Most fraud victims don’t think they’ll ever become victims. They’re careful. They ignore suspicious emails. They don’t hand out personal information to strangers. Yet every year, scammers convince ordinary people to send thousands of dollars, surrender sensitive data or trust someone who doesn’t exist. So how do investigators track down a fraudster who’s hiding behind spoofed phone numbers, impersonated identities and digital transactions? NBA staff spoke with Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson to discuss the forensic work that helps crack fraud cases, the tactics scammers are using right now, and the simple “red flags” everyone should know. How does your office work with banks, businesses and other agencies to combat fraud? Financial institutions and businesses are often well-positioned to identify suspicious activity early, and their cooperation can be extremely valuable. We work with banks, businesses and other agencies to share information, preserve records, identify patterns and respond to the reports of suspected fraud. Another extremely helpful collaboration with financial institutions is working with tellers who recognize common red flags that a customer is being scammed, enabling them to stop a transaction early, before funds are lost. Can you walk us through the steps of investigating a fraud suspect? What first raises the red flags? A fraud investigation typically begins with a complaint; this can be a report from a financial institution, a victim or another source. The first step is to establish what happened, who may have been affected and whether there is evidence of a crime. Red flags can vary depending on the scheme, but they often include transactions that do not fit a person’s normal activity, unusual requests for money or personal info, forged or altered documents, inconsistent explanations or a pattern of activity involving multiple victims. The Forensics Behind Fraud Investigations Sheriff Aaron Hanson on Evidence, Prevention and Bank Cooperation Laurie Johnson Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Nebraska Bankers Association 11 NEBRASKA BANKER
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==