Packaging comprising: (a) a prepaid card at least partially enclosed within the packaging, the prepaid card including a barcode at least partially visible through a cutout in the packaging; and (b) a reference barcode located on the packaging, wherein the reference barcode is compared to the barcode of the prepaid card to ensure the reference barcode has the same or similar design to that of the barcode of the prepaid card to identify counterfeit or tampered with packaging.

A diffractive security device is disclosed including at least a first diffractive structure defined in a carrier layer. The first diffractive structure is an on-axis diffractive zone plate structure of a continuously curved surface configured such that when the device is illuminated by on-axis light a first diffraction pattern generated by the first diffractive structure can be viewed from at least a first side of the device at substantially all viewing angles, the first diffraction pattern exhibiting a reference point or reference line relative to which other features of the first diffraction pattern appear to move when the viewing angle is changed.

Aspects described herein may provide detection of a physical characteristic of a credential, thereby allowing for authentication of the credential. According to some aspects, these and other benefits may be achieved by detecting the physical characteristic with the credential in two or more orientations. A first image of a credential in a first orientation and a second image of the credential in a second orientation may be received. An optical characteristic of a secure feature of the credential may be determined based on light reflected from the secure feature in both the first image and the second image. An expected optical characteristic of the secure feature may be determined based on known properties of the secure feature. A determination as to whether the credential is authentic may be based how a comparison of the determined optical characteristic of the secure feature to the expected optical characteristic of the secure feature.

A system comprising: a document holder; an image sensor directed toward the document holder; a polarized filter between the image sensor and the document holder; a filter motor configured to rotate the polarized filter; one or more processors; and at least one memory having stored thereon computer program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, instructs the one or more processors to: control the filter motor to rotate the polarized filter; control the image sensors to capture a plurality of images of a document within the document holder, the plurality of images corresponding to a respective relative orientations of the polarized filter to the document; identify a feature of the document; and output, in response comparing respective visual characteristics of the feature of the document to corresponding expected visual characteristics of the first feature for the document, an indication of a verification of the document.

To provide an authentication device and method for a security medium including a reflective volume hologram having a light source disposed on the front surface side of the reflective volume hologram so that light emitted therefrom is incident on the reflective volume hologram, a first observation device disposed in a pre-designed diffraction direction of the reflective volume hologram, and a second observation device disposed in a direction other than the pre-designed diffraction direction of the reflective volume hologram. Light including a pre-designed diffraction wavelength is emitted from the light source to be incident on the reflective volume hologram, and when the light amount observed in the first observation device is larger in the diffraction wavelength than in other wavelengths, and the light amount observed in the second observation device is smaller in the diffraction wavelength than in other wavelengths, it is determined that the reflective volume hologram is genuine.

A diffractive security device is disclosed, including first and second diffractive structures defined in a carrier layer. The first diffractive structure is a diffractive zone plate structure of a continuously curved surface configured such that when the device is illuminated by on-axis light, a first diffraction pattern generated by the first diffractive structure can be viewed from at least a first side of the device at substantially all viewing angles, the first diffraction pattern exhibiting a reference point or reference line relative to which other features of the first diffraction pattern appear to move when the viewing angle is changed. The second diffractive structure is an off-axis diffractive structure configured such that when the device is illuminated by on-axis light a second diffraction pattern generated by the second diffractive structure can be viewed from at least the first side of the device at at least some off-axis viewing angles.

An identification device includes: an observation object shape frame display configured to display, on a display screen, an observation object shape image indicating a shape of an anti-counterfeit medium observed at an observation angle, and display image data that is an image of an imaging object of an image-capturing device, the anti-counterfeit medium being designed such that an observed pattern of light varies as the observation angle varies; a shape similarity calculator configured to calculate a shape similarity between the observation object shape image and an outer shape of the anti-counterfeit medium; and an imaging determinator configured to perform imaging determination as to whether the observation angle and an observation position of the image-capturing device are correct based on whether the shape similarity is equal to or greater than a shape similarity threshold.

A valuable medium handling apparatus configured to handle a plurality of types of valuable media. The valuable medium handling apparatus includes an inlet configured to deposit the plurality of types of valuable media, a setting unit configured to set the types of the valuable media being handled by the apparatus as a first type or a second type, a determination unit configured to determine whether a type of each of the valuable media deposited in the inlet is the first type or the second type based on the setting result of the setting unit and determine whether the valuable medium determined as the first type is a genuine medium or a counterfeit medium, and a plurality of stackers configured to stack the valuable medium of the type determined by the determination unit, the plurality of stackers including a first stacker and a second stacker.

A method for verifying a security document by means of a reading device wherein first transmission and/or reflection properties of a first region of the security document are detected in a first spectral range by the reading device and a first data set specifying these properties is generated therefrom, wherein the first region at least in some regions overlaps an optical security element arranged on the security document or embedded in the security document and wherein second transmission and/or reflection properties of the first region of the security document are detected in a second spectral range by the reading device and a second data set specifying these properties is generated therefrom, wherein the first spectral range differs from the second spectral range, and wherein, the authenticity of the security document and/or of the security element is checked on the basis of at least the first data set and the second data set.

A security element for securities or security papers has at least one first region having first structures, which first structures reflect a first piece of information into different spatial regions, so that a movement image is created for a viewer with corresponding movement of a light source and/or a change in the viewing angle. When the light source and/or when the viewing angle is changed, a movement of the first piece of information is simultaneously created. The security element is thereby formed with at least one second region having second structures, which second structures reproduce a static and/or viewing angle-independent second piece of information. In addition, a process manufactures a security element.