Fake IDs in Iowa
A Growing Problem

Like states across the nation, Iowa is trying to meet the challenge of more fraudulent IDs whether presented in person or by digital image. Many of these fake IDs come from counterfeiters located overseas with sophisticated equipment. As stories below illustrate, fake identification is getting easier to obtain in Iowa and is often associated with illegal alcohol purchases by minors and financial fraud.

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Alcohol Sales & Service Guidelines for Iowa

- Minimum age to consume: 21
- Minimum age to serve: 18
- Minimum age to bartend: 18

Alcohol retailers may seize apparently false IDs without fear of prosecution even if the identification is valid.

A person under 21 may not purchase alcoholic beverages as part of a law enforcement action.

Penalties for serving or selling to a minor: In Iowa, selling or giving alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age is a simple misdemeanor. The fines for this violation depend on who commits it:

  • Licensee: $1,925
  • Employee or agent: $645
  • Clerk: $500 criminal fine
  • Retail establishment: $500 civil fine

Subsequent violations can result in higher fines, license suspension, or even revocation. For example, in January 2022, SNK Gas & Food of Zwingle paid a $500 fine for a first offense and a $1,500 fine for a second offense, plus a 30-day suspension of their alcohol-sales permit.

If the violation is committed by a minor under age 18, the matter is handled by the juvenile court. Courts may also impose penalties for minors (18 to 20 years of age) who purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol.


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How to Spot a Fake Iowa ID

For law enforcement officers, bank tellers, car rental agents, human resources professionals and others who must verify ID in a professional capacity, the recent surge in fake IDs is challenging. The liability and losses that result from accepting a fake ID are large. The I.D. Checking Guide assists in the ID verification process by showing what an actual, valid ID looks like at full-size, and highlights the details of the licenses, making it much easier to spot the fraud. Before approving an expensive car rental, opening a new bank account or hiring a new employee, make sure the driver’s license or ID card has the correct numbering, UV, microprint, ghost images, expiration, and other details that counterfeiters often miss.

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What the I.D. Checking Guide Includes:

Place Order U.S Book Info
  • A full page or more for each U.S. state and Canadian province, showing driver’s licenses and ID cards.
  • Security image information for ghost images, laser perforation, microprint, UV and other validation details.
  • Explanation of what the proper alphanumeric sequencing of a Iowa ID or Driver’s License should be (how many letters, numbers, etc.).
  • U.S. Federal documents including immigration, military ID, Visas and passport cards.
  • “How to check driver’s licenses” techniques for training.