Investigating

If the victim hasn’t already done so, encourage the victim to cancel fraudulent or compromised accounts immediately. This will minimize the damage that can be done and will ultimately make your investigation easier to manage.

Contact financial institutions or merchant security departments and ask for documentation on all fraudulent or suspect accounts. (The victim will have to give prior authorization before you can obtain access. But in the chaos, the victim might forget. Remind him/her.)

Get copies of fraud applications, sales drafts with forged signatures, and any identification presented by the suspect. (Victim authorization required.)

When determining the identity of the perpetrator:

- Ask the victim if the perpetrator could be a family member or acquaintance.

- Track down the address for deliveries if the identity theft happened via mail order, phone, or an Internet purchase. Local postal inspectors may also have information on addresses and post office boxes.

- Many places have surveillance cameras. If this is the case for this crime, acquire the photos and/or surveillance equipment.

- Obtain a physical description from merchants.

- Victim Profiles (i.e., several victims attend the same conference?)

- Handwriting comparisons are very helpful in prosecutions of this kind of crime. Acquire and log all such evidence.

- Controlled delivery

- If the crime involved online activity, Internet Protocol addresses (IP addresses) can be “pulled” out and used to track the perpetrator down. This information can also be used as evidence in prosecution.

Creating a strong case that will stand up in court is the happy ending everyone hopes for… well, except the thief. Careful attention to detail will help build a strong and successful case against the perpetrators of this crime.

Organize the investigation prior to filing criminal charges.

Ask about important details, especially timelines and chronology from victim.

Document all phone calls conducted during the investigation.

Present documents and evidence to the prosecutor in logical order.

Always prepare the documents in a format that is admissible in court.