XN000022-1988-06-22 — Page 38

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1988

MR BARNES SAID THAT OVER THE LAST FIVE

YEARS, CASES REPORTED TO THE POLICE OF THE UNLAWFUL USE OF CARDS HAD DECLINED FROM 138 IN 1983 TO 53 IN 1987.

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THE NUMBER OF STOLEN CREDIT

BASED ON REPORTS IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS, IT WAS ESTIMATED THERE WOULD BE 48 CASES THIS YEAR.

HOWEVER, MR BARNES CAUTIONED THAT THE POLICE BELIEVED A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF STOLEN CREDIT CARDS WERE USED IN HONG KONG WITHOUT REPORTS EVER BEING MADE TO THEM.

HE SAID THE COUNTERFEIT AND FORGERY DIVISION OF THE COMMERCIAL CRIME BUREAU KEPT IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH SENIOR EXECUTIVES IN LOCAL CREDIT AND CHARGE CARD COMPANIES.

THE EXERCISE WAS TO KEEP THE POLICE ABREAST OF DEVELOPMENTS CREDIT CARD CRIME AND TO MINIMISE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRIMINALS.

IN

"IN 1987 AND EARLY 1988, THE DIVISION, WORKING CLOSELY WITH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS CARD ISSUING COMPANIES, CONDUCTED A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS AGAINST OVERSEAS SYNDICATES USING STOLEN CREDIT CARDS IN HONG KONG, MR BARNES SAID.

"SIX KEY FIGURES WERE CONVICTED OF CRIMINAL OFFENCES RELATING ΤΟ SYNDICATE ACTIVITIES AND SENTENCED ΤΟ TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT BETWEEN SIX AND 18 MONTHS.

"

TURNING TO PREVENTIVE MEASURES, MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT SOME BANKS PERSISTED IN SENDING CREDIT CARDS THROUGH THE MAIL, OFTEN BY UNREGISTERED MAIL, AND MANY WERE STOLEN.

THERE WAS ALSO FIERCE COMPETITION IN THE CREDIT CARD INDUSTRY ITSELF WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOWER STANDARDS OF SCREENING CARD APPLICANTS.

THERE WAS CERTAINLY

SCOPE FOR CARD ISSUING COMPANIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE OVERSEAS, TO IMPROVE THEIR OWN SECURITY, HE ADDED.

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