Image-based forensic profiling

ProFID

Find forgery patterns and uncover criminal networks

ProFID is a software implementing a proven methodology for profiling scanned images of counterfeits. It provides an AI-supported framework for grouping samples into series stemming from a common forger, thus exposing the relationship between cases and informing investigations.

Initially developed and published for identity and travel documents, it has been shown to work for pharmaceutical cartons and bank notes as well.

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ProFID in a nutshell

A validated profiling methodology

ProFID was born from the need to develop an effective methodology for comparing documents and establishing series when profiling ID documents. The work was fostered by the University of Lausanne and European law enforcement agencies under the EU Internal Security Fund.

Build a reference database

Entering and standardizing images from seizures into the system does not require specialized equipment or expertise, and is mostly automatic, making it easy and cheap to build your database.

Foster collaboration

ProFID makes it easy to share responsibilities and results. Samples can be entered where they have been seized, while analyzed elsewhere, and results can be shared across departments and with law enforcement agencies.

Link samples and identify series

A series embodies the signature of a forger. By capturing and documenting the material features of a sample — printing techniques, imitation of security elements, defects, text errors — you will identify commonalities which make up that signature. Use those invaluable insights to help with your investigative cases.

Leverage AI features

Image analysis and machine learning automate repetitive tasks such as anonymisation and character recognition. Similarity scoring and dendrogram views support experts both in detecting new series and associating isolated samples to existing series.

Use a proven methodology

ProFID (formerly BIDIF) was proven to be an effective method for classifying fraudulent documents. The analysis can be carried out by non-experts with a forensic background and basic training. It has been deployed in 15+ European countries to combat document fraud.

Read the research paper

Beyond identity documents

A profiling methodology that travels

ProFID was originally designed for fraudulent identity and travel documents, but the underlying approach — scan, describe, compare, create series — applies wherever counterfeit samples share a production source.

The methodology was published in Science & Justice with identity documents as a case study, but since then has also been applied successfully to bank notes and pharmaceutical packaging, showing that the same methodology and image processing techniques can be used across very different domains.

For police forces, border guards, central banks and pharmaceutical brand-protection teams, ProFID offers a validated workflow to turn a collection of seized samples into actionable intelligence.

Want to learn more?

If you think this might be useful to your forensic lab or investigation unit, or if you have a use case in mind, please reach out to us!