BMV Investigations
John Born, Director
Ohio Dept of Public Safety
Mike Rankin, Registrar
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Fraud Identification &
Prevention
Ohio’s Commerce Professionals and the BMV;
Partnering for a Safer Ohio
How can the BMV help?
• Currently there are more than 8.9 million
driver license and identification card holders
in Ohio.
• The documents are issued by the Ohio BMV
on a daily basis, and relied upon by you for
positive identification of the customer or
client.
• Fraudulently obtained and counterfeit driver
licenses and identification cards are a key
component in the FASTEST growing crime
which costs us more than all other property
crimes combined(1).
1- Bureau of Justice Statistics (2013)
It’s not JUST money
VICTIM #1
19 yrs old
VICTIM #2
17 yrs old
VICTIM #2 FORCED
TO ASSUME IDENTITY
OF VICTIM #1
VICTIM #2 FORCED
TO APPLY FOR PUBLIC
BENEFIT AS #1
VICTIM #2 FORCED
TO CONDUCT
FINANCIAL
TRANSACTIONS AS #1
Illicit acts completed through the
theft of personal identifying
information is often times found in
more than just financial crimes. This
case found a stolen identity was used
for interstate prostitution/ human
trafficking
VICTIM #2 FORCED
TO OBTAIN OHIO ID
CARD AS #1 TO
AVOID DETECTION BY
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Key Tips to Remember
1.
2.
3.
4.
Remove the document
Examine the document
Compare the document
REACT
1. Ask for the document to be removed
Counterfeiters know that they
are often not required to
remove the document from
a wallet or case.
Poorly constructed counterfeit
documents often tear, rip,
or are otherwise mutilated
once removed from a wallet
or case.
2. Document Examination
Note the tool mark used to
open a completely new account
with changing the driver license
number from “UE” to “UF”
Secure documents do not
easily separate or “peel”
2a. Document Examination
Authentic
documents
contain clear
focused
images.
Poor scissor
skills and
improper
shadowing
easily
detected
For example,
look at the
flower on the
counterfeit
(top) license
verses the
flower on the
authentic
(bottom).
2b. But Wait… I have a mag stripe reader
Just because it scans does
NOT
make the document
authentic
Each of the counterfeit documents
confiscated above had holograms and
when scanned, indicated the same
fraudulent information that is on the
front of the document.
3. Compare the Document to the Presenter
??????-NO
Compare the image to
the person who is
presenting the document.
Be vigilant for sunglasses
or other feature altering
items of clothing (hats,
hooded sweatshirts).
3a. More than 1 document?
Pay close attention to the issue
dates of the documents as
counterfeiters may use the
same dates of issuance and
often the same photo .
4. Take Action: REACT
• Remain calm
– Detecting a fraud is exciting, and the customer or client
may be more or equally nervous.
• Evaluate
– If possible remove yourself for a moment to an office or to
a coworkers station to evaluate your findings.
• Ask for help
– Speak with a supervisor or manager about what you have
found and what the next course of action should be.
• Contact authorities as per your procedure
– Identity fraud is a crime and the fraud you may have
detected may lead to the solution of numerous other
reported cases.
• Track the activity
– The actions taken by the customer or client who is
perpetuating the fraud, may be replicated at another time.
Good detailed documentation will help your co-workers or
you in the event of prosecution of the suspect.
BMV Investigations – Here for you
BMV Investigations has district offices around the state
and Investigators who are prepared to provide assistance
in the event of identity fraud. Along with their primary
duties listed below, BMV Investigations:
Investigate fraud regarding drivers licenses, ID cards,
vehicle registrations, titles, and matters pertaining to the
Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Assist and educate criminal justice professionals, BMV
colleagues and the public regarding identity theft and
methods of detection, prevention and reaction.
BMV Investigations District Contacts
Toledo District Office (1)
4400 Heatherdowns Blvd.
Toledo, Ohio 43614
Melody Price - Supervisor
(p) 419.327.8989 (f) 419.245.2653
Cleveland District Office (2)
12000 Snow Rd. Unit 15
Parma, Ohio 44130
Mark D. Hoy - Supervisor
(p) 440.845.1264 (f) 440.845.1313
Youngstown District Office (3)
831 Southwestern Run #2
Youngstown, Ohio 44514
Mary D’Amato- Supervisor
(p) 330.629.2145 (f) 330.629.2603
Central Ohio District Office (4)
1970 West Broad St.
Columbus, Ohio 43223
Darren Lucas- Chief
Todd Ballinger- Assistant Chief
(p) 614.752.4885 (f) 614.752.7008
Southeast Ohio District Office (5)
1583 Alum Creek Dr.
Columbus, Ohio 43209
Angi Copley- Supervisor
(p) 614.752.7513 (f) 614.752.8383
Cincinnati District Office (6)
10948 Hamilton Ave.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45231
Mike Kessler- Supervisor
(p) 513.742.7514 (f) 513.742.7549
The End