The MRZ strip is an important element of the security of an electronic identity card: it contains the most critical information and ensures a thorough check of the authenticity of this information by preventing its falsification.
In this article, we will see what are the most common cases of fraud for electronic ID cards and how to avoid them. Here we go!
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What information is contained in the MRZ electronic identity card strip?
We have written a very complete article about the information present in the MRZ strip of a French identity card version 1995 which you can find at the following address: Checking the MRZ strip of an electronic identity card.
Enjoy your reading!
Checks on the first line MRZ ID card 2021
First of all, we will pay attention to the first 5 characters which are always the same: IDFRA.
They are followed by the card number on 9 characters: we can therefore check that there are 9 characters precisely.
Finally, the document number control key, which can be checked with our service.
Checks on the second line of the MRZ ID card strip
The second line begins with the holder’s date of birth in 6 digits, in YYMMDD format: it can be checked that it corresponds to the date of birth indicated on the front of the document.
Then the date of birth control key, which can be checked with our service.
Then the gender of the holder, which is either “M” for a man, or “F” for a woman.
The expiry date of the document will then be found in 6 digits, in YYMMDD format: it will be possible to check that it corresponds to the expiry date indicated on the document.
Then the control key of the expiry date, which can be checked with our service.
Then the country code on 3 characters and using the ISO 3166 code (“FRA” logically for a French identity card).
Then chevrons to complete the line, 11 in all.
Finally, the control key for lines 1 and 2, again verifiable with our service.
Controls on the third line
The third line begins with the holder’s surname and first names, separated by two chevrons between the surname and first names, and a single chevron between the first names, completed by chevrons at the end of the line.
Practical work
Case n°1
Can you detect the problem(s) on the map above?
Answer
Everything seems to be in order but there is one element that is not correct!
– the document number has 8 characters instead of 9!
Case n°2
Can you detect the problem(s) on the map above?
Answer
Everything seems to be in order compared to the error reported in case n°1 but there is nevertheless an error!
– the control key for the expiry date is not correct (3 instead of 9)
This type of inconsistency is detectable with our service!
Case n°3
Can you detect the problem(s) on the map above?
Answer
Everything seems to be in order compared to the errors reported in case n°2, but there’s still an error!
– the global control key of the document is not correct! (0 instead of 6)
This type of inconsistency is detectable with our service!
Conclusion
You are now able to detect the most important changes observed on the MRZ strip of an electronic ID card!
It is advisable to use our service which will check your parts completely in a few minutes!
