• Home
• Divisions
  • Administrative Services
  • Communications
  • Criminal Identification
  • Driver License
  • Fire Marshal
  • Forensic Services
  • Highway Patrol
  • Highway Safety
  • Homeland Security
  • Investigations
  • POST
• Commissioners
• Public Information
• Contact
• Employees

Investigations

• Investigations Home
• Task Forces
• Alcohol Enforcement
• Narcotics
• Special Investigations
• Financial Crimes
• Identity Theft
• Contact Investigations

Financial Crimes

The Financial Crimes Unit conducts criminal investigations involving "White Collar" and other financial crimes. These include money laundering, fraud schemes, mortgage fraud, forgery and theft by deception. The Unit also furnishes specialized services and assistance to local law enforcement, businesses and the citizens of Utah by providing training, investigative support, intelligence and technical support.

How can I best protect my financial documents?

Treat your checks, bank statements and credit cards as if they were cash. Shred old statements, cancelled checks and credit card receipts. Be careful not to throw away anything with your account number on it. Check your bank and credit card statements closely to see if there are any charges you don’t recognize.

I had my wallet/purse stolen and I am a victim of identify theft. What should I do now?

Find out everything you can about the crime that occurred against you. Report it to your local police department. Cancel any accounts that the suspects may have access to. Notify your bank of the loss of your personal information. Contact the three major credit bureaus as well as the Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse.

Equifax (800) 997-2493
Experian (888) 397-3742
Trans Union (800) 680-7289
Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse 1-877-ID-THEFT

I heard about an investment opportunity that sounds too good to be true. Should I invest?

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. In thousands of cases across the nation high commissions are luring individuals to invest in prime bank notes, promissory notes, real estate developments as well as many other so called "investment opportunities". Be leery of investments that guarantee you a high interest rate in a short period of time. If you have questions whether someone is licensed to sell securities contact your State Division of Securities.
http://www.securities.state.ut.us/

How can I protect my small business from employee theft and fraud?

The best protection is to hire only those individuals on whom you have done a thorough background check. Other tips include:

• Control your cash registers with employee access numbers.
• Have your cash registers under video surveillance.
• Check your accounts receivable and accounts payable frequently.
• Conduct an inventory on a regular basis.
• Have strict controls surrounding your returns and exchange policy that your employees would handle.
• Avoid buying over the phone, unless you have a previous relationship with a supplier.
• Don’t be afraid to ask your supplier to put it in writing.
• Don’t be influenced by a “money back guarantee”.

How much fraud is there in the U.S?

In the United States bank card issuers lose about $1 billion each year mostly from stolen credit cards. Retailers absorbed another $10 billion in losses.

Can someone gain control over my bank account if I give them my account number?

All personal information can be used against you. Your financial account information should be closely guarded and only released if you are absolutely sure it is safe. Your account information can be used by an experienced criminal to gain access to your account within five minutes.

Why should I report a fraud?

The con artist’s goal is not only to take your money, but also to have you feel shame, guilt and fear. Those feelings make you less likely to report a crime. However, if you don’t file a report there is no chance to recover your loss and you make it easier for them to do it to someone else.

How do con artist choose their victims?

They are interested in people who will believe them without question. They don’t merely seek out the weak or stupid but also people who are trusting and responsible. People who are trusting and have high moral ethics can be convinced by a con man that the con has these same standards. Psychological manipulation is brought into play and the victim is taken from a position of control to one of no control.

Where can I find the current laws that apply to fraud?

Utah Code 76-6-501 through 76-6-705
Identity Fraud 76-6-1101
www.le.state.ut.us/~code/code.html