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CLEAR Temp: 62 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, October 2, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 19, 2003 Medford police add higher-tech crime unit By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune The Medford Police Department has moved to keep up with computer-savvy criminals by forming an investigative unit that will focus on financial and high-tech crimes. The new unit is being created in response to an increase in fraud, embezzlement, identity theft and computer crimes, said Medford Police Chief Eric Mellgren. In addition to detectives and support staff, the unit will coordinate with prosecutors, bankers and others in the financial industry, he said. "We’re going to be able to develop some real expertise," said Medford police Lt. Mike Moran. Fraud, embezzlement and identity theft have become increasingly common in recent years, particularly as criminals find opportunities via computers, police said. Advertisement "White-collar" crimes once were a low priority for detectives but are now too numerous to ignore, Moran said. More than twice the number of counterfeiting and forgery cases were reported to Medford Police Department during the first half of this year than in the same period last year. Cases involving check forgeries or "bad checks" increased by more than 20 percent in the same period. Computer check forgery schemes, such as one ending in the arrest last week of Medford resident Carl Aden Bryning, are becoming the norm, Moran said. Initially arrested on a probation violation, Bryning, 29, later was charged with 10 counts of unlawful use of a computer and four counts of identity theft after police found 14 computer-generated, forged checks in his possession. The checks — written for about $1,000 each — were made payable to Bryning from local real estate companies and nonprofit agencies, Moran said. None of the checks were cashed. Police also have to keep up on the latest scams, such as fraudulent telemarketing for personal information used in identity theft, e-mail pleas to wire money overseas and new account fraud, which involves writing a large number of checks from bank accounts containing minimal deposits. "Stealing has become a little more sophisticated," said Medford police Detective Sue Campbell. "We absolutely have to team up now." Campbell specializes in investigating embezzlement, check forgery and financial scams. But Campbell’s caseload is too much to handle alone. The new team will connect Campbell with another detective, police support staff, crime analysts, and private investigators from the banking and credit industries, Mellgren said. Representatives of the Oregon Banking Association, who met with Mellgren last week, supported the idea of a partnership, he said. The new unit won’t cost the police department any more, Mellgren said, because it will make use of existing employees. No date has been set for the team to officially start operating, Mellgren said. Portland and Eugene police are organizing similar groups, and likely will link their efforts with those of Medford police, Mellgren said. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times