Wash. cops get wise to Internet-borne crime
Bellingham police are ready to go after more online criminals. Motivated by the rising number of Internet fraud, theft and sexual abuse cases nationwide, Bellingham has sent one officer for training on how to gather evidence from suspects’ computers. Other officers will be trained to track down people who rip off people by misrepresenting themselves and their products at Internet auctions or by using technology to steal people’s identities. Since April last year, when the police department began tracking Internet fraud cases, officers have received 37 reports from people who say they were victimized via the Internet, said Sgt. David Richards. That number will likely keep growing, said police chief Randy Carroll. Full Story