Final answer:
Forgeries are fraudulent activities involving the creation of false documents, signatures, or works of art, typically with the intention of deception for personal gain or to harm others. Laws treat forgery as a serious crime with significant penalties for those caught.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term forgeries refers to the act of fraudulently making or altering a document, signature, artwork, or other objects of value with the intention of deceiving someone into believing that the item is genuine. This criminal act is done to either gain some form of benefit, such as money or access, or to cause harm to another party by misrepresentation. Forgery often involves the creation of copies that are intended to pass for the original, and these copies can range from legal documents like contracts and identification cards to creative works like paintings and antiques.
An example of forgery could be someone signing a check with another person's signature in order to illegally obtain money from that individual's bank account. Another example is an artist who replicates the style of a famous painter and sells the artwork as an authentic piece, when in fact it's a fake. Laws around the world consider forging to be a serious crime, and individuals caught doing so may face hefty fines and imprisonment.