This document summarizes two tools that can assist victims of crimes like identity theft: the Consumer Sentinel Network and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The Consumer Sentinel Network allows law enforcement to access and share consumer complaints with agencies nationwide. The NCIC is a database for law enforcement to enter and search crime records, such as identifying stolen vehicles or flagging stolen identities in its Identity Theft File.
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Assist Victims Through Consumer Sentinel Network and NCIC
1. Tools for Assisting Victims: Consumer
Sentinel Network and the National
Crime Information Center
THIS DOCUMENT WAS PRODUCED BY IDAHO LEGAL AID SERVICES, INC. UNDER AWARD # 2010-VF-GX-K030,
AWARDED BY THE OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE MARYLAND CRIME VICTIMS’ RESOURCE CENTER. THE OPINIONS, FINDINGS, AND
CONCLUSIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE THOSE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS AND DO
NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE OFFICIAL POSITION OR POLICIES OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OR
MARYLAND CRIME VICTIMS’ RESOURCE CENTER, INC.
2. www.ftc.gov/sentinel
Purpose: Share information amongst law
enforcement
Law enforcement members can access
complaints provided to the FTC
Access is free and available to any federal,
state, or local law enforcement agency.
3. To access the Sentinel Network, the law
enforcement agency must become a member.
Members can:
Search millions of consumer complaints
Report complaints so they can be shared with law
enforcement nationwide
See trends in types of complaints filed, identify
crime trends
Register.ConsumerSentinel.gov
Idaho lacking participation by local law
enforcement agencies
4. By enhancing investigations of identity theft crimes
Law enforcement can:
Get alerts about particular subjects or practices
Find other law enforcement agencies investigating the same
targets
Set up a search to run periodically
Research cases
Track targets
Identify victims
Law enforcement partners can use information in the
database to coordinate investigations.
Greater likelihood of finding victims, prosecuting
cases, and obtaining restitution for victims
5. "The Consumer Sentinel Network is a treasure
trove of information for law enforcers. We plan
to contribute consumer complaints we receive
at the CFPB to the Network and urge other
state and local law enforcers to join the
Network, too.“ – Richard Cordray, Director of the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcW0vngJ
ZEM
6. An electronic clearinghouse of crime data
Consists of 19 “files”
Agencies enter records into NCIC that are
accessible nationwide.
e.g., entering a vehicle into the file to see if it is a
stolen vehicle
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ncic
7. Can be extremely useful for victims of criminal
identity theft
NCIC Identity Theft File “flags” stolen
identities
Provides identifying information to recognize
imposters when they are encountered by law
enforcement.
Contains records of both the ID theft victim
and any information known about the
perpetrator
8. An NCIC Identity Theft File record is created
It is available nationwide to police officers
During a subsequent encounter with law
enforcement, a query into the NCIC system
automatically searches the Identity Theft File
The officer will receive a response including the
victim profile and password.
Can prevent arrests of criminal ID theft victims!
Currently, the Identity Theft File consists of
approximately 2,600 records entered by 29 states.
Notas del editor
Consumer Sentinel Network is an online database of consumer complaints available to law enforcement.
It includes complaints on Identity theft, do not call registry violations, telemarketing scams, sweepstakes and lotteries, work at home schemes, weight loss products, and debt collection, among others.
Consumer Sentinel is based on the premise that sharing information can make law enforcement more effective.
The network includes not only complaints provided to the Federal Trade Commission, but also complaints shared by data contributors such as the US Postal Inspection Service, Identity Theft Assistance Center, the Better Business Bureau, and several State Attorney general’s offices (including Idaho AG!)
Becoming a member entails completing a registration form and signing a confidentiality and data security agreement with the FTC. After the organization has gained access, each individual user must also register and obtain a user id.
Search complaints with a tool that works like an internet search engine
Able to search within search results
Able to save data into your own 100 megabyte online storage center
Current members in our state: Idaho Dept of Finance, Idaho Office of the Attorney General, Idaho State Police, Investigations, Region 3, and Coeur d’Alene Police Dept. Note that only one local police department is participating! This is something the law enforcement subcommittee could work on – getting the word out to local law enforcement agencies about this tool and how it could help them serve victims of ID theft and other financial crimes.
Law enforcement can get alerts about particular subjects or practices
Can find other law enforcement agencies investigating the same targets
Set up a search to run periodically
> Seven property files that contain records of seven types of stolen property and 12 persons files, one of which is the “Identity Theft Files”
The NCIC is vitally important in investigating identity theft in that it provides information to law enforcement officers on victims of identity theft and how to distinguish them from the perpetrators of the crime.
The NCIC Identity Theft File became operational in April 2005 and is designed to aid both police officers and crime victims. The file contains records of identity theft victims with personal descriptive data and other relevant information. These records remain active in the NCIC system for a maximum of five years unless cancelled by the law enforcement agency that originally entered the file.
When an NCIC Identity Theft File record is created, it is available nationwide to police officers, just as all other NCIC files are. During a subsequent encounter with law enforcement, such as a routine traffic stop, a query into the NCIC system automatically searches the Identity Theft File and, if it is a positive match, generates a response to the inquiring agency. The querying officer will receive a response including the victim profile and password, thereby providing the officer with information necessary to verify whether the person encountered is the actual victim or someone using a false identity. The officer should be aware that an individual should not be arrested or detained based solely on the information provided in the positive response to the initial query.
When an NCIC Identity Theft File record is created, it is available nationwide to police officers, just as all other NCIC files are. During a subsequent encounter with law enforcement, such as a routine traffic stop, a query into the NCIC system automatically searches the Identity Theft File and, if it is a positive match, generates a response to the inquiring agency. The querying officer will receive a response including the victim profile and password, thereby providing the officer with information necessary to verify whether the person encountered is the actual victim or someone using a false identity. The officer should be aware that an individual should not be arrested or detained based solely on the information provided in the positive response to the initial query.
However, as more departments and states routinely enter reports of identity theft, the tremendous potential of this file to assist in investigations and to protect victims will be realized.