Fake Driver's License - Internet Fraud

[craftycockney]

Hello

Need some advice please on how to prove that a Pennsylvania driver’s license has been faked. The problem is that there is no hard copy to see as such because the license only appears to exist, currently displayed on someone’s website as an image and I doubt the license is actually being used for it's usual purpose – see later. A link can be supplied direct to the image if required.

Quick history is as follows:

The owner of the license (known internet fraudster) is currently marketing a supplement for a skin condition which he claims has put him in remission. In March this year he put up on his website a scanned copy of his PA driver’s license, which he claims was issued in February 2009, so that everybody could see proof of his current appearance from the photograph on the license. To me the license appears to be an obvious fake for a variety of reasons but the main one is that the picture has got to be at least 10 years old. Even more ridiculous is that the owner was still living in another US state at the time and is currently still believed to be living there. He is currently being chased by the CPD of this state for money he owes an internet client but so far he isn’t answering any communications.

I immediately reported the suspected faked driver’s license to Penn DOT and it was told it would come under investigation. It is an offence under their law to knowingly display a faked or forged driver’s license. I also reported the license to the PD of the owner’s current known state of residence together with his fraudulent activities but so far have had no positive reaction other than you need to discuss with the AGO, which therefore means you go round in circles with nobody accepting responsibility..

Follow up e mails to Penn DOT for updates have been met with “sorry but unable to discuss due to the Federal Privacy Protection Act”. So currently five months after reporting the suspicious license, it still remains up displayed on the owner’s website in full view of anybody who visits interested in buying his product. It is an obvious case of internet fraud through deception and the owner has refused all requests to display genuine, clear cut digital photographs of his current appearance. Of course he still refers everybody to his website drivers license claiming it is genuine and if it wasn't he would have been forced to remove it after all this time.

How can I obtain proof that this license is a fake and then have the owner forced to remove it from his website. Given that this particular website contains other faked pictures and deceptive information, is it possible to have the whole website shut down?

Any advice greatly appreciated, especially if it helps rid the world of another devious conman who preys on innocent people.

Regards

CC

[Big_Montana]

Not sure about a lot of the stuff your asking as I was a Cop in a different jurisdiction, although you could check out.
IC3.gov
if the guy is selling this stuff on the internet it is often dealing with two or more states and therefore an two or more state issue, the IC3 would be another avenue you could take, but expect them to be pretty slow.

-Deke

[kels]

Try talking to the nice people who collect taxes.
If he is selling the product on the internet out of
his house, I would bet he has tax issues.

[Roger Dat]

Youve already alerted the authorities and they are investigting. What more do you want?

[charlydevo]

You have to slow down and be patient. This is the real world, not NCIS. These sort of cases take time. You have alerted the authorities. If the man is doing something illegal, it will be dealt with. But, that might not happen for months, or even years. I know that you might think that it is a cut and dry case. But, that is because you don't understand many of the issues that the law enforcement people have to deal with. The LE authorities aren't as concerned with moving in right away and arresting this guy as they are with making a solid case that will stick and win in court.

Relax.

[craftycockney]

Not sure about a lot of the stuff your asking as I was a Cop in a different jurisdiction, although you could check out.
IC3.gov
if the guy is selling this stuff on the internet it is often dealing with two or more states and therefore an two or more state issue, the IC3 would be another avenue you could take, but expect them to be pretty slow.

-Deke

Hello Deke

The first step was the local Attorney Generals Office and then it was referred to the CPD after other complaints were received. The guy also has Dr. in front of his name but isn’t an MD and it looks like some of his qualifications are faked. The CPD have mentioned IC3.gov plus the FBI link but as with all these organizations you can get palmed off from department to department and finish up going round in ever decreasing circles. Obviously reporting the DL to Penn DOT was an obvious step but he isn’t using the DL because he doesn’t live in PA, just displaying it to deceive Joe Public regarding his appearance. Not sure how common this is and what the DOT’s procedure is in dealing with these type of issue – if they are bothered? As you know it’s pretty easy to get a fake DL off the internet for any US state and add any photo or details you want.

Thanks CC

[craftycockney]

Try talking to the nice people who collect taxes.
If he is selling the product on the internet out of
his house, I would bet he has tax issues.

Hello Kels

Yeah the nice Tax people. Good point and they can usually find you, wherever you might be. He may be in financial difficulty especially as his product launch isn’t going too well, so they could be worth contacting. What’s the saying – “There are only two certainties in life – death and taxes”

Thanks CC

[craftycockney]

Youve already alerted the authorities and they are investigting. What more do you want?

Hello Roget Dat

Err – maybe I would like some action. Just because I’ve alerted the authorities and they say they are investigating doesn’t necessarily mean they are actually doing anything, does it? For all I know my complaint is sitting at the bottom of some dudes filing tray gathering dust. Anyway what’s with this “Federal Privacy Protection Act” Why does everybody clam up in the US and use this as an excuse when you want to expose a crook?

Thanks CC

[craftycockney]

You have to slow down and be patient. This is the real world, not NCIS. These sort of cases take time. You have alerted the authorities. If the man is doing something illegal, it will be dealt with. But, that might not happen for months, or even years. I know that you might think that it is a cut and dry case. But, that is because you don't understand many of the issues that the law enforcement people have to deal with. The LE authorities aren't as concerned with moving in right away and arresting this guy as they are with making a solid case that will stick and win in court.

Relax.

Hello Chuck

Points appreciated but I don’t watch NCIS here in the UK. Sure I know it’s not easy with the issues you guys have to deal with but this faker has been getting away with it for ages and the authorities just seem to turn a blind eye. However he isn’t finding it so easy now because although the internet is his main medium for advertising and peddling his wares, it’s also useful for those wishing to find out more information about him. Amazing what you can find via “Google” so hopefully some people do their homework first before giving him their credit card number.

Sure I know fraud cases can be very complex and time consuming but if this takes years, then he may well have made his fortune by then and disappeared. Hopefully his current product will bomb and he will head off to skid row, unless of course he comes up with another scam before then. Is internet fraud receiving the full attention of the authorities that it deserves?

Thanks CC

[GoDirectly2Jail]

Is internet fraud receiving the full attention of the authorities that it deserves?

Does any crime?

[charlydevo]

I don't know if I missed it, and I don't want to read the whole string again. Can you give us a link to the site in question?

[craftycockney]

Chuck

I'll send you some links via PM and then it should all fall into place.

Thanks CC

[SnapShawt]

Your information will taken and dealt with. It sounds like you are expecting to be "kept in the loop" so to speak, and that's just not going to happen. Yes, for all you know, it could be in the trash. Or it could be under some serious investigative scrutiny and work. In any case, that's all you know and all you NEED to know. If an arrest is made and charges are filed, then you'll know what came of it. In any case, it's something that takes a good bit of time and you will not be kept informed of every, or ANY for that matter, step being taken.

If I were to deal with you, for example, and you called wanting to know where things were at, I'd simply say, "Mr. crafty, thank you for the information. Please know that it will be scrutinized and further investigated if necessary and appropriate. Thank you for being an involved and concerned citizen, but please understand that you have no further involvement in this matter and will not be kept informed as to its investigation." And that would be that.

[Roger Dat]

You dont get to pick and choose when things get investigated or how. You did your part now let it run its course.

[Cat_Doc]

Don't ya just hate the "Cop Shoppers"?????