What used to be a right of passage for older teens in Illinois has become a major problem in the state.

Fake ID Busts In Illinois

Back when I was a teenager, it was almost a given that most kids my age were carrying a fake ID or at least trying to get one to buy booze. It was so easy back in those days. That was before security got really strict throughout the country.

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If you looked anything like the picture, it worked. There were places you could go for an unofficial ID card, and you could put any info on it you wanted, like the wrong birthdate so it said you were 21. I even knew people who could make them.

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For those brave souls, they could take their friend's info to the DMV and get an official driver's license with their picture on it instead of the other person's photo. If you got caught, it would just get taken away from security or the bouncer.

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Nowadays, it's a lot harder to make fake IDs. If you get caught, there is serious trouble coming your way. The authorities are always on the lookout for them. They're used for more than just buying alcohol. It's now about national security.

In less than a week, between January 21st and January 26th, at the International Mail Facility inside O'Hare Aiport, officials confiscated 984 fake IDs. Not all of them are for college kids getting ready to go on spring break.

Fox 32 Chicago

Crime organizations are using these fake IDs for identity theft, human trafficking, or for terrorists to get into the United States. I can see why the police are taking this problem so seriously now.

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