Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Business Law Practice Exam

What is forgery?

1. The act of witnessing a document

2. The fraudulent making or material alteration of a writing

3. The legal collection of debts

4. The process of notarizing signatures

The correct answer is: The fraudulent making or material alteration of a writing

Forging is defined as the fraudulent creation or significant alteration of a document with the intent to deceive. This includes creating a false document or changing an existing one to mislead someone or gain an unfair advantage. The essence of forgery lies in the intent to defraud, which distinguishes it from genuine alterations or authentic actions. For example, if someone alters a check by changing the amount or signs a contract using someone else's signature without permission, those actions would be classified as forgery. The crucial factor here is that the act must involve deception and a wrongful intent. The other options represent different legal activities that do not involve deception or fraudulent intent. Witnessing a document involves confirming the authenticity of signatures, the legal collection of debts pertains to legitimate methods to recover owed money, and notarizing signatures is a process of officially certifying that a signature was made by an individual in the presence of the notary. None of these actions carry the fraudulent elements that define forgery.