On 4 October 2026 we read the home or product pages of 17 websites supplied to us as examples. Fifteen sell or advertise fake documents. Two did not: one was a genuine Italian driving school and one was a staffing company whose site looked compromised. Two of the fifteen did not load, so the figures below cover 13 sites that we could read. Pages were read by an automated tool, so treat counts as approximate. We do not name or link to any site, because naming a seller can create legal risk and because the sites change.
What we found
| What we looked for | Sites |
|---|---|
| Claimed the document is registered or verifiable in an official database | 10 of 13 |
| Promised no exam or test, or implied the normal process could be bypassed | 12 of 13 |
| Mentioned an inside contact, official or “connection” at the issuer | At least 8 |
| Published no price at all | 9 of 13 |
| Gave a phone number or messaging app (WhatsApp, Telegram) as the main contact | 13 of 13 |
| Disclosed how they take payment | 3 of 13, and all three accepted cryptocurrency |
Patterns worth knowing
- Shared details. Two sites listed the same street address in Swansea. One “UK” site gave a Turkish phone number, and another UK site listed an address in Chicago as well.
- Sister sites. One Italian site said it had German, Dutch and Swedish versions, so the sellers operate as a network.
- Wider catalogues. Sites that began with driving licences also advertised passports, ID cards, residence permits, nursing licences and language certificates.
- A “fake licence” line. One site openly offered a cheaper licence described as “not registered”, while describing its full licence as “official”.
What it means
Almost every claim a seller makes is one that no issuer's process allows. The checklist in scam red flags turns these findings into signs you can spot, and official checks shows how a real document is verified.
Frequently asked questions
How many fake document sites did you analyse?
We read 13 sites that sell or advertise fake documents, out of 17 supplied; two were not sellers and two did not load.
Why don't you name the sites?
Naming sellers can create legal risk, and the sites change quickly. We describe the patterns so that the guidance stays accurate.