How to spot signs a salary slip or bank statement was edited

To detect an edited PDF, look for clues in three places: the file's metadata, the text on the page, and the numbers. A salary slip saved by an editing app weeks after it was issued, a figure in a slightly different font, or totals that do not add up are all reasons to look closer. None of these proves fraud on its own, so the final check is always to confirm with whoever issued the document.

Why people check documents

Landlords, small employers, lenders and anyone selling something on credit may be handed a salary slip, a bank statement or a utility bill as proof. Editing software is easy to get, so a changed number is a real possibility. Equally, most documents are genuine, and plenty of genuine files show odd signs simply because they were re-saved or merged. The aim is to know when to ask more questions, not to accuse anyone.

What can you check to detect an edited PDF?

Work through three areas in order. Each one takes only a few minutes.

1. The metadata

PDF metadata is hidden information inside the file, such as which app created it and when. Open the document properties in any PDF app and look at:

• Creator and producer. A bank statement made by a bank's system usually names that system or a reporting tool. A general editing app here means someone opened and saved the file, which may be innocent but is worth noting.
• Created and modified dates. A modified date long after the creation date shows the file was changed later.
• Author. Sometimes it holds a person's name where you would expect an organization.

Our guide to changing a PDF's title and author shows how easily these fields can be edited, which is exactly why they are clues rather than proof.

2. The text on the page

Zoom in and compare similar items:

• Fonts. Is one number in a slightly different typeface, weight or size from its neighbours?
• Alignment. Do the digits of an edited amount sit a fraction higher, lower or further left than the rest of the column?
• Spacing. Uneven gaps around a name or figure can show where text was replaced.
• Selectable text. Try selecting text. A statement where most text is selectable but one number is an image, or the other way round, deserves a second look.
• Covered areas. White boxes placed over old text sometimes show as faint edges when zoomed in.

3. The numbers

The simplest test is often the strongest. Edits often change one figure and forget the others.

1. Re-add the line items and compare with the stated total.
2. Check that gross minus deductions equals net pay on a salary slip.
3. Check that opening balance plus credits minus debits gives the closing balance on a statement.
4. Check that tax or contributions are roughly consistent from month to month.
5. Compare dates: do they fall on sensible working days, and do periods line up?

What these signs do not tell you

Be fair in how you read the results.

• Genuine files can look edited. Merging, compressing, signing or printing to PDF all change the metadata and may change fonts.
• Fakes can look clean. A document typed from scratch in a template will not show "edited" signs at all, because nothing was changed after it was made.
• Scans hide everything. A photo or scan of a printout has no useful text layer or fonts to compare. You can still check the arithmetic, but little else.

No app can tell you a document is authentic. Treat every finding as a reason to ask, never as a verdict.

How to verify a document properly

The reliable way to confirm a document is to go to the source:

• Ask for it directly from the issuer. Many banks let customers download statements, and some employers will confirm salary by email or letter.
• Ask the person to share it live. For example, logging into their banking app with you present.
• Contact the organization using details you found yourself, not the phone number printed on the document.
• Ask for the original file instead of a scan, which gives you more to check.

Keep it private while you check

Salary slips and statements are full of personal data. Avoid uploading them to unknown websites to "check" them. Our guide on whether online PDF tools are safe for private documents explains the risks. If you need to keep a copy, consider protecting it with a password. See how to password protect a PDF.

Checking documents with PDF Burrow

PDF Burrow has a Check Document tool that spots signs of editing in a salary slip, bill or bank statement, and re-adds its totals so you can see whether they match. It runs on your phone, so the document is not uploaded. Its findings are signs to look into, not a verdict on whether a document is genuine.

Frequently asked questions

Can you tell if a PDF has been edited just from the modified date?

The modified date shows the file was saved again, not what changed or why. Many harmless actions, like compressing or signing, update it.

Does a PDF made by an editing app mean it is fake?

No. People often open genuine documents in an editor to rotate, merge or sign them. It is a reason to check the content more carefully.

What is the most reliable sign of tampering?

Numbers that do not add up are hard to explain innocently. Even then, confirm with the issuer before drawing a conclusion.

Can I check a scanned bank statement?

You can re-add the totals and look for visual oddities, but a scan carries far fewer clues than the original PDF. Ask for the digital original when it matters.