Anti-Fraud Tool Comes To Idaho
Banks and law enforcement agencies in Idaho will soon have access to Fraud-Net, a searchable online database designed to fight identity fraud. Fraud-Net consists of three main parts–data-sharing between financial institutions and police agencies, a searchable database for such things as suspects’ photographs and copies of forged checks, and an alert system that informs organizations of suspicious activities.
Idaho is the 20th state to link to the system, which was initially launched in April 2002 by the Florida Bankers Association (FBA). Dawn Justice, President of the Idaho Bankers Association (IBA), says all 29 IBA members will have access to the system for free, while the three non-member banks will have to pay a fee to use it; law enforcement agencies will also be able to use Fraud-Net at no cost.
FBA Chief Financial Officer Thom Kerr notes that Fraud-Net can be used to combat check fraud as well as other types of bank-related crimes like robberies. Training and introductory preparations for bankers and law enforcement was offered across the state at the end of July in anticipation of the October 2 statewide launch.
An FBA spokesperson said Fraud-Net is a secure system, featuring 128-bit encryption and strict user-inspection measures.
Lt. Linda Scown of the Ada County Sheriff’s Office noted that the system will help cut down on the time spent on managing paperwork in investigations, especially fraud cases.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Idaho Statesman (07/20/04) P. 1; Chee, Melissa .