I work the door at a busy bar two nights a week. On weekends, I also help my cousin at his liquor store. Fake IDs show up. A lot. I got tired of guessing. So I tested three tools over six months. I wanted speed, clear answers, and less drama. Simple as that. If you want the full blow-by-blow breakdown of my six-month experiment—complete with extra photos and the raw data tables I trimmed for space here—you can check out my detailed write-up on PrettyFakes.
I’ll share the good, the bad, and the “oh wow” moments. Real nights. Real people. Real results.
Why I Needed A Better Tool Than My Eyes
I’m pretty good at spotting shaky cards. But it’s noisy, lights are low, and folks are stressed. Some fakes look clean. Like, scary clean. I needed help. Not a lecture. A tool.
So I used:
- A handheld scanner: TokenWorks IDVisor Smart V2
- A phone app: Intellicheck Age ID
- A cheap UV box: FraudFighter style UV lamp (the little black-light bank model)
For a gallery of surprisingly realistic counterfeit licenses (plus how to spot them), I highly recommend a quick browse through PrettyFakes — it opened my eyes to just how slick the newest knock-offs have become.
Three tools. Three very different vibes.
The Handheld That Saved My Friday: IDVisor Smart V2
This thing looks like a chubby phone with a scanner on top. It reads the barcode on the back of the ID and shows the age and a yes/no. Loud beep. Big text. Even in club lights.
This handheld isn’t just popular with bouncers like me; the detailed spec sheet for the device on the IDVisor Smart V2 product page breaks down its rugged build, battery ratings, and software options if you want the nitty-gritty.
What I liked:
- Fast. Most scans hit in under a second.
- Big red/green screen. No squinting.
- It stores scans, so I can pull stats later.
A real moment: Homecoming Friday, line around the block. A guy hands me a Louisiana license. Clean card. Nice lamination. I scan. The screen flashes red: “DOB mismatch.” The barcode said 28. The printed front said 20. He shrugged, then walked. The line moved. No scene. I won’t lie. I felt pretty smug.
What bugged me:
- It’s not cheap.
- Battery is good, not great. About 7 hours with heavy use. I now charge it on a tiny power bank after midnight.
Fun extra: It caught two expired IDs in one night. Folks forget. Machines don’t.
The Phone App That Surprised Me: Intellicheck Age ID
I was iffy on using my phone, but this app was sharp. It uses the phone camera to read the barcode and checks the data. It also flags known fake formats. Setup was fast. The layout is clean and calm.
That quick performance lines up with an independent Greenway Solutions report that rated Intellicheck’s identity-validation tech 100% accurate against a battery of counterfeit IDs.
Real use: Saturday at the liquor store. A woman hands me a New York license. Scan. Red screen. “Invalid format.” She said it was new. I asked for a second ID. She showed a debit card with a different last name. She left. I felt bad, but also safe.
Notes:
- It’s slower than the handheld, by a hair. Maybe a second or two more.
- Works best with steady hands and good light.
- I got two false alarms on beat-up cards. I wiped the barcode with a dry cloth and tried again. Green the second time. Not perfect, but good.
What I liked:
- No extra gear. I already carry my phone.
- Good for staff who float between registers or door spots.
- Updates in the app keep up with new card styles.
The Cheap UV Box That Let Me Down
We tried a small UV box near the register. It reveals UV marks and helps with cash too. It’s neat for money. But for IDs? Eh.
Real issue: Halloween weekend. A kid hands a Florida license. Under the UV, the seal glowed. Looked cool. But the barcode scan (with the app) said no. The UV made it look real, but it wasn’t. Some fakes now copy the glow. It fooled my eyes, not the math.
UV boxes can help with:
- Quick look at holograms
- Spotting scratches or peeled corners
But as a counterfeit ID detector? Not enough. It’s a helper, not a decider.
Real Nights, Real Wins
- Friday, 11:32 p.m., long line, Denver: IDVisor flagged an Ohio license where the printed height was 5'10" but barcode said 6'2". The guy said he “grew.” I smiled. “Not after print day, bud.” He laughed and left.
- Saturday, 2:07 p.m., liquor store: Intellicheck caught a Minnesota license with a bad checksum. Customer tried a second card. Same name, clean barcode. Sale made. No fuss.
- Thursday, student night: One real North Dakota license got flagged twice. It was worn and bent. I smoothed it, cleaned the back, scanned again. Green. I told the student to get a new card. He said thanks. Honestly, I liked him.
Speed, Ease, And The Little Things
- Scan speed: Handheld wins by a nose. App is fine when the line is light.
- Ease: Handheld is “point, beep, done.” App takes a steadier hand.
- Battery: Handheld lasts a long shift, but barely. App uses phone battery; bring a charger.
- Data: Handheld keeps offline logs. App has cloud features and alerts. Both help track busy times.
What Bugged Me (Because Nothing’s Magic)
- Cost: The handheld hurts the wallet. But it pays for itself when fines and bans are on the line.
- False alarms: Maybe 1 out of 80 scans flagged a real card due to wear or glare. A quick wipe and rescan fixed most of those.
- Human factor: Folks get prickly when a machine says no. Stay calm. Use plain words. I say, “This code isn’t reading right. Do you have another ID?” It keeps the peace.
What Actually Caught Fakes
Not everything. But these worked well:
- Barcode checks: Mismatch on birth date, height, or card number? Huge tell.
- Expired cards: People forget. Machines don’t.
- Format checks: Some states have very set formats. The tools look for those.
What didn’t work as well:
- Hologram-only checks
- UV glow by itself
- “Gut feel” on a busy night
Quick side note: ID verification isn’t only a face-to-face issue—online adult platforms have to be equally vigilant about keeping minors out. For an inside look at how a major cam site tackles the problem, check out this in-depth LiveJasmin review that walks through the site’s performer vetting steps, age-check tech, and why that matters if you’re serious about compliance and safety.
Who Should Get What
- Busy bars and clubs: Go with a handheld like the IDVisor Smart V2. It’s fast and simple.
- Small shops and pop-ups: The Intellicheck app is great. No box to carry. Good price.
- Cash-heavy spots: Keep a UV box for bills. Use it as a backup for IDs, not the main call.
A Tiny Tangent, But It Matters
Hydrate your door staff. I bring a snack bag and a tiny power bank. Hungry, cranky people make worse calls. Weird tip, I know. But it helped our team more than I thought.
The Numbers From My Log
Over six months:
- About 2,300 total scans
- 23 flags
- 19 true fakes
- 4 real cards that needed a rescan or a wipe
That’s a win rate I can live with.
Final Take
You know what? I was ready to hate the gear. I thought it would slow me down. It didn’t. It made my nights smoother. The handheld is my go-to on busy shifts. The phone app is my backup and my day shift tool. The UV box sits by the register for cash, and that’s fine.
Owners in the Petersburg nightlife scene who need to fill bar shifts, promote events, or even list second-hand equipment quickly can tap into the local classifieds on Backpage Petersburg where targeted listings connect you with motivated, nearby staff and patrons without wading through nationwide clutter.
And please check your local rules. Keep a log. Be kind, be clear, and keep the line moving.