Page 9 - BOSS Today Issue 5

Crime-fighting
Update on Project Genesius

A report of the meeting held locations during raids on Be aware
at the Serious Organised production factories (usually The meeting was told that any
Crime Agency offices, London, rooms in houses) where telephone numbers beginning
on 8 September. counterfeit driving licences, with 0702 or 0703 are premium rate
The meeting looked at the passports and identity cards numbers, not mobile numbers. They Overseas progress
progress this valuable initiative has were found. Possible conspiracy are legal, but calls made from the Interpol have signed up to
made. Detective Chief Inspector, charges are to be brought number could be switched through participate in Project Genesius and
Nick Downing, Head of project against those involved and to anywhere in the world, and the a representative will attend future
Genesius, is preparing a document for possession of equipment. scam is just to keep the call open for meetings. Nick Downing’s team are
detailing the work of Project Anyone found in possession of as long as possible to rack up charges. working closely with Interpol to
Genesius and the voluntary code equipment to produce false or The meeting was also told that the identify whether the success rates
of practice operated by industry, counterfeit identity can face a first six numbers on a credit card are of Project Genesius activities in the
with a request for legislation to be prison sentence of up to ten the BIN (Bank Identification Number). UK are resulting in less equipment
put in place to make it an offence years. If an order is received in the UK and to manufacture false and counterfeit
to “knowingly supply items for Since the last meeting in April, paid for on a credit card, the BIN identities being brought into the
the manufacture of false identity 50 industry participants have allows identification of where the country from Europe. The team
documents”. The steering group made 50 referrals to police in bank account is held. For example, already know that many of the blank
will be asked to approve the final Project Genesius, making a total it would be suspicious if the BIN passports and identity cards come
draft and sign up to it before it’s of 538 over the previous three identified a credit card held at a bank into the UK from across Europe.
sent to the Home Office. years since Project Genesius was in lowa, but goods were ordered in One of the blank cards known
Downing explained that there launched. the UK. to be printed in the U.K. is the
are three separate operational National Identity Fraud Week, counterfeit “National Insurance Card”.
teams under his leadership. These Referrals since April included: sponsored by Fellowes, will take Nick Downing has personally offered
are named PREVENT: Project ✱ Fargo and Zebra equipment place during 18-22 October. a reward to anyone who can point his
Genesius (Manufacture); DISRUPT: and printer ribbons seized. Project Genesius researcher team in the direction of where those
Operation Maxim (Supply); and ✱ Rubber stamps used Detective Sergeant Russ Middleton cards are being printed.
HINDER: Operation Amberhill (Use). fraudulently. displayed a variety of fake identity Homeland Security in America
✱ Embossing Seal for University cards and passports (including one has taken up Project Genesius and
Operational update of South Los Angeles – overseas passport with a false rubber manufacturing participants in the
Details were given on four ordered from Kilburn. stamp embassy impression on the USA will be encouraged to put an
separate operations since the ✱ Rubber stamps depicting identity page) and a photograph almost identical logo and caveat on
previous meeting. All involved Ghanaian bank note showing a range of rubber stamps their websites in an effort to deter
Lithuanian suspects, and denominations. found at the illegal production illegal ordering.
evidence gathered during the ✱ A genuine order for a rubber house. Most of the stamps were
investigations suggested links stamp for a major in the Scots easily recognisable as coming n FOR MORE INFORMATION
between all four groups. Dragoons resulted in praise from UK stamp makers, or from CONTACT PHILIPPA MORRELL,
Fargo and Zebra equipment from the major concerned stamp makers who had sourced SECRETARY OF THE GUILD, ON
valued at circa £10,000 per for the security checks proved components in or from 0845 450 1565 or BY EMAIL AT
address was seized at various by the industry. the UK. philippa@bossfederation.co.uk

Fact

From January to July this year, over
2 million printers were sold in the total
printing market – that’s one printer for
every person in Latvia.

Data courtesy of GFK, www.gfkrt.com/uk, the providers of the BOSS Market Tracking service. For further
information please visit www.bossfederation.co.uk and click on the Market Tracking Service page.

October 2010 | BOSS TODAY 9

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