Signing someone else’s behalf on official documents is considered the crime of “Forgery of Official Documents” in the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). This crime includes the acts of forging an official document, changing a real official document in a way to deceive others, or using a fake official document.
Signing in someone else’s place is one of these acts and is punishable by imprisonment from 2 to 5 years according to TCK Article 204/1.
How the crime was committed:
• Forging someone else’s signature without their permission or knowledge
• Putting a person’s signature without their consent
• Filling out the signature part of a document without authorization
Penalty enhancing factors:
• The crime is committed by a public official
• Committing the crime on more than one document
• Committing the crime against banks or credit institutions
Victims of the crime:
• Official institution or organization where the document was issued
• The person or persons who are the subject of the document
• Third parties who suffered as a result of fraud
Example cases:
• A person forges signatures for inheritance transactions in the name of his deceased father.
• An employee signing an official document without the permission of his/her superior.
• A student signs his/her friend’s name on the exam paper.
Warnings:
• Never sign on behalf of someone else on official documents.
• Avoid signing documents that you are not authorized to sign.
• Remember that the crime of forgery has serious criminal penalties.