IDENTITY THEFT & SCAMS
Detective J. Blackwell CFE Montgomery County Sheriff s Office Criminal Investigations Division 936-788-8366 936-538-8102 James.Blackwell@mctx.org
IDENTITY THEFT TARGETS INDIVIDUALS BUSINESSES GOVERNMENT
IDENTITY THEFT OBJECTIVES FOR INDIVIDUAL TARGETS WHAT ARE THEY AFTER? Name Date of Birth Credit / Debit Card Number CVC number Social Security Number Email Addresses / passwords Driver s License Number Address Phone Number Employer information
IDENTITY THEFT OBJECTIVES FOR INDIVIDUAL TARGETS WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH IT? FINANCIAL - Accounts, loans, credit cards CONCEALMENT - Illegal aliens, criminals IDENTITY CLONING - Account takeover, establish new life COMMERCIAL - Theft from business
COLLECTION METHODOLOGY OBJECTIVES FOR INDIVIDUAL TARGETS HOW ARE THEY GOING TO ACQUIRE IT? Burglary / thefts (wallets, purses, phones, laptops) Inside conspirator stealing, bribing Mail theft Dumpster diving Database searches Social Engineering Scams Phishing ads, telemarketing Skimming / RFID Hacking Malware, Botnets
COLLECTION METHODOLOGY SKIMMING
COLLECTION METHODOLOGY RFID
PASSING METHODOLGY Counterfeit checks Retail merchandise Online merchandise drop box or ghost address Sales of acquired property online & street Western Union Gift Cards, Closed loop cards Account takeover Phone services and Utility theft Impersonation Education Medical Treatment File False Tax Returns
IDENTITY THEFT ENTERPRISES Geography & Sophistication Street Criminals (local, low level) Organized Street Criminals (local/regional, mid-level) Organized Professional Criminals (Multijuridictional, high level) Collectors (Specialists, Hackers, Skimmers) Converters (Brokers) Passers (Users)
IDENTITY THEFT ENTERPRISES Local Level Small Cell Structure Inexperienced Amateur SPIDER Prior Criminal Exposure CASPER
IDENTITY THEFT ENTERPRISES Local Level Spider counterfeit check maker
IDENTITY THEFT ENTERPRISES Local Level Casper counterfeit check maker Cluster mail boxes
IDENTITY THEFT ENTERPRISES Organized Street Criminals (mid-level) Maricopa Co, Az Check Forgery ring Heirarchial structure Collectors Cashers Meth connection Aryan Brotherhood 28 People charged 15 cases closed
IDENTITY THEFT ENTERPRISES Organized Street Criminals (mid-level)
IDENTITY THEFT ENTERPRISES Organized Street Criminals (mid-level) Felony Lane Regional Multiracial, nomadic, loose organization Collectors Vehicle Burglars Converters Make counterfeit checks
IDENTITY THEFT ENTERPRISES Organized Street Criminals (mid-level) Passers Use drive through Outside Lane Exact same van 4 min apart Cash Counterfeit checks
IDENTITY THEFT ENTERPRISES Organized Professional Criminals Actors are International and/or Interstate Organized and sophisticated criminal organizations Collectors (Specialists, Hackers, Skimmers) Steal millions of items of information Sell the items to specific groups or individuals Converters (Information Brokers) Passers No one steals your money to save it. Fraud IDs are used to commit crimes to obtain money, services, and/or property Cash property flipped to obtain $$
IDENTITY THEFT ENTERPRISES Organized Professional Criminals Montgomery Co resident s account number used to pay resident in Ohio Ohio resident responded to internet advertisement. He set up account to be a US Clearing house to avoid taxes. Collected a 10% fee Ottobuck thought it was going to UK but Russian IP address
COLLECTION METHODOLOGY OBJECTIVES FOR INDIVIDUAL TARGETS HOW ARE THEY GOING TO ACQUIRE IT? Burglary / thefts Inside conspirator Mail theft Dumpster diving Database searches Social Engineering Scams Phishing Skimming / RFID Hacking Malware, Botnets
SCAMS Rule # 1 Protect Yourself
SCAMS The Artist well versed, experienced, intelligent, suave, smooth, professional, personable, convincing The Documents, emails, ads, sites May be very professional, indistinguishable May be laughable Lack of Proper Verbiage/syntax ignorance!
SCAMS 419-Nigerian-Advanced Fee CVC Number Lottery Work at Home / Job Offers secret shopper Jail / bail relative in jail now, past behavior we make warrant go away Internet purchases soldier vehicle School Loans Fraudulent tax returns Online relationship
SCAMS The 419, Nigerian, Advanced Fee Scam
SCAMS The 419, Nigerian, Advanced Fee Scam The email or letter asking for help Keep part of the money for assistance Provide me with your information Sending you a check, deposit it. Call me as soon as you deposit it! 3 to 5 day threshold Need money back soon or forward to another associate Western Union, Money Gram, Green Dot Card Processing fee, taxes, bribes, legal processing fees
SCAMS The 419, Nigerian, Advanced Fee Scam
SCAMS cvc - Card Validation Code Number Caller from Fraud Dept of Mastercard/Visa Unusual activity on your card did you spend $ on X? We ll send you new card, gives you your card number, confirms the number is right Well start investigation, gives you number I need to verify you possess your card, read me the 3 digit number on back. MASTERCARD card validation code ("CVC2") VISA card verification value ("CVV2") DISCOVER card identification number ("CID") AMERICAN EXPRESS "CID" or "unique card code" DEBIT CARD "CSC" or "card security code" Ok everything seems to be in order
SCAMS Lottery Primary Target - elderly Notified you have won a lottery. Phone, Email and / or mail Receipt of Official notice, documents and certificates Phone calls - 876 area code - Jamaica You never entered the lottery Arrange for transfer of your winnings Request for information
SCAMS Lottery Processing Office fee Banker s fee Lawyer s fee Local & National Taxes Law Enforcement Transit fees Burser s certification charge Rental of secure storage Security guard charges Shipping FBI - backing out warrants a call from the FBI assigned to the transfer.
SCAMS Work At Home / Secret Shopper Work on behalf of a variety of retailers and manufacturers of consumer products who are interested in knowing more about how products are displayed and marketed in stores and how customers are treated in such establishments Advance packet List of consumables you buy with the enclosed check. Fill out the questionnaire send back to us. Please return any unused funds to our corporate office, via Western Union, Money Gram, or Green Dot. Must be completed within TWO days check deposit
SCAMS JAIL / BAIL Official from The Embassy in Mexico notifies you a relative has run afoul of the law while in country.
SCAMS JAIL / BAIL Official requests you send bail money. Provides location for you wire money Variations Passport office, Hospital Inability to speak with loved one Actor will have name of relative, may have social engineered their location via Facebook posts ect.
SCAMS Internet Purchases Deployed Soldier must sell vehicle or other big item, before being shipped out. Send money now Expedite by wire transfer, Western Union Promises to send item, inspect before you pay full price Need to pay freight forwarding shipping Large items especially effective.
Sends you VIN # of vehicle Picture Your vehicle SCAMS Internet Purchases
SCAMS School Loans Account is debited for tuition Money wired from your bank to School Contact school FERPA rules prohibit release of information Student drops out and has unused monies returned to beneficiary at new account number.
SCAMS Fraudulent Tax Returns Discover only after you file taxes Another person used your SS# IRS not forthcoming with information File Fraud case with IRS Notify the Social Security Administration
SCAMS Online Relationship Meet someone online Form relationship (longer/closer the better) Request to go off the dating site to talk or email Request for small gifts
Request for Money Personal Crisis SCAMS Online Relationship A sick relative in the hospital Medical expenses Burial expenses Tuition Money for computer use Travel expense (redeemable) to visit you Social Engineer You Gather your personal information Gather your financial information
SCAMS Online Relationship Requests for racy photographs future extortion Scammers use attractive pictures not their own
WHEN YOU BECOME A VICTIM RULE #1 Protect Yourself Contact Financial Institutions Contact Credit Bureaus Credit Report, Fraud Alert, Freeze Police Report Start A File keep records Report to FTC 1-877-438-4338
WHEN YOU BECOME A VICTIM CREDIT BUREAUS Equifax 1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com Experian 1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com TransUnion 1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com
WHEN YOU BECOME A VICTIM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Change or Close Accounts Change or Close Debit / Credit Cards Fraud or Forgery Affidavit Transaction Records from Account(s) Check copies (front & back) or Originals Video preservation
WHEN YOU BECOME A VICTIM POLICE REPORT Have information at hand transaction records, affidavits, information gathered Have You suffered a loss or has Card Co. Do you retain your checks / credit card Crimes committed Out of County forward to other jurisdictions no Hawaii trips Info preservation case load determines when case gets worked Remember your case number!
WHAT TO DO MINIMIZE RISK Check / Reconcile Your Accounts Frequently Immediately Address Anomalies Protect your vehicle,computer, phone, home and mail use, locks encryption, passwords, firewalls, antivirus software Secure and guard your personal information do not advertise yourself Regular review of your Credit Report Review bills and notices but be alert for impersonators Independently verify BEFORE you give out information. Find contact number and call back. Make sure they are who they say they are.
WHAT TO DO MINIMIZE RISK Inventory your accounts, cards, assets, vulnerabilities (physically separate and secure). Limit what you broadcast on social media Change passwords frequently strong alphanumeric Shred documents HTTPS sites for online shopping Consider getting a loadable card just for purchasing Protect children and elderly
WHAT NOT TO DO Aid the criminal - legitimate companies advertise but they Do Not solicit your personal information via Text, Phone or Email messages. Time sensitive offers are THE RED FLAG here! Do not respond to spam offers Do not click on links in emails Do not carry your social security number Do not carry your PIN number Do not have SS# or DL # printed on checks Do not receive bills / make payments from your home mailbox Do not use same password for everything
Identity Theft Laws Texas Penal Code, Sec. 32.51 Fair Credit Reporting Act Social Security Number Protection Act Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act Identity Theft Improvement Act Fair Credit Billing Act
Useful Links www.ftc.gov www.annualcreditreport.com www.oag.state.tx.us www.idtheftcenter.org www.secretservice.gov https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov
Detective J. Blackwell CFE Montgomery County Sheriff s Office Criminal Investigations Division 936-788-8366 936-538-8102 James.Blackwell@mctx.org