Fake Research?

[Eryk]

The cat's out of the bag regarding a fear I've had for years now. Never mentioned it in public on the off chance that suppressing an idea would keep it from spreading. Futile, as any historian knows. The fear?

“By the way, I have even seen fake research, in which the UK was altered to match the SN of awards available...”

The unfortunate Pobeda seems to be a victim of fraud, as well too many of us are familiar with. What leaped out at me rather than the awards, though, was the documentation. Put my thoughts together to one of the resident experts in this:

“I've seen archival lists with different handwriting, indicating that an award was added after it was originally filled out, but never have I seen the signature, date, etc at the bottom of the document not match the 'original' (ie, the first part of the list), award list handwriting. This looks as if the top portion was filled out, but not signed and dated (plus the other writing), then when the OG II was added the bottom was also filled out. This makes me suspect it's a fake - the bottom of the real document was cut off (digitally if not in real life), and a new bottom portion appended.

As well it's odd (to me), that the "7" in the date on the award list is the same (unique?) style as the "7" in the order book. Was the paperwork filled out all at the same time, by the same person, historically?

Lastly, shouldn't the date of benefits in the order book be mid 1943, the date of the first award being given?

I'm no expert! And I know it. But one of my great fears over the years, never mentioned, is that in this day and age someone will get the bright idea to go into the archives, get legitimate documentation, then using a combination of pen, printer, copier and digital photo technology create "research" that is actually fraudulent. With that they would forge awards, award books, etc, to match and be "proven authentic" by the archival "documentation." A nightmare! Is this group evidence of that? Or am I fearful over nothing?”

Not over nothing I guess... :-( Thoughts from others who value research?