Internet Fraud
10/01/2009
Internet Fraud
The NC3TF was contacted by the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office regarding complaints about the proprietor of an internet auto parts company. In summary, after receiving payment from customers, the company did not provide the products. The NC3TF began investigating the company and discovered that over a 2-year period, multiple complaints had been filed with the District Attorney’s Office, the Better Business Bureau, and the Internet Crimes Complaint Center (IC3). During the course of the investigation, the NC3TF discovered additional victims. Ultimately, 29 victims were identified with a combined loss of over $50,000.00. The NC3TF found that the IC3 had referred complaints received by them, to the law enforcement agencies in the jurisdictions in which the victims resided. The local law enforcement agencies, which typically have no training in internet fraud, advised the victims that their complaints were civil matters and they did no further investigation. The NC3TF investigated the case by completing interviews of the victims and the suspect. Searches were conducted of the following: the suspect’s home; business; computer; e-mails between the suspect and victims; and bank records. The suspect was ultimately arrested for 19 felony counts of grand theft. Charges are still pending in this case, however if the suspect is successfully convicted, he will be ordered to pay restitution to all of his 29 victims.