In an attempt to combat potential attacks, Financial Crimes Division has suggested the use of: biometric identifiers to verify applicants' identities and prevent application fraud; counterfeit deterrents such as four-color graphics and fine-line printing, and the use of holograms and embossing in the design of the card; and features that allow investigators to monitor transactions and use the audit trail to identify criminals who illegally traffic food benefit payments.

Although the new EBT system design is still evolving, one can be assured that criminals with expertise in credit/debit card fraud will attack a program of this magnitude. Fraud associated with EBT programs is a violation of two of the Secret Service's primary jurisdictions: Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029, Access Device Fraud and United States Code, Section 1030, Computer Fraud.

The Secret Service is involved in numerous task forces with federal, state, county, city, and local law enforcement agencies nationwide. Several of these task forces specifically target international organized crime groups and the proceeds of their criminal enterprises. All assets forfeited are shared with agencies represented on the task force.

These groups are not only involved in financial crimes, but investigations indicate that the proceeds obtained from financial fraud are being diverted toward other criminal enterprise.

Examples of Secret Service involvment in a variety of task forces are:

• West African Task Force
• Metro Alien Task Force
• Financial Crimes Task Force
• Asian Organized Crime Task Force
• Violent Crimes Task Force
• HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area)
• INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization)
• IBFWG (Interagency Bank Fraud Working Group)
• CABINET (Combined Agency Interdiction Network)

Asset Seizures and Forfeitures provides assistance to investigative offices by supplying counsel, direction, expertise and temporary support personnel as needed in terms of criminal investigations and the seizure and forfeiture of assets.

Major Initiatives are:

• Continued emphasis on forfeiture actions involving program fraud (e.g. food stamp fraud and Medicare fraud). This emphasis is underscored by specialized training of Secret Service personnel and proactive involvement in these investigations from onset to criminal prosecution.
• Continued funding of task forces that have prioritized the use of asset forfeiture as a significant criminal deterrent. Funding is provided for the purchase of investigative equipment and state/local law enforcement overtime costs.
• Continuation of an aggressive training program to enhance the quality and quantity of Secret Service seizures involving fraud and money laundering. Continued training of field investigators and support components, emphasizing basic asset forfeiture skills, and providing skill enhancement to those already possessing a basic knowledge of the program.
• As a funding source for the Service, allocates monies for the purchase of items having intrinsic law enforcement benefit and which perpetuate forfeiture investigations. Such items include vehicles, communications systems, law enforcement/forensic technologies, the purchase of evidence/information and other special initiative considerations.
• Coordination of the distribution of forfeited property requested for official use by Secret Service field offices, as well as other federal,state,and local law enforcement agencies participating in joint investigations resulting in the seizure and forfeiture of assets.

Between 1985 and the present, there has been a rapid growth of the number and type of criminal misuses of electronic technology investigated by the Secret Service. The degree of sophistication of today's criminal has advanced at an accelerated rate over the past few years.

The Electronic Crimes Branch provides service to special agents, who are located in more than 125 domestic and foreign offices.