Fake IDs in Minnesota
A Growing Problem

Like states across the nation, Minnesota 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 Minnesota and is often associated with illegal alcohol purchases by minors and financial fraud.

1240AM WJON News Tribune

Alcohol Sales & Service Guidelines for Minnesota

- Minimum age to consume: 21
- Minimum age to serve: 18
- Minimum age to bartend: 18
- A manager or supervisor must be present when an underage person is serving or dispensing alcoholic beverages.

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 Minnesota, selling or giving alcohol to a minor is a gross misdemeanor offense that can result in a fine of up to $3,000 and up to one year in jail. However, it's uncommon for the maximum punishment to be served. A first offense may not result in jail time, but it can result in a criminal record, which can cause problems in the future, especially if the offender works with children. The offender may also face jail time if the minor commits a crime or causes a car accident while intoxicated. 

In addition to criminal penalties, adults who provide alcohol to minors may also face civil liability for injuries, property damage, or death. This liability is not covered by most insurance, and both adults and parents may face significant increases in their insurance rates. 

Minnesota law also prohibits selling, giving, or furnishing tobacco, tobacco-related devices, or electronic delivery devices to a person under 21. The first violation is a petty misdemeanor, but subsequent violations within five years are misdemeanors. 


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  • id check during purchase of car
  • police officer checking id
  • identity verification at airline check-in counter
  • bartender verifying id of two patrons

How to Spot a Fake Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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.