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Andrey Belousov
Safety problems in the field of
plastic cards use
The history of
abuses with plastic cards began from the moment of their occurrence. All began
simply: fraudsters used the lost or stolen cards. Then the first fakes have
appeared also. The information about the account, embossed on a card, cut off
by shaving edge, and on its place the new number that has been cut off from
other card was pasted. This elementary method has received so wide distribution
in the world that for it even the special term was born: shave and paste.
At the end of 70th
widespread today scheme that has received the name “white plastic”, being, as a
matter of fact, the further development of a method shave and paste has
appeared. Numbers of the true cards embossed on prepared plastic cards, which
are not having "recognition symbols" of bank and payment system (from
here and the name - "white plastic"). To use "white
plastic", criminals had to prevaricate with cashiers of trade enterprises.
Cashiers divided with swindlers incomes from operation after payment of the
false bill by bank. Besides in practice of swindle under the scheme "
white plastic " the whole fictitious enterprises are often created. The shops
owners should be very cautious in a choice of clients.
In 1981-82 years
the fakes of cards became mass in full sense of this word. The picture was
rendered on cards by a method of silk-screen printing. On such cards embossed
valid numbers. At high enough quality of a fake these cards could be used
without arrangement with cashiers. The industry of plastic cards has quickly
arranged on struggle against this kind of swindle: the picture on cards began
to render by method of a lithographic seal and to supplement it by complex for
a fake elements, for example holograms.
Serious problem
became interception of the cards sent to holders by mail. In this case,
swindlers receive the true card in hands, and the bank - emitter or the holder
find out about happened only after reception of the first account statement.
Today, for struggle against this problem, many emitters conduct final
personification of cards only after they will get to lawful owners.
With development of
the market of retail non-cash payments the number of ways of swindle with
plastic cards was increased also. Significant distribution, for example, have
received swindle with cards in sphere of telemarketing.
Introduction of a
magnetic strip on plastic cards was presented by press as a mean, which will
reduce a level of swindle to zero. However appeared, that development of fake
technical equipment practically does not lag behind development of technical
equipment of a safety. As a measure of protection of the information on a
magnetic strip emitters began to apply special verifying codes. As an example
of them can serve code CVV (Card Verification Value) in system VISA and code
CVC (Card Verification Code) in system Europay. Introduction CVV and CVC have
essentially lowered an opportunity of use of cards with the forged magnetic
strip. However these codes were weak copy protection of a magnetic strip.
Holograms also became a subject of fakes; today cards with counterfeit
holograms are made in big quantity in Asia.
The
plastic card is the personificated payment tool giving to the owner an
opportunity of non-cash payment for the goods and services, and also receptions
of cash in departments (branches) of banks and bank automatic devices (cash
dispensers). Trading enterprises accepting a card, branches of banks form a
network of card service places (or a reception network).
The
guarantor of payment obligations performance during service of plastic cards is
the bank - emitter who has issued them.
Depending
on given limits and conditions, cards share on two basic kinds: debit and
credit. The owner of a debit card should deposit beforehand on its own account
in the bank-emitter some amount of money. Such amount also defines a limit of
money available. The payment by means of a credit card has other structure: for
maintenance of payments the owner of a card can not preliminary deposit the
money, and receive in the bank - emitter the credit.
Both
credit, and debit cards can be also corporate.
Corporate
cards of the company are connected to any its one account. They can have the
shared and unshared limits. Corporate cards allow the company to watch on
service charges of employees in details.
Frauds
with plastic cards are spread basically on credit cards as at use of a debit
card authorization is always spent, that is interpellated to payment system
about confirmation of powers of a card bearer and his financial opportunities.
One of
the basic functions of a plastic card - is maintenance of identification of its
owner as participant of payment system. It is rational to keep the data on a
card, as it is necessary for providing of automatic authorization procedure.
For this purpose now in system of electronic payments exists three mechanisms:
use of cards with a bar code, cards with a magnetic strip and smart-cards.
In cards
with a bar code as an identifying element the code similar to a code, used for
marks of the goods is used. Cards with a bar code are poorly protected from a
fake that makes them little avail for use in payment systems.
Cards
with a magnetic strip for today are most widespread. Their security is
essentially higher, than in cards with a bar code. However and such type of
cards is rather vulnerable for swindle. Nevertheless, the advanced
infrastructure of existing payment systems, and, first of all, world leaders of
"card" business - companies Master Card/Europay is the reason of a
heavy use of cards with a magnetic strip today. For increase of security of
cards of system VISA and Ìàstår Ñàrd/Åurîðàó additional graphic means of
protection are used: holograms and non-standard fonts for emboss (drawings of a
relief font).
In
smart - cards a data carrier is already the microcircuit. In elementary of
existing smart - cards (cards - memories) the memory size can have size from 32
bytes up to 16 kilobyte. Cards are subdivided into two types: with unprotected
(fully available) and the protected memory. The level of protection of cards of
memory is higher, than at magnetic cards, and they can be used in applied
systems, including that in which financial risks are connected with swindle.
Smart - cards are more expensive, than magnetic cards. Their cost directly
depends from cost of the microcircuit, determined, in turn, by capacity of
memory. Despite of it, smart - cards are considered now as the most perspective
kind of plastic cards.
But
card business is based on balance of interests of three parties: banks, the
trading - service companies and owners of cards. For banks there is a sense in
transition into microprocessor cards, as it - increase reliability and reduce possibility
of swindle by reason of more exact identification of transactions participants.
For owners of cards if the question is usual credit or debit products, by the
highest standards, whether such cards will contain a magnetic strip or the
microprocessor. For trade and service enterprises transition to microprocessor
technologies is connected with enormous expenses: certification of terminals,
their upgrade or replacement, preparation of the personnel.
Therefore,
to carry out mass transition to microprocessor technologies, banks together
with the trading - service companies and suppliers of technologies and cards
should find the mutually advantageous decision. According to experts’
estimation, the capacity of the domestic market of smart - cards in two - three
years will be approximately 5 million cards per year. By the end of 2005 it is
necessary to replace about 7 million magnetic cards on chip in connection with
the international agreement on a stage-by-stage outlet from the turnover of
cards with a magnetic strip. [1]
Intensive introduction of bank plastic cards as the
tool of payment for the goods and service in Ukraine is accompanied, as well as
all over the world, by fulfillment of some illegal actions connected with their
use.
During last years the criminality in sphere of bank
plastic cards turnover sustained qualitative changes - from the acts made by
singles and small groups, up to the crimes made by well organized groupings and
criminal communities (number up to 50 person). On arms of such groupings there
is the advanced technical equipment, necessary documents for cover. The
qualified experts enter into them. [2]
For today from known kinds of fraud the full imitation
of a card "is the leader". On preparations of completely forged cards
the trademark of the emitter, a field for putting down the signature is
rendered; all degrees of protection are precisely reproduced. In this case
original properties of existing maps are used. On the international market in
manufacturing and use of counterfeit plastic cards Southeast Asia "is the
leader", the majority of operations is carried out from there. Actively
working "branches" are in Spain, Italy and the Great Britain.
The leading part in this sphere belongs to the Hong
Kong Chinese. The Asian groupings of criminals already for a long time make
high-quality duplicates of cards, which both on Asian, and on European markets
were used till now without risk. Necessary for manufacturing duplicates data
(number of a card, date of determination, a name, etc.) criminals, as a rule,
receive from employees of the enterprises - participants of the contract.
In second half of 90ties in sphere of full fakes of
bank plastic cards in Europe the African groupings began to restrict Asian.
Unlike Asians, Africans use fakes mainly in banks for direct reception of cash.
Criminals even do not complicate themselves by “purchase of the goods ”that
then, by passing a stage of concealment, give reason to receive money. Thus
criminals prove their identity with the help of the stolen identification
documents.
Full fakes used by Africans are made in the USA (the
Western coast). In California (area of Los Angeles) workshops on manufacture of
forgeries were repeatedly liquidated. On quality the Asian fakes are much
higher then African’s.
Because of high enough quality of a fake these cards
can be used without any arrangements with cashiers. The industry of plastic
cards fights against this kind of swindle by complication of protection (the
picture on cards began to render by a method of a lithographic seal and to
supplement it with complex for a fake elements, for example, holograms).
Next, for the frequency of use, group, which can be
united «illegal use of an original card», follows. Here it is possible to
attribute:
·
Floor limit;
·
Operations with stolen, lost card;
·
So-called “ double rolling ” (manufacturing by the
seller of slip’s several copies, which are used further for payment for the
goods).
Ways of illegal purchase of cards are various:
deliberate transfer to the third parties, criminal taking of a card (loss
during mail transfer, theft, etc.)
Cases are known when unfair workers of banks and cards
manufacturing plants use a delay between opening of the account and delivery of
a card to the owner and make operations during this period.
There are facts when owners of a card declare it as
stolen or lost. As a rule, while processing center will include the number in a
stop -list and will notify shops passes some days. During this time the owner
tries to carry out operations, and then declares claims to bank.
Perhaps it is necessary to refer to illegal use of an
original card and a partial fake (falsification). By these acts the history of
abuses with plastic cards actually began. The criminal (more often the owner)
changes only some Essential Elements - number, or a surname. Accordingly, the
goods are got, but not paid.
In this case the information about the account,
embossed on a card, cut off (by thermal, mechanical or by any different way),
and on its place the new number, which has been cut off from other card, is
pasted. This elementary method has received so a wide spread in the world, that
for it even the special name was born: "to shave and paste".
The bank plastic cards delivered by mail, as a rule,
are abducted at transfer to the client from the emitter or the manufacturer.
Such cards have a number of preferences for criminal use:
·
Loss (theft) of similar cards is noticed with the big
delay therefore there is no opportunity immediately to block a card;
·
Cards at the moment of loss, as a rule, are not
signed, therefore the criminal himself can put the signature on a card; later
at their use there is no necessity to forge the signature on the debit bill.
Abroad are known cases when criminals specially got a
job in a post-office or in private delivery services that in an operating time
directly to withdraw mailing with bank cards or to redirect them on prepared by
them the post address.
At the end of 70ties fraud scheme that has received
the name very spread today “ white plastic ” has appeared.
Such cards have no "recognition symbols" of
bank and payment system (from here and the name). The data of existing cards
(stamping and coding) are transferred to a clean sheet of plastic (without a
trade mark of the emitter, the hologram and other degrees of protection). Such
cards can be presented only under condition of criminal complicity of the owner
or employees of the enterprise - participant of the contract as the forgery is
visually defined immediately. Further “washing” (masking) of slips (checks)
among original is made. Under the debit bill formed as a result of use of
" white plastic ”, later already practically it is impossible to
determine, whether the true or counterfeit card has been presented.
Besides in practice of swindle under the scheme “
white plastic ” the whole fictitious enterprises are quite often created. The
shops owners it is necessary to be very cautious in a choice of clients.
Recently one more version of " white plastic ”
has appeared. Criminals forged an electronic or magnetic data carrier on cards
and obtained money by means of automatic cash terminals.
It is not alien to criminals and technical progress.
With development of a global computer network -the Internet and occurrence
so-called “ virtual shops ” where it is possible to make the order from a
personal computer on reception of the goods by mail, has extended a field of
action for swindlers. For payment in such shops it is enough to specify
Essential Elements of a card. Hence, any outflow of such information (and it
can be any operation) is fraught for the owner with the big losses. And there
are many opportunities to obtain Essential Elements from the card owner.
Already it is known about 30 methods of fraud actions with the help of the
Internet that now are, actually, outside of a legal field, and that facilitates
"job" of a different sort of criminal elements. [3]
So big quantity of crimes in sphere of plastic cards
turnover threatens to undermine authority of a plastic card as financial tool.
Recent scandal with discrediting of the Russian emitters bankcards has induced
many users to pass to traveler’s cheques.
In the beginning it were singles, now for the fraud
the organized criminal groups by number up to 50 people, armed with the
advanced technical equipment have undertaken. Their members have reliable cover
documents and use consultations of highly skilled experts. For realization of
illegal activity criminals create fictitious firms and banks. The firm, which
gave intermediary services of foreign payment cards registration, is recently
exposed. Swindlers opened corporate accounts, representing them for clients as
individual. When owners were convinced, that cards normally function in the
country and abroad, they transferred high dollars and criminals, who had the
equal with clients’ rights to command finance, spent these money at own
discretion. Until now operated over ten such groups which transferred money
obtain in offshore zones. With assistance of processing the companies law
enforcement bodies were success to stop activity of some fake firms, and their
organizers were instituted to criminal proceedings.
Other widespread kind of crimes - is illegal use of
original cards. The mentioned kind of crime consists of operations with the
stolen or lost card, manufacturing by the seller of additional copies of
payment cards, which further are used, for withdrawal of money from account.
The big problem lied in that for payment for the goods
ordered it is enough to specify card Essential Elements. Hence, any information
about the card for the owner can turn back by irreplaceable losses. And there
is great variety of ways to swindle essential elements of cards from the
owners.
With help of the Internet it is made more than thirty
kinds of fraud actions.
The growing quantity of crimes in this sphere, for
some people opinion, threatens to undermine authority of cards as reliable
financial tool. However such pessimistic view at a developed situation does not
mean, that there is no way of problem solution. There is a way, but it is
necessary to keep a closer watch for plastic cards safety infringements from
the outside. It is necessary to take the following measures for this purpose:
·
To increase number of degrees of plastic cards
protection;
·
To secure microprocessors against undesirable attacks
from the outside;
·
To keep plastic cards in reliable places and far away
from extraneous eyes;
·
Immediately to block bank accounts in case of loss of
a plastic card;
·
To protect computer networks from hackers.
It is necessary to note, that now there are reliable
means of protection of the computer data, but they, certainly, demand
additional expenses. Many banks do not give any attention to such questions as:
·
Bank has the security department, doesn’t it?
·
Security department supervises telephone input and
power cable, doesn’t it?
·
Bank plastic cards managers’ authorities are
differentiated, don’t they?
Such unconcern of bank in the future will lead it to
serious troubles. It is vulnerable for intervention, that make it like a boon
for electronic and other thieves.
"Plastic" encroachments - is the kind of
crimes completely new to our reality that develops not by days, but by hours.
Unfortunately while, about safety in sphere of the bank plastic cards turnover
are not think enough.
It is necessary to remember constantly, that the
corner stone of any payment system is:
§
Necessity of maintenance of its safety;
§
Reliable storage of codes;
§
Constant monitoring of transactions;
§
The regular control of activity of employees;
§
Scheduled (and off-schedule) check of the equipment;
§
Audit of the software of computer system;
§
Careful investigation of each case of swindle with
plastic cards.
Banks are forced to
search for all new and new ways of struggle against swindle. Stagnation in the
field of protection is very dangerous; therefore it is necessary to improve
constantly, and to introduce - quickly and in wide scales, modern technologies
of protection that is very uneasy. However rate of growth of abusing with cards
compels all participants of "card" business to solve this problem.
Changes are not far off.
As it was
mentioned, the criminality in sphere of plastic cards develops in parallel with
the industry of cards. Experience of the international payment systems of
introduction of "card" programs in the different countries has shown,
that development of swindle submits to the certain rules. As a parameter of a
crime rate the ratio between payment systems losses from swindle and card
turnover serves. Within first two years from the beginning of introduction of plastic
cards in scale of the country the crime rate remains practically zero, and then
quickly grows up to 0,7-0,8 % and some time is kept on this mark. So sharp
growth is caused by a number of negative factors that are typical for the given
stage of development of the market. The
following factors can be refer to global:
·
Absence of legislative and normative base concerning plastic cards;
·
Absence of security department (specially focused on plastic cards) in
banks - members of payment systems;
·
Where such services are created, experts still do not possess experience
of struggle against fraud and necessary knowledge about protection;
·
Law enforcement bodies are not ready to revealing and suppression of
swindle;
·
There are no divisions and experts on swindle with plastic cards;
·
There is no necessary interaction of banks security departments among
themselves, with security departments of payment systems, law enforcement
bodies;
·
Insufficient experience of bank plastic cards managers;
·
Absence of due staff training at all stages of work with plastic cards.
Duration of a high
level of losses depends on as far as quickly it will be possible to organize
the "defense" including the whole complex of measures: from
organizational up to legal. Exactly at the stage of the biggest losses from
fraud the decisive steps, called to protect the industry of plastic cards at a
national level, as a rule, are accepted, that appreciably promotes decrease in
a level of swindle. Decrease occurs gradually and stops at a level of losses of
0,1-0,2 % which it is considered to be "normal". This value is
typical for today in the countries with the advanced "card" payment
systems.
Interaction of securities of banks
among themselves constantly becomes stronger. Are adjusted, though and in an
insufficient level, an exchange of experience and mutual aid in revealing and
suppression of swindle. Seminars about the questions of plastic cards safety
are even more often carried out. The problem of training of the personnel of
the enterprises accepting cards for payment, also stands today sharply enough.
Its solution, certainly, is in hands of merchants, which first of all are
interested in that at the enterprises with cards qualified people dealt.
Company UCS, for example, spends compulsory education of cashiers with a
passing examinations for the clients and is ready to spend this job under the
order of others merchants.
The bodies created
by the state for struggle against crimes in this area, are compelled to spend
the basic forces and time not for detention of criminals, but on drawing up of
accusations. The only thing, than operatives can be guided, is article 200 of
the Criminal Code of Ukraine. [4] However acquisition and fixing of proofs,
which get rather not simply (even at absolutely competent actions of cashiers
when the last are succeed to obtain the signature of the swindler on slip,
taken off from a "illegal" card) are necessary for application of
mentioned article. Acceptance of the criminal law with corresponding
definitions of structure of crimes, undoubtedly, much more would increase law
enforcement bodies work effectiveness.
The market of
plastic cards in Ukraine recently promptly extends. The number of the banks
emitting and serving plastic cards both Ukrainian, and the international payment
systems grows also. However for the majority of people a card still remain the
unusual payment tool, and practically there are no concrete laws protecting the
rights and money of holders of cards, in Ukraine till now. It is one of the
important factors promoting increase of number of a various sort of fraud with
cards.
With development of
any market the quantity of crimes on it always grows, and the market of credit
cards in this respect did not become exception.
Today cards are
accepted for payment on hundreds enterprises. It is known more than ten kinds
of crimes with use of cards: use of the stolen or lost cards, forged (in full
or in part) cards and so-called " white plastic ". Swindlers well
mastered cards manufacturing technology including foreign, and prefer to use
the forged plastic cards, instead of lost or stolen.
In the
Great Britain the new system of protection against swindle with use of plastic
payment cards is entered. Into credit and debit cards "will be
implanted" a special microchip and from their owner it is required instead
of the signature on the check to confirm payment, using only to him known
confidential code. Bank community of the Great Britain develops the new system
of safety in sphere of non-cash electronic payments. Its introduction will
demand expenses, which in total will exceed 1,1 billion pounds sterling.
However introduction of more perfect, than existing, system of protection
against any sort of schemers became necessity in the Great Britain as only in
2001 swindle in this sphere cost to banks and the
financial companies about 400 million pounds sterling. As expected, during the
nearest three years replacement of old credit and debit cards on new will be
carried out. As a result of it "will be covered" about 100 million
pounds sterling - a significant part of operations from total amount of
electronic credit - payment activity of bank institutions.
The British banks
annually lose about 300 million pounds sterling as a result of swindle with
plastic cards. By 2005 these figures, by estimation of experts, can increase up
to 800 million pounds.
As a result, the
British bank community started negotiations with the Ministry of Internal
Affairs about assignment for reinforcement of special divisions on struggle
against these kinds of crimes.
Also banks and the
companies related to issue and maintenance of plastic cards circulation, plan
to enter by 2004 into turnover in the Great Britain so-called "smart -
cards" which have advanced level of protection. The project is estimated
in 1,1 billion pounds sterling.
British detectives
periodically " catch red-handed " criminal groups which steal banks
and their clients with the help of counterfeit plastic cards. Thus swindlers
create the whole network from helpers and assistances - they fill up
"databanks" of criminals about numbers and codes of plastic cards.
[5]
Till the end of
2002 the increase in fraud operations with cards almost twice - proportionally
to growth of credit cards is predicted. Insurers and bankers just now undertake
to insure such risks.
Until information
interchange between security departments of banks and the mentioned above
special divisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be adjusted, it will
be difficult for last to reveal such crimes.
Domestic financiers
have led themselves by old tradition: about protection against swindle with
payment cards have started to speak only then losses from swindle with
"plastic" began to exceed 1 % of volumes of operations. Bankers at
once have recollected sad European experience - there sharp-witted swindlers
every year rob banks on 10 % of volumes of operations on card accounts. In 1999
Master Card has registered frauds with cards for the sum 703 million dollars.
VISA has suffered
losses because of swindle with credit and debit cards all over the world on 1,2
billion dollars. Most of all observers are amazed with the data from the Great
Britain, which banks card swindlers during the last year has robed on 300
million pounds sterling. So it is not surprising, that financiers of the Old
World have launched large-scale insurance campaign to minimize the losses from
roguish activity. In Ukraine insurers, as appeared, are not ready to such
programs yet - not everyone can agree with potential clients - banks. [6]
Struggle against fraud with
cards
The latest data of
association APACS show, that the measures taken by banks against fraud with
cards have started to work. Now for maintenance of the further distribution of
debit cards banks should solve a problem of their check.
The data of Association
for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) show, that financial community of the
Great Britain have seriously begun struggle against fraud with plastic cards.
The figures
submitted by association APACS, as a whole, confirm the tendency of decrease of
losses, earlier shown by the data of association VISA and Barclays Bank, though
the difference between 30 %-s' decrease about which informed Barclays Bank, and
21 %-s' decrease in all financial sphere, as a whole shows, that situation
could be better. However banks can sigh with simplification, seeing obvious
results of measures of struggle against fraud with the cards, undertaken partly
under pressing of the government, demanded to make conclusions from the report
of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Association APACS
specifies, that complication of checking - is major of the factors able to
reduce number fraud with cards. The special attention was given to mentioned
factor in such sectors of retail trade, as shops of the electronic technique,
jeweler’s and grocery, which became objects of fraud more often. It is
informed, that as a result of the accepted measures the number of fraud with
the lost or stolen cards in these sectors of high risk has decreased for 75 %.
Complication of checking has been distributed and on others sectors of retail
trade. Due to agreements between banks and company British Telecom cost of
operative checking have decreased approximately twice.
Besides now the
large enterprises of retail trade use services of general banking notification
system for obtaining the information about the lost or stolen cards. It is the
big progress in comparison with former systems, which covered only separate
banks or groups of banks. Measures of protection during the process of cards
emitting and their extraction from checking machine also have considerably
reduced the losses connected with cards, which have not been received by their
lawful owners.
Several years ago
discussion of fraud with plastic cards would touch, probably, only credit
cards. However the new data of periodicals show that nowadays with debit cards
is made approximately as much operations, as with credit. On debit cards the
prevailing share of the general increase in volume of operations with cards is
fall on. More often credit cards VISA were used, on them 25 % of operations,
against 16 % for cards Access, 20 % for cards Switch and 22 % for cards VISA
Delta were fall on. Debit cards have caught up credit on number of operations
on one card.
Banks, certainly,
want, that operations with paper checks have been superseded by cheaper
operations with debit cards. But there is one aspect in which encouragement of
wider use of a debit card could enter in contradiction with struggle against
fraud.
Recently an
occasion for attacks on banks from the part of the Labor party and societies of
protection of consumers became a question about time between reception of the
check and transfer of money to the client account. Questions discussed about
what income is received by banks during this time, since what moment the income
starts to go to the client, and a question about payment of percent for
overdraft. But after downturn of an allowable bottom limit of account balance
of the client the decision on acceptance of a debit card can depend on a status
of those his cash assets on which transactions are not executed yet.
Refusal in
reception of payment by card - is the basic difficulty for its owner. If as a
result of operative checking a card will not accept because of lack of money on
the account, the confused owner can seized a checkbook. If yesterday on your
account has been written out receipt check how you will act today - will show
the check with a guarantee card or will use a debit card with risk to be
refused because the money are not enlisted yet on your account? In fact you can
simply not know, how much money to your account. Rules do not allow to written
out a check, if it does not have covering, but in practice you will seize a
checkbook, instead of debit card.
An expense of time
for transactions under checks are regulated by the law of 1882 demanding
receipt of the check in bank on which it is written out. For speeding-up of
documents processing this position is necessary to change, but in the nearest
future there is no chance to expect such change. Nowadays at debit cards
checking it is necessary to show tactfulness to not frighten off the client by
refusals, because he can refuse from a debit card equally easy as before it has
taken.
Safety in the field of plastic
cards: job of law enforcement bodies
No doubt that one
of basic elements of national system of a safety in sphere of plastic cards
should become special divisions of law enforcement bodies. Only the prepared
experts well understanding in features of plastic cards and methods of counteraction
to swindle with their use, are able to resist organized on an international
scale groupings. However, for struggle against homebrew swindlers too are
necessary knowledge and experience.
However creation of
such special divisions in regions only is declared, while. Systematic job on a
professional training in the field of plastic cards it is not conducted yet.
Besides, fast occurrence of the skilled staff in regions is difficult to expect
also for that simple reason, that swindle with plastic cards in regions while
are rare.
Until recently the
majority of crimes with use of plastic cards was made in Kiev. It is natural -
here are concentrated the majority of points of plastic cards service of the
international payment systems, and the majority of holders of these systems
cards.
More often ordinary
employees of police and employees of investigation departments of Regional
department of internal affairs are involved in job on suppression of crimes
with use of plastic cards (at a stage of detention) though their preparation,
and it’s obvious, insufficient for successful work in this sphere.
Cases when police
officers release of swindlers detained by the servants points workers, even not
made the report and not established personality of arrested persons are still
frequent.
With the big
difficulties inspectors are faced in Regional department of internal affairs.
In fact for competent conducting an affair it is necessary to know specificity
of the given sphere well. To tell the truth, representatives of security
department of the banks and processing companies never refuse employees of law
enforcement bodies in consultations, however practically each inspector should
explain the bases of specificity of plastic cards, to allow recommendations on
conducting investigatory actions, etc.
In conditions of
fast development of card business and, hence, growth of number cards frauds
position this situation will be aggravated because it will be necessary to
involve more and more inspectors who are not having required preparation in
investigation.
To change this
situation, it is necessary to operate in two directions:
·
To enter into the program of training of police officers even an
elementary course about plastic cards;
·
To pass on places all affairs on the plastic cards to special selected
workers who have no necessity to explain elementary things (by the way,
restriction of a circle of people informed on methods of swindle with
"plastic", will do good and will help to reach the main task - safety
of operations with plastic cards).
The same approach
should be applied, probably, and in Office of Public Prosecutor. Cases when
because of insufficient preparation of inspectors and ignorance by public
prosecutors of features of the crimes made with use of plastic cards, the
obvious swindlers catch red-handed, left the responsibility are known. Public
prosecutors simply did not see in materials of an affair of structure of a
crime.
Misunderstanding of features of
crimes in the field of cards - one of the reasons of insufficient interaction
of law enforcement bodies and security departments of members of payment
systems in struggle against this kind of criminality. And without such
interaction any investigations in the given area it is practically impossible.
As a rule, the affected party (the bank - emitter, the holder of a card) is
abroad. For the various reasons for law enforcement bodies it is difficult to
direct searches to foreign banks. The organizations being members of payment
system, receive the necessary information from foreign partners without effort.
However not all banks go in this question towards to law enforcement bodies. On
the other hand, many representatives of security departments of banks show
discontent with that, that the policy does not undertake any practical steps
under their applications.
Clearly, that the
coordinated actions here are necessary and quite possible, as both parties are
interested in them. Special preparation of employees of law enforcement bodies
and increases of efficiency of their interaction with corresponding divisions
of the ministries and departments and with security departments of commercial
banks is necessary. [7]
The
problems raised in this article demand the complex decision as in sight of law enforcement bodies 15 % from the perfect crimes
of a similar sort get only.
In this connection effective struggle against crimes in the plastic
market is possible intimate contact of professionals of security departments,
experts of banks and processing companies with law enforcement bodies.
As practice shows, struggle against crimes in the
given sphere of credit-and-monetary relations efforts of only one law
enforcement bodies is rather inconvenient. Unfortunately, in our country the
legislation, as a rule, lags behind a real life.
It is available also objective difficulties of law
enforcement bodies: lack of money does not allow to support a hardware on
proper level, to train qualified employees, to organize in enough official
journeys for participation of employees in the seminars conducted by leading
payment systems and banks. It is necessary to note as a negative factor that
absence of effective legal regulation does not allow to organize in appropriate
way interaction with security departments of interested organizations, turning
all into personal contacts.
All this creates serious problems for struggle against
criminality in sphere of bank plastic cards turnover. Dynamics of such
criminality does not give optimism.
The Ukrainian industry of plastic cards has approached to that moment of
development when questions of safety can and should be solved jointly by all
participants of the market. Efforts unification today will bring feedback in
the near future. Today we have real opportunity to create a safety of payment
systems at a national level, and this opportunity cannot be missed.
1. Swindle with plastic cards, http://www.aferizm.boom.ru
2.Golubev V.A. « Problems of criminality and bank
technologies » Corporate systems ¹ 3/2002 with 78
3. Machin Sergey “ the Plastic card - a target for
swindlers ”, http://www.aferizm.ru/
4. The scientific - practical comment of the criminal
code of Ukraine/under edition of deserved lawyer of Ukraine, the candidate
of jurisprudence Ì.Melnik, the
candidateof
jurisprudence M.Havronjuk/.-Ê.: "Êànnon", “ À.Ñ.Ê.
".-2001.-pages 506-508.
5. Ukrsotsbank - bank of social
development, http://www.rian.ru/
6. Card swindlers go to Ukraine.
It is time to be reinsured // Galitskie Contracty. - ¹17, on
April, 29 - on May, 5, 2002, http://www.aval.kiev.ua/
7. Golubev V.A. « Problems of
struggle against crimes in sphere of computer technologies use», University of the Humanities
"ZISMG", Zaporozhye 2002,-page 29.
