Amicus International Consulting Sheds Light on the Sophisticated World of False Passports—and the Fight to Stop Them
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – In a world increasingly dependent on biometric data and digital borders, fake passports remain a glaring vulnerability in national security systems.
Amicus International Consulting, a global leader in legal identity solutions and investigative intelligence, is releasing a comprehensive report and case study exposé revealing how false identities are created, sustained—and ultimately exposed.
Titled “How Fake Passports Are Exposed: A Global Look at Identity Theft, Espionage, and Covert Operations,” the report explores the dark mechanics behind identity manipulation. It features real-world cases that expose how fake passports are obtained—even from official sources—and how investigators around the world are closing in on identity criminals using next-generation technologies.
The Case of Steven Craig Johnson: A Fugitive’s 30-Year Vanishing Act
Johnson’s decades-long disappearance began in 1994 when he escaped from an Oregon correctional facility. Re-emerging in Texas under the name “William Cox”—a child who had died in 1962—he used a stolen birth certificate and Social Security number to build a new life.
Authorities uncovered the deception only in 2015 after the U.S. Marshals and Diplomatic Security Service applied newly developed forensic tracing techniques.
“This case demonstrates the terrifying ease with which someone can disappear into society using a dead child’s identity,” said a spokesperson from Amicus International. “But it also shows how cross-agency collaboration and technological advancements can pierce through even decades of deception.”
GAO Sting Operation: How Fake IDS fooled the U.S. Government
In a 2023 audit, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) stunned lawmakers by successfully obtaining five out of seven genuine e-passports using counterfeit documents, including forged driver’s licenses and fake Social Security data.
Even more troubling: One application used the identity of a deceased person, which went unnoticed by passport officials.
GAO investigator Gregory Kutz testified before the U.S. Senate, outlining the Department of State’s failure to verify basic identity red flags. His testimony spurred legislative efforts to reform and digitize identity verification, but concerns persist.
“If a government sting can outwit the passport system this easily, imagine what a well-funded criminal network could do,” said legal analyst Charlotte DeLuca at Amicus. “These operations highlight how broken and outdated our current identity systems are.”
When Identity Theft Meets Espionage: The Hawaii Spy Couple
Perhaps the most disturbing example came from Hawaii, where Walter Glenn Primrose and Gwynn Darle Morrison assumed the names of deceased infants and lived under those aliases for decades.
Primrose, posing as “Bobby Fort,” secured a secret-level security clearance while serving in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Their exposure followed the discovery of photographs showing the couple in KGB uniforms, raising fears of foreign espionage. Prosecutors later confirmed the identity theft was initially motivated by financial desperation, but the couple’s infiltration of sensitive government systems shows how identity fraud can become a national security threat.
“We’re not just talking about con artists,” said Amicus. “We’re talking about people infiltrating the core of our government institutions. That’s what makes this dangerous.”
The UK’s “Jackal Run”: Dead Children’s Identities Used by Undercover Police
In Britain, undercover officers for the Metropolitan Police were discovered using the names of deceased children to fabricate new identities. This practice, reportedly spanning over 30 years, involved deep-cover agents infiltrating environmental and anti-racist groups. None of the children’s families were informed.
One officer, who operated under the alias of a boy who died of leukemia in 1968, engaged in a romantic relationship with a civilian activist. The activist later traced the alias back to the deceased child, igniting a national scandal and widespread criticism of the practice.
“This wasn’t a one-time mistake—it was institutional,” said Keith Vaz, former chair of the UK Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee. “We must balance national security with human decency. These were real families, real children.”
Common Red Flags That Expose Fake Passports
Through its research and investigations, Amicus International Consulting has identified key indicators used to detect passport fraud:
- Recently issued Social Security numbers
- Driver’s licenses from different states or with outdated formats
- Aliases linked to deceased children
- Photos altered through digital manipulation
- Inconsistencies between biometric data and submitted documents
Technology is playing a more significant role than ever. Sophisticated AI, document forensics, and biometric authentication tools are helping agencies globally detect anomalies that would have once slipped through unnoticed.
Amicus International: Advocating for Legal Identity Change—Not Fraud
While fraudulent identity remains a global problem, Amicus International emphasizes the legal pathways to starting over. The company’s Second Passport and Legal Identity Change Program helps clients lawfully establish new identities through government-authorized processes, including:
- Citizenship by Investment (CBI)
- Name and gender change services
- Digital footprint erasure consulting
- Tax identification realignment
- Relocation assistance in non-extradition countries
“We do not assist criminals,” said a senior consultant at Amicus. “But we do provide legal solutions to people escaping abuse, surveillance, or political persecution. Everyone deserves the right to privacy and safety—legally.”
Why This Matters in 2025
As data breaches, surveillance capitalism, and government overreach increase globally, so does the market for anonymity. Yet fraud and espionage masquerading as identity reinvention endanger that freedom.
“There’s a difference between someone fleeing domestic violence and someone trying to defraud the government or gain unauthorized access to national secrets,” the Amicus consultant emphasized. “We help the former. We expose the latter.”
Real-World Case Studies
To further demonstrate the issue, Amicus presents several case summaries:
- Steven Craig Johnson: Fugitive escaped prison and lived under a dead child’s identity for over 20 years. Captured using undisclosed tracing tech.
- GAO Sting Operation: U.S. government tricked into issuing five genuine e-passports with fake identities, prompting reform efforts.
- Primrose & Morrison: Identity thieves who lived decades under false names, penetrating the U.S. Coast Guard and raising espionage concerns.
- UK Undercover Scandal: Police used dead children’s identities for covert operations without family knowledge—now under investigation.
Conclusion: A Call for Vigilance and Reform
Amicus International Consulting urges governments, tech providers, and civil societies to collaborate on enhancing identity verification systems without compromising privacy rights.
“Fake passports aren’t just a criminal issue—they’re a geopolitical one,” said the company. “When identities can be bought, stolen, or fabricated, we all become vulnerable.”
Amicus International offers discreet, fully compliant solutions for individuals seeking legal, ethical ways to begin anew, especially those escaping legitimate threats.
About Amicus International Consulting
Amicus International Consulting is a global authority in legal identity transformation, second citizenship acquisition, and privacy protection. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Amicus works with individuals seeking legitimate identity change services, including second passports, relocation, and personal data erasure. The firm prioritizes ethical practices, legality, and discretion.
Media Contact
Amicus International Consulting
📍 Vancouver, BC
🌐 www.amicusint.ca
✉ info@amicusint.ca
📞 AMICUS