Okay, so you’re 18 or 19 and in college, and are stressed because you have to be 21 in order to gain entry to a night club or bar where you’d like to drink up a storm and mingle with a “more mature” crowd. Or really, you just want to meet someone.

Life sure is tough, isn’t it? You have to wait till you’re 21, but by then…you may be graduated from college (and a lot more mature, and thus, getting plastered would no longer have appeal). What a bummer, dude! The time to have fun is when you’re young and irresponsible!

Many U.S. college kids circumvent this age restriction with the fake ID. And over the years, it’s gotten easier to get the fake ID, thanks to the Internet. In fact, the Internet is replete with sellers of fake IDs to anonymous customers.

An article at businessinsider.com describes how the “subreddit” vendor site even provides threads where visitors could get information on how to use this site, which is encrypted (not surprising).

Nevertheless, college kids can still get fake IDs the old-fashioned way: by asking around. It won’t be long before they have contact information and simple instructions regarding payment and sending the supplier a photo.

Beware of the Consequences of Getting Caught with a Fake ID

• Come on, is it really worth it? Do you know any grad students who go through their days haunted with agony because they never had a fake ID as undergrads?
• Depending on what state you’re residing in if you get busted, you can get put in jail.
• Some states yield only the misdemeanor charge, while other states will get you a felony charge.
• Using an older person’s ID (e.g., Big Sis who looks like you) will not only mean trouble for you, but for Big Sis, too.
• Don’t think for a second that getting caught means a little time facing a crabby judge and then going home like nothing ever happened.
• Sending all your data to a criminal who makes fake IDs can facilitate your own identity stolen. There is no honor among thieves.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to BestIDTheftCompanys.com discussing identity theft prevention.