NCJ Number
212039
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 32 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2005 Pages: 16,18,19,22,24,26
Date Published
October 2005
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article examines resources available on both a Federal and national level, such as the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI, to support local law enforcement agencies in efforts to combat white-collar crime scams.
Abstract
When reporting a scam, most law enforcement agencies do not immediately consider the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, as well as other Federal or national agencies. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service partners with local law enforcement on a variety of task forces and issues, such as identity fraud task forces. Not all law enforcement agencies are aware of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service as a resource to them when confronted with white-collar scams. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has four distinct units that deal with white-collar scams: the Economic Crimes Unit, the Financial Institution Fraud Unit, the Health Care Fraud Unit, and the Asset Forfeiture/Money Laundering Unit. It is crucial that local law enforcement familiarize themselves with the prevention efforts taking place at the Federal and national level and understand there are vast amounts of resources available to them. There is a tremendous opportunity to join forces and potentially detect and apprehend the individual or groups involved in white-collar crimes, frauds, and swindles.