Identity Theft – Access Device Fraud

The FBI reports that most crimes have declined in recent years. However, one of the few crimes on the rise has been Identity Theft. Often, this crime is committed in conjunction with Access Device Fraud. As the Internet has grown in popularity, and more and more personal information is available in cyberspace, stealing credit account information and other identity has become easier for con-artists. Once they’ve stolen the information they need from a credit account holder, these criminals often run up thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges in just hours or days. The account holder is sometimes unaware of these charges until his/her next monthly billing. By then the perpetrator may be long gone, out of the area or even the state. The identity of the perpetrator is often unknown.

Now the victim credit account owner’s headaches begin. At first you may wonder if there is some mistake. After several minutes (if you are lucky), you make contact with a customer service representative from the credit company and you are transferred to the fraud department. Now you provide all the information they request, including cancellation of the account. Then there will be a notarized statement to be furnished to the fraud department. You must convince the credit company that you did not make the fraudulent purchases, nor did you authorize anyone else to. If you want to continue using the same credit company, you must apply for a new account. You may have to deal with a credit bureau to restore you credit rating.

And, of course, you will be directed to report the theft to the local police department. The police will probably request another written or notarized statement. If there are no solid leads or evidence to identify the perpetrator, the police will probably not devote a lot of time or resources to the case. In the whole scheme of things, these kinds of cases are usually considered “low priority”. The police are often too busy responding to more urgent matters, so they might not have the manpower resources necessary to thoroughly investigate your case. These crimes require interviews of defrauded merchants and employees at each location where the fraudulent charges took place. Often, these locations are outside of the jurisdiction of the police department handling the case. They may have to call for assistance from other police department in other municipalities, even other states. Search warrants may be required to obtain sales receipts that document the fraudulent charges and often bear forged signatures that are needed for submission to documents examiners.

If the police have given up, or have been to busy to pursue the leads, we can help. We can devote the time and resources necessary to identify and locate the person(s) responsible. Once we’ve put together a case, the police are usually most willing to proceed with filing charges. When the perpetrator is convicted, compensation may be awarded to our client for PI expenses.

The United States Secret Service is the federal agency designated as having primary jurisdiction in these kinds of crimes. But, if you report the matter to that agency, don’t hold your breath waiting for an agent to knock on your door or to resolve your case. Not unless your losses exceed $20,000 - $50,000. The agency is too busy with their main duty of providing security, particularly since the Attack on America. They might not work your case, but the agency does provide some valuable information about Access Device Fraud and other fraudulent crimes. You can learn more by visiting their web site at www.secretservice.gov. Then follow the links for “Investigations” then “Financial Crimes”.