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Date: 09/15/85 Revision: 11/30 /09 Reviewed: 01/08/25 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCED URE Number: DIS 211.00 Page: 1 of 3 SUBJECT: ECONOMIC CRIMES INVESTIGATIONS I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to provide guidelines for the investigation of economic crime offenses by personnel of the Department of Investigative Services. II. SCOPE: This procedure shall apply to all personnel assi gned to investigate economic crime offenses. III. DISCUSSION: The guidelines set forth in this procedure shall be used during economic crime inv estigations. The investigator will not be limit ed to these guidelines and shall take all steps which are reas onable and prudent to bring the investigation to a successful conclusion. IV. DEFINITIONS: Economic Crimes are defined as criminal activity involving, but not limited to: A. Identity Theft. B. Forged or Counterfeit Documents. 1. Forged checks 2. Count erfeit checks 3. Deeds 4. Money orders 5. Traveler's checks 6. Credit/Debit ca rds C. Fraudulent Use of Credit/Debit Cards (Felony cases). D. Schemes to Defraud and other related crimes. 1. Advance Fee Schemes 2. Pyramid Schemes 3. Business Opportunity S chemes 4. Planned Bankruptcy Schemes 5. Merchandising Schemes 6. Service and Repair Schemes 7. Land Sale Schemes 8. Home Improvement, Debt Consolidation, Mortgage Loan Schemes 9. Home Solicitation Schemes 10. Personal Improvement Schemes (Health Spas, Trad e Schools, Dance Studios) 11. Welfare Fraud Schemes 12. Bank Fraud 13. Busines s Merchandise Fraud 14. Charity Fraud DIS 211.00 11/30/09 Page 2 of 3 15. Check Kiting 16. Embezzlements 17. Insurance Fraud 18. Wire Fraud 19. Mortgage Fraud V. PROCEDURE: A. The previously listed and defi ned types of economic crimes shall be investigated by a detective assigned to the Economic Crimes Section of th e Criminal Investigations Division unless the offense is a misdemeanor. B. Insufficient funds, account closed and stop payment check cases shall be referred to the Worthless Check section of the State Attorney’s Office unl ess there is a clear intent to defraud the payee. C. Employee theft cases will normally be retained by the appropri ate District Office for investigation by the originating deput y or a property crimes detective. D. Misdemeanor Credit /Debit card fraud cases will normally be retained by the appropriate District Office for investigation by the originating deputy. E. Burglary and theft cases where checks or credit cards were stolen and used after the initial incident, will normally be retained at the appropr iate District Office for investigation by the originati ng deputy or a property crimes detective. F. Deputies respon ding to calls where a counterfeit United States Postal Money Order has been uttered should follow the same procedures used to investigate other incidents involving the uttering of forged instruments. Counterfeit United States Postal Money Orders shall be handled in the same manner as counterfei t currency cases and sh ould be routed to the U nited States Postal Inspection Service by the editing s upervisor. Although detectives in the Economic Crimes Section will continue to receive copies of reports involving c ounterfeit United States Postal Money Orders, they will not be assigned to a detective on a routine basis for latent investigation . 1. If a deputy encounters a situation where a suspect is taken into custody for uttering o r possession of a counterfeit United States Postal Money Order during regular business hours, c ontact should be made with the United States Postal Inspectors at (813 -281-5267) or (813-281-5237). After normal business hours, depu ties should contact the main office number for the Postal Ins pection Service (813 -281-5200) and ask for the duty officer. I f Postal Inspectors are unable to respond and latent investigation is needed, the on -call supervisor for Economic Crimes should be contacted. 2. In cases where a counterfeit United States Postal Money Order investigation shows a lack of criminal intent by the presen ter or participants, deputies may contact the United States Postal Inspectors at 813 -281-5248 during normal business hours . Postal Inspectors will accept all original counterfeit mone y orders and a copy of the information report. Deputies origin ating these reports should complete a property release form which releases the money order(s) to the Postal Inspectors unless an arrest is made, and the evidence needs to be retained. DIS 211.00 11/30/09 Page 3 of 3 G. Counterfeit U.S. Currency will be referred to the United States Sec ret Service for latent investigation. Nikki Bosley , Colonel Department of Investigative Services Amends or Supersedes: ENF-612.20 , DIS 325.10