Document Crimes
The Document and Financial Crimes Unit is composed of ten
sworn detectives, one civilian police investigator, and a
sergeant. They are charged with the investigation of most of the
crimes listed below. The following information is intended to
better inform you of the types of financial crime, how to avoid
becoming a victim, and how best to respond if any of these
things should happen to you.
Counterfeit
Currency
One used to have to engage the services of an accomplished
engraver and a typesetter to produce anything that would closely
approximate US Currency. Today, with the advent of the home
computer, scanner, and high-resolution printers, virtually any
criminal can print counterfeit bills. It is currently the policy
of this Department to investigate all counterfeit currency cases
that occur with in the City of Mesa. When In-Custody arrests are
not made, the case is forwarded to the United States Secret
Service for follow up.
In those cases where there is no information that would lead
to the identity of the passer, the accepting merchant may call
the Secret Service directly.
Prevention:
Most counterfeit bills are a poor reflection on their maker.
They are either too thin or too fat; too green or not green
enough; the ink may be ill defined or run together. Look for
irregularities in the bill and for well-defined micro printing.
Hold new bills up to the light and look for the watermark image
and security thread that states the bill's denomination.
Forged Checks
When a thief steals your blank checks he often completes them
himself, signs your name or one of the account holder's names
listed on the check to the signature line, and then presents
them for payment to every merchant or financial institution who
will accept them. Just as often, the thief will trade your
checks with another criminal or solicit a third party to cash
the checks for him.
Prevention: Destroy all checks when you
close an account, throw nothing away. Keep your checks in a
secure location. Be mindful of the friend of a friend left
unattended in your home and the family member struggling with
addiction. Review your statement monthly to ensure you catch
unauthorized checks in 60 days or less. Close any compromised
account immediately and open a new pass-worded account.
Counterfeit Checks
Often times a criminal will steal only the account number
listed at the bottom of your check. He will then make a computer
generated check that bears his name, the identity of a third
party whose name he has stolen, or a fictitious name for which
he generates an ID. When this check is passed, someone else's
face is presented but the funds are withdrawn from your account.
Prevention: There is little you can do to
prevent the counterfeiting of your account. Drop outgoing mail
in a U.S. Post Office mail drop, avoid using the cluster box
drop, and never use the red flag on your mailbox unless you plan
on watching over it until the carrier arrives. Close any
compromised account immediately.
Washed Checks
When a thief steals your mail, he often finds pre-completed
outgoing checks. He may take these checks, dip them in a
chemical solution, and then make them payable to the business of
his choice. Use a gel pen when writing checks as this type of
ink has been proven to resist chemical washing. Often the checks
are used the same day they are stolen. Follow the same
prevention tips found under counterfeit checks.
Insufficient Funds Checks
Checks that are written on a closed account, or have
insufficient funds, and are less than $2000, are referred to the
Maricopa County Check Enforcement Program to be handled civilly.
http://www.maricopacountyattorney.org/Community_Programs/check_enforcement/
Credit Card Fraud
Lost or stolen credit cards are used until the credit card
issuer suspends the card for unusual activity or until the
account holder discovers they are missing and cancels them.
Losses can be dramatic to the issuer, but are generally limited
to $0 - $50 for the account holder who responsibly advises the
credit card company of theft or loss immediately. Information on
protecting your credit cards can be found at
www.ftc.gov.
Credit card applications and checks are often mailed to the
account holder without their knowledge. If these checks or
applications are intercepted in the mail or not forwarded from a
previous address, substantial financial loss can be incurred.
Credit card fraud is particularly insidious when only the
account number is stolen. This can potentially occur anytime
that you use the card. An unscrupulous clerk, waitress, waiter,
phone solicitor, agent or "friend" can quickly jot the number
down, skim the information, or imprint a second receipt and then
save or sell the number for later use. These numbers are then
used over the phone, the Internet, or with well-meaning, but
unthinking, merchant employees.
When your card is used without your permission, the card
issuer is generally out the money. The merchant or Internet site
that accepts a number, without presentation of the card, suffers
the loss.
Prevention: Guard your credit cards. Be
particular where you use them and don't let them out of your
sight when making a purchase. Monitor your account at least
monthly. Cancel lost or mislaid cards immediately. Do not give
them to a third party for use on your behalf. This could be
construed as an extension of credit on your part and any charges
over the agreed upon use could become civil and your
responsibility.
Identity Theft
Identity theft occurs "..if the person knowingly takes or
uses any personal identifying information of another person,
without the consent of that other person, with the intent to
obtain or use the other person's identity for any unlawful
purpose or to cause loss to a person." ARS 13-2008.A (class 4
felony). For information on how to protect yourself against
identity theft, check out our
Crime Prevention Literature page,
which has several brochures on Identity Theft and many other
topics.
Citations/Arrest
Occurs when a subject, most often known to the victim, uses
the victim's personal information to avoid arrest, or as his own
information when an arrest occurs. This often results in an
arrest record or a warrant in the victim's name. This situation
is usually cleared up during an identity hearing, requested by
the victim, in the court where the charge was heard or the
warrant issued.
Credit
Occurs when a subject uses the victim's information by phone
or in person to obtain credit with merchants, most often for
consumer goods, Internet porn sites or gambling. In some cases
car loans, computers, mortgages and even bankruptcies are done
using the victim's information.
Medical
Occurs when a subject uses the victim's information to obtain
medical services, usually for in-patient procedures. The
victim's social security number is most often compromised in
this situation. Given the intimate knowledge a hospital gains
from most procedures, this individual is usually caught. However
the victim generally does not learn about the crime until a
credit report is done or until they apply for services with the
same care providers themselves.
Phones/Utilities
This most often occurs when a subject uses the victim's
Social Security Number over the phone to activate cellular
service on a mobile phone. The phone generally is active for 30
to 45 days until the bill goes unpaid or the victim receives it.
The service provider generally absorbs the loss.
Prevention: Do not share your information
with anyone over the phone when you don't know who he or she is
and you did not personally initiate the call. Don't give out
your Social Security Number to anyone but those who have a
direct need for it (i.e. your employer, accountant, tax
preparer, etc.). Your local merchant or libraries do not
need your Social Security Number, even though it is a convenient
way for them to track your information. Have your Social
Security Number removed from your driver's license, health
insurance cards and any other cards you may carry.
Check your credit history at least annually. Check all
statements monthly. Be cautious with outgoing and incoming mail
delivery. File change of address notices promptly with the
merchants you do business with and with your local post office.
Internet Crimes
A great deal of business is conducted over the Internet.
Thieves have learned to use the Internet to their advantage as
well. Common practices include the use of your credit card
number to order merchandise and services. Using your card to pay
for Internet Provider services, access to porn sites and online
gambling seem to be favorites. Other illegal activities include
offering items for auction or for sale, accepting payment, and
then failing to provide the promised merchandise, often over
long distances.
In cases where the U.S. Mail is used to forward payment and
receive products, the U.S. Postal Inspectors may be contacted to
report a loss resulting from criminal activity.
www.usps.com
In cases where the loss is incurred over the Internet, but
where mail is not employed, an electronic complaint can be filed
with the FBI at
www.ic3.gov.
The Mesa Police Department does not presently investigate
these crimes locally.
Mail Theft
Phoenix and vicinity has been identified by the U.S. Post
Office as being a hot spot in the nation for mail theft. Thieves
look for mailboxes in residential areas that conveniently
announce that they contain outgoing mail with a bright red flag.
Cluster boxes are a favorite for both incoming and outgoing
mail. This mail generally contains outgoing bills, tax returns,
credit applications, etc.
Mail theft and lost or stolen wallets and purses are
increasingly the primary sources of stolen financial and
identifying information used to attack and access your credit
and accounts.
www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnfall97/wallet.html