NCJ Number
158681
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 22 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1995) Pages: 76,78,80-81
Date Published
1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Police officers need to recognize not only the benefits of technology for their work but also the main types of crimes involving technology, including credit card fraud, fraud on the Internet, vehicle airbag theft, and cellular telephone fraud.
Abstract
Counterfeiting credit cards is a common method of fraud; the magnetic strips on the backs of cards are also being counterfeited. One countermeasure in limited use is the introduction of a smart card containing a small memory chip. Criminals use the Internet to obtain credit card numbers and other data; one bill-paying service is trying to create a method whereby credit card users could encrypt their account information into a file that could be read only by the issuing bank. Auto burglars can remove airbag modules from parked cars in less than a minute; manufacturers are working on making the modules more theft proof. Cellular telephones are being illegally exploited through the cloning of cellular phones. Service providers are countering these problems by requiring a personal identification number for each call and through the use of digital technology. Photograph