Forgery is the manufacturing or creating of a false document, knowing it is false but intending to pass it off as if it was real. Under the law, false documents include artwork, checks, passports, police reports, security bonds, newspaper articles, signatures and other work. Forging documents is forgery but it is also a type of counterfeiting. Forging documents is a white collar crime. It is fraud. It is also a felony. Forging documents with the intent of making a profit while fooling the purchaser or peruser, results in a jail sentence as well as restitution. The harshness of the sentencing depends on the severity of the crime. Forging documents is a crime that may be state or federal. It may cross the borders of several states. The amount of financial gain, the area covered and whether the forged documents were federal or local will impact heavily on the case.