AN APPARATUS FOR DETECTING FAKE FINGERPRINTS

An apparatus for detecting false fingerprints, comprising: - an optical element (12) having a detection surface (14) on which at least one body (F) is intended to be positioned, of which cutaneous imprints are intended to be detected, - an anti-fake illuminator (16) configured to generate at least one bright zone (BZ) and at least one dark zone (DZ) on said detection surface (14), - an optical sensor (20) arranged to capture light radiation reflected/diffused by said detection surface (14), wherein at least one bright zone (BZ') and at least one dark zone (DZ') are detectable on the optical sensor (20) corresponding to said at least one bright zone (BZ) and to said at least one dark zone (DZ) of said detection surface (14), and - a processing unit (22) that receives signals coming from said optical sensor (20) and arranged to compare the average light intensity in said at least one bright zone (BZ') and in said at least one dark zone (DZ') of the optical sensor (20) with respective predetermined reference ranges (L1, L2), and to recognize true cutaneous imprints when the average light intensity in said at least one bright zone (BZ') and the average light intensity in said at least one dark zone (DZ') of the optical sensor (20) are contained within respective predetermined reference ranges (L1, L2).