NCJ Number
140908
Journal
Topics in Crime Prevention Dated: (1992) Pages: 12-15
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Fraud prevention involves raising public awareness of both classic and new con games, educating the public, giving professionals and private citizens resources for reporting fraud and seeking help, and convincing fraud victims to report the crime.
Abstract
According to various estimates, persons 65 years of age and older constitute up to 30 percent of all fraud victims. Nonetheless, fraud prevention efforts must focus on all age groups. Police officers must be aware of the complexities of con games so that their reports will facilitate fraud investigations and prosecutions. Crime prevention courses for police officers should include high technology fraud that depends on telephone lines and computers. The general public needs to realize the importance of reporting fraud, and the media can play a key role in fraud prevention. Specific crime prevention ideas are listed, along with suggestions for businesses on how to fight credit card fraud.