What kind of document can be manipulated to falsely represent a bearer’s identity?

The question revolves around the manipulation of documents to misrepresent an individual's identity. The correct answer highlights altered documents as the ones that can be specifically manipulated.

An altered document is one that has been modified in some way from its original form, whether through the addition, removal, or modification of information. This manipulation can include changes to photographs, names, dates, or any other identifying information, enabling someone to falsely represent themselves as another person.

On the other hand, original documents, whether government-issued or official, are those that have not been tampered with and accurately reflect the information of the individual to whom they belong. Even though government-issued and official documents are critical for identity verification, they cannot be considered forms of manipulation themselves. These documents maintain their integrity and authenticity unless they are subjected to alteration, at which point they no longer remain original.

In the context of identity fraud, altered documents are central to the issue because they represent fraudulent behavior aimed at deceiving others about the identity of the bearer. Thus, focusing on the specific nature of alteration clarifies why this option is the correct answer.