New anti-fraud paper says ‘Copy’ if copied

BOISE – Scan it, fax it, photocopy it, take a digital photo of it – there are plenty of ways to duplicate documents these days, and a subsidiary of Boise Cascade LLC says it’s way too easy to commit document fraud.

That’s why they’ve come out with a new product that features a “hidden word technology” that can’t be frustrated by any of the new digital ways of making copies. No matter how you do it, the copy shows up with the word “COPY” or even “UNAUTHORIZED COPY” emblazoned repeatedly across it.

The new paper, dubbed “Boise BEWARE Security Paper,” was developed by Boise White Paper LLC, a Chicago-based subsidiary of Boise-based Boise Cascade LLC, and Document Security Systems Inc. It’s being distributed at OfficeMax stores, for $29.99 per 250-sheet pack.

Patrick White, CEO of Document Security Systems, said older technologies haven’t kept up with “the evolution of office equipment, rendering their products substantially less effective on copiers and totally ineffective on most scanners or fax machines.”

“All of those technologies continue to change, and they continue to get better over time,” said Georgianne Plumberg, product manager for Boise White Paper LLC.

The security paper isn’t quite white, and if you look carefully at it, you can tell there are some lines or shapes hidden on the page.

Once it’s copied, the message is clear.

“It’s twofold,” Plumberg said. “It’s anti-copy, and it allows you to verify the original.”

The new security paper comes in two versions – one for use for general documents or legal documents like wills that has the word “COPY” embedded, and another for business use that embeds the words “UNAUTHORIZED COPY.” That’s aimed at small businesses that produce coupons, gift certificates, rebate offers and the like that they don’t want copied.

Plus, Plumberg said her company can customize the paper and embed logos, messages or whatever a customer wants.

“As of yet we have not had anyone be able to cheat it,” she said.