Acceptable Forms of Identification and Fake ID Detection
This domain tests which IDs you may accept and how to inspect them. Accepting the wrong document or missing an altered ID is a common compliance failure.
Acceptable forms
- A valid New Hampshire driver's license or non-driver state ID.
- A valid out-of-state driver's license or state-issued ID.
- A valid U.S. passport or passport card.
- A valid U.S. military identification card. A foreign passport is often accepted under house policy; confirm your employer's list. Do not accept expired documents, photocopies, student IDs, credit cards, birth certificates, social media profiles, or photos of an ID on a phone.
Inspection steps
Feel the card and check for lamination bubbles or a peeling edge. Tilt it to see the hologram. Compare the photo to the face, including spacing of eyes and nose. Read the birth date and do the math. Check the expiration date and the back of the card. Look for font inconsistencies, uneven spacing, a changed birth year, or a vertical card that claims an adult birth date. Ask a secondary question: "What's your ZIP code?" or "What year did you graduate?" A confident answer is not proof, but a confused one justifies a manager.
Worked example
A customer hands over a horizontal-looking ID with a birth year making them 24, but the card has a vertical layout and the birth year looks slightly misaligned. The server asks for a second ID, then calls the manager. Reasoning: the mismatch between format and birth date is a fake-ID indicator. The safe outcome is refusal, not a debate at the register.
Traps that cost marks
Accepting an ID because it "looks real." Ignoring expiration dates. Confiscating an ID without employer policy or police involvement. Accepting a photo of an ID. Failing to check the back or the hologram. Letting a crowd rush the check.