Financial
Identify Fraud by Computer
By:
Special Agent Sandra J. Putnam, CFE
Financial
Identity Fraud happens everyday to thousands of victims.
This case is a prime example of how a “computer literate”
suspect can take it to the cyberspace level of criminal
activity. This case shows how the computer and the Internet
can be utilized in an Identity Fraud case.
In October 2000, the GBI Financial Investigations Unit started
an investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
on an alleged Identity fraud and theft case involving stolen
American Express credit cards.
An individual was using Corporate Officer’s American
Express card numbers that he obtained from his course of
business to open an Internet account with America On-Line
and proceeded to order “high-dollar” video projector
equipment and laptops via the Internet. This case came to
the attention of the FBI when some of the American Express
card victims started receiving their monthly statements
with purchases in excess of $5,000.00. This individual also
made a telephone order of over $17,000.00 worth of video
projectors using a stolen American Express card. The individual
provided the company another e-mail address through Excite
and provided a contact phone number.
The American On-Line e-mail account information came back
to a subject using an address in the Decatur, Georgia area.
Intelligence and phone information gathered by the GBI verified
the subject residing in an apartment in Decatur, Georgia.
On October 17, 2000, Assistant Attorney General Cassandra
Schansman and Special Agent Sandra J. Putnam drafted and
executed a search warrant at the residence. Several computers
were seized and various credit cards were found around the
apartment, as well as paperwork with hand written personal
identity information on individuals and credit card numbers
and expiration dates. A few days later, AAG Schansman and
S/A Putnam secured an arrest warrant for the individual
for Identity Fraud.
Further investigation revealed that the individual was using
EBAY Internet Auction site to auction off the projectors
and other computer equipment purchased with stolen credit
cards. The GBI and FBI have traced the auction sales from
Georgia to Arizona and Colorado. Additional victims have
been identified throughout the United States by purchasing
this equipment through EBAY.
The GBI Forensic Computer Specialist Vicki Adams examined
the computers taken from the residence. FCS Adams found
numerous documents of evidence involving stolen credit cards,
Internet orders for clothes, computers, equipment and video
projectors. FCS Adams also found e-mails from the suspect
to victims who won the “auctions” through EBAY
for the video projectors and various laptop computers. The
computers also housed evidence of the purchase of airline
tickets via the Internet through AirTran airlines.
This case is a perfect example of the crime being committed
through the use of a computer. Law Enforcement needs to
get ready because this will be the “tool” that
is used in the future by criminals.
