The FBI's forensics examiners have noticed the uptick in fingerprint mutilations over the last few years, although advancements in forensics technology have made the efforts fruitless, as even severely damaged fingers provide investigators with clues.

Mutilation techniques range from people chewing on their fingers, using a knife, or burning themselves with acid or cigarettes, to removal through surgery if the subject can afford it. A surgeon in Massachusetts was recently charged in a conspiracy to aid illegal aliens in avoiding detection by surgically removing their fingerprints for $4,500.

Despite the increase, fingerprint mutilations are still fairly rare. They also don’t pose a real problem as it is easy to tell when a finger has been altered.

Source: CNN