A method for issuing a credential includes scanning in documents (e.g., breeder or ID documents) used to verify the applicant of the credential and creating
data records including the image of the documents. As a means to reduce fraud, these
data records are linked to the credential and to the issuer location, operator and time and place of issuance. If the document includes
machine readable information, the method automatically reads the
machine readable information from the document and uses at least part of the
machine readable information from the document to pre-populate a form used to create a credential, such as an identification document. The method includes applying a transformation to the image of the document that enables protection against fraudulent use. The transformation secures the image of the document from tampering and / or enables tracking of the use of the document image to deter fraud. A method of verifying a credential comprises reading a
physical security feature attribute on the credential, reading a logical attribute on the credential, and comparing information from the
physical security feature with the logical storage element on the credential to verify the credential.