ICAC commended for cracking graft-facilitated card fraud
2002-4-9
The Independent Commission Against Corruption was today (Tuesday) commended for its effective and deterrent efforts in combatting counterfeit credit card fraud, which resulted in a drop of cases involving the skimming of card data at retail outlets.
Souvenir plagues were today presented to the ICAC and Senior Investigator Heath Cheung by VISA International, in recognition of their expertise and contribution.
Robert DeMaria, Visa International's Head of Country Risk Management Asia Pacific Region, said the Commission had demonstrated a high standard of professionalism and dedication in cracking a number of major card fraud cases facilitated by corruption over the years.
"We believe that vigilant law enforcement by the ICAC and deterrent penalties imposed by the court have made counterfeit credit card fraud a high-risk crime in Hong Kong," Mr DeMaria said.
The ICAC received 31 and 28 corruption reports relating to counterfeit credit card fraud respectively in 1999 and 2000, of which 25 and 22 cases related to skimming of credit card data. Last year, such cases dropped to 17, 12 of which involved skimming o f card data.
More than 90 percent of persons charged in relation to such cases either pleaded guilty or were convicted after trial in the past years, receiving jail sentences ranging from eight months to six-and-a-half years.
After receiving the plague, Mr Cheung said investigation into card fraud cases by the ICAC revealed that more than often, the first crucial step taken by criminal syndicates was to get the corrupt assistance of restaurant and retail staff.
"We call it the 'common purchase points', where people handling customers' credit cards can 'skim' their card data for the syndicate to manufacture fake cards for uttering in Hong Kong as well as overseas.
"By reducing the points of compromise, we hope the activities of fake card syndicates would also be curbed," Mr Cheung said.
The ICAC would continue to strengthen co-operation with credit card industry and enhance intelligence network in deterring corruption facilitated card fraud, Mr Cheung added.
Souvenir plagues were today presented to the ICAC and Senior Investigator Heath Cheung by VISA International, in recognition of their expertise and contribution.
Robert DeMaria, Visa International's Head of Country Risk Management Asia Pacific Region, said the Commission had demonstrated a high standard of professionalism and dedication in cracking a number of major card fraud cases facilitated by corruption over the years.
"We believe that vigilant law enforcement by the ICAC and deterrent penalties imposed by the court have made counterfeit credit card fraud a high-risk crime in Hong Kong," Mr DeMaria said.
The ICAC received 31 and 28 corruption reports relating to counterfeit credit card fraud respectively in 1999 and 2000, of which 25 and 22 cases related to skimming of credit card data. Last year, such cases dropped to 17, 12 of which involved skimming o f card data.
More than 90 percent of persons charged in relation to such cases either pleaded guilty or were convicted after trial in the past years, receiving jail sentences ranging from eight months to six-and-a-half years.
After receiving the plague, Mr Cheung said investigation into card fraud cases by the ICAC revealed that more than often, the first crucial step taken by criminal syndicates was to get the corrupt assistance of restaurant and retail staff.
"We call it the 'common purchase points', where people handling customers' credit cards can 'skim' their card data for the syndicate to manufacture fake cards for uttering in Hong Kong as well as overseas.
"By reducing the points of compromise, we hope the activities of fake card syndicates would also be curbed," Mr Cheung said.
The ICAC would continue to strengthen co-operation with credit card industry and enhance intelligence network in deterring corruption facilitated card fraud, Mr Cheung added.