Recognizing that the ever evolving advancements in technology have created new avenues for individuals to engage in criminal activity, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin hosted a law enforcement training seminar on identity crime. The day-long training, hosted in conjunction with the US Department of Justice, was held at Fidelity Investments in Smithfield on Tuesday and was attended by more than 80 law local, state and federal law enforcement professionals
"Identity theft is a complex crime. It can be organized and linked to international crime syndicates, including terrorism, pornography, and drug and human trafficking. Identity theft also can be local, involving friends, family and neighbors. Either way, identity crime can be difficult to track and crosses jurisdictional boundaries, making it hard to prosecute," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "This training provides enhanced strategies and law enforcement tools to work together on the critical issue of identity theft, keeping our communities safe from threats of this level," said Attorney General Kilmartin.
The seminar included presentations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The event concluded with a prosecutor's panel, with representatives from the Office of Attorney General, Bristol County District Attorney's Office and the US Attorney's Office of Rhode Island, which will provide case updates, best practices and advice for investigation and preparing a case for successful prosecution.
Topics covered include how people establish identity and how government verifies identity, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and NCIC Identity Theft File, victim assistance, trends in identity theft and fraud cases, as well as federal and state resources available for law enforcement and consumers.