NCJ Number
189659
Date Published
April 2001
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper presents four case studies that illustrate cross-border economic crime in the 21st century and then examines the criminal justice issues that are involved and sets the agenda for reform of this global crime problem.
Abstract
The first case study involves an offender who commits an offense in one country against a victim residing in another country. Sometimes even this relatively simple scenario has complications in determining legal jurisdiction. The second case study concerns a single offender who deceives multiple victims in other countries. The Internet has greatly facilitated the commission of such crimes. Other cases may involve conspiracy to defraud, in which a number of offenders located in one or a number of jurisdictions target a victim in one of those jurisdictions or some other jurisdiction. In another case study, a number of offenders target a number of victims who reside in a number of different countries, but they use essentially the same fraudulent strategy. The first approach to preventing cross-border crimes of the types described involves providing information to the public regarding the potential risks involved and freely sharing information between regulatory and law enforcement agencies. The second approach aims at encouraging victims to report incidents of economic crime to regulatory and law enforcement agencies globally rather than accepting the fact of their victimization and taking no further action. A third approach involves the reform and harmonization of laws internationally to permit the effective prosecution and punishment of offenders and also to prevent offenders from "forum shopping." The fourth approach involves the provision of training and resources to ensure that police and investigators are able to detect and investigate crimes effectively. 12 references