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Combating Bank Fraud in Arizona: A Team Approach

NCJ Number
152738
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 63 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1994) Pages: 8-12
Author(s)
H D Sukenic; J G Blake
Date Published
1994
Length
5 pages
Annotation
In Arizona, several agencies have joined forces through the Bank Fraud Task Force (BFTF) to crack down on financial institution fraud.
Abstract
According to statistics prepared by the Arizona Banker's Association, State financial institutions lost approximately $11.5 million in 1991 to internal and external fraud. During the same period, losses due to armed robberies amounted to only about $1 million. Bank fraud at the most basic level involves the passing of bad checks. At a more sophisticated level, bank fraud includes embezzlement, commercial bribery, and counterfeiting. Counterfeiting is accomplished using personal computers, laser printers, advanced system copies, and scanners. Arizona's BFTF represents a multijurisdictional group of investigators and prosecutors who primarily addresses the problem of bank fraud in Maricopa County. The task force promotes communication and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and financial institutions. The BFTF has a financial analyst permanently assigned who alerts law enforcement agencies to suspected criminal activity involving federally insured institutions. Task force data are published in a monthly report and distributed to members of the Arizona Banker's Association and to police investigators and prosecutors. Since its inception, the BFTF has investigated cases ranging from bad checks to counterfeiting of corporate and cashier's checks. 5 endnotes, 1 table, and 3 photographs