Forensic experts in payment card fraud meet in Rome

Top experts in the field of payment card fraud (PCF), particularly the examination of skimming equipment, attended the 5^th ‘Forensic Expert Meeting & Training on Examination of Skimming Devices’ in Rome on 16 to 18 April 2012. The event was organised by Europol and the Italian Arma dei Carabinieri, and hosted at Rome’sComando Unità Mobili e Specializzate Carabinieri ‘Palidoro’.

The training was attended by investigators from Comando Carabinieri Antifalsificazione Monetaria, forensic experts from the Raggruppamento Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche, other Italian police forces and 19 delegations from European law enforcement agencies, Europol, and private sector representatives such as Telecom Italia, Wincor Nixdorf and Citibank.

The Europol ‘PaySafe-PCF’ platform of forensic/technical experts examining skimming devices was demonstrated as part of the training. The platform is one of the latest products from the Europol Cyber Crime Centre to fight international payment card fraud (PCF) and is part of the EPE – Europol Platform for Experts. The main aim of the ‘PaySafe-PCF’ platform is to communicate and exchange technical/forensic information, experience and best practices on the skimming and payment card fraud phenomenon as well as to build a worldwide forensic/technical library of seized and examined skimming equipment.

The event’s great success was thanks to contributions from more than 50 experts from 12 countries, the Italian police forces and Europol. The valuable training was possible through the teamwork of members of the Forensic Expert network established through Europol. Special thanks were also given to the event’s speakers including experts from the National Laboratories of the Italian Carabinieri, the German BKA, the French Gendarmerie, the Finnish NBI, and the Swedish SKL.

Participants expressed how they would be very keen to see more of these meetings organised on a regular basis, strengthening relationships among experts, extending their knowledge, and making a significant contribution to the fight against international payment card fraud.