In dealing with government agencies and in conducting many business transactions, people are required to establish who they are by providing evidence of some unique identifying characteristics. Even using a key to open a door is a means of ensuring that a specified individual is able to gain access although, of course, a key may be stolen or used by someone other than the intended holder. In the past, identity was more easily verifiable as people conducted most of their transactions in person. Since the development of electronic communications technologies, however, we can no longer be certain that the person at the end of a fibre optic cable is who they claim to be. The difficulty in establishing a person’s identity with certainty is a boon to criminals, as they are able to fabricate documents which may be used to misrepresent their identity, then commit a crime and ensure that they cannot be located. This paper examines the nature of such deception and the innovative ways in which it is being addressed through the use of modern technologies.