NCJ Number
62599
Journal
Security Management Volume: 23 Issue: 10 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 12-13,15-16
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
CHANGES IN THE FOCUS OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (FBI) ON BANK ROBBERS, FUGITIVES, GANGSTERS, AND KIDNAPPERS TO INVESTIGATIONS TARGETED AGAINST WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES ARE NOTED.
Abstract
OVER ONE-THIRD OF THE FBI'S SPECIAL AGENTS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO INVESTIGATIONS OF ORGANIZED AND WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES, INCLUDING PUBLIC CORRUPTION, ORGANIZED CRIME, AND FOREIGN COUNTERINTELLIGENCE. ACCORDING TO U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ESTIMATES, WHITE-COLLAR CRIMES COST THE COUNTRY ABOUT $40 BILLION ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION, SKILLS IN COMMITTING SOPHISTICATED EMBEZZLEMENTS AND COMPUTER FRAUD ARE HIGH, AND THE DETECTION POTENTIAL IS LOW. THEREFORE, THE FBI ACADEMY IS USING A COMPUTER TO TRAIN SPECIAL AGENTS, AS WELL AS LOCAL AND STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, IN UNDERSTANDING HOW COMPUTER FRAUD IS COMMITTED. OTHER IMPORTANT FBI ACTIVITIES CONCERN INDUSTRIAL SECURITY, INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY SECURITY, AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE WORK (TECHNOLOGICAL, POLITICAL, AND SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE AND ECONOMIC, SOCIOLOGIC, AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION). MANY TYPES OF ESPIONAGE ARE ACTIVELY INVESTIGATED AS CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, ALTHOUGH THE FBI IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED IN ITS OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY PERSONS INVOLVED IN INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE. JURISDICTION OF THE FBI IN THE AREA OF PROPERTY CRIME IS RESTRICTED TO THEFTS FROM INTERSTATE SHIPMENTS, INTERSTATE TRANSPORT OF STOLEN PROPERTY WITH A VALUE OF $5,000 OR MORE, AND INTERSTATE TRANSPORT OF STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLES. ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE FBI WORKS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO CONCENTRATE PRIMARILY ON FENCING OPERATIONS AND THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY ARE REFERRED TO AS STING OPERATIONS. BUSINESSES CAN REDUCE CRIME BY ANALYZING THEIR VULNERABILITY AND MINIMIZING THEFT VIA CHANGES IN PROCEDURES AND MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY. (DEP)