery 101. :lol:

Oh well, back to the lock picks. At least they're safe.

Romstar

by **Jefferson** » 15 Jul 2004 22:07

Jefferson wrote:At what point do you get the pick gun, if you signed on with that deal?

Ahem, not to change the subject, but can anyone help me with my question?

by **Guitar_J** » 15 Jul 2004 23:17

when you finish the course

Just signed up for Foley-Belsaw locksmithing school...

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