Phony checks, embezzlement, skimmed credit cards and identity theft are among the fastest growing and most prevalent crimes in Fairfax County, according to county police. Detectives have investigated over 2,500 cases of identification theft since 2009.
To help streamline these complex financial investigations, detectives and technical staff have created a new Financial Crime Online Reporting System (FICOR) for simpler reporting and quicker response rates for victims. FICOR went “live” in September and police have received more than 300 reports from residents who’ve been victimized, according to Lieutenant Bob Blakely, former Financial Crimes Unit supervisor who helped establish the program. “This new system increases the efficiency of our financial crime investigations. Victims are already understandably upset and angry when they’ve lost money. They don’t know where to turn and we think this new system will help.”
The FICOR section can be reached through the Fairfax County home page, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police, and clicking on financial crimes reporting.
