Research takes professor into the underworld

Jerome Jackson, professor of criminology, may be the only researcher in the world to study active credit card criminals in their own environments.

It might be the lady next door who drives the Mercedes and has a gorgeous front yard. Or perhaps it is the gentle-man in the Brooks Brothers suit at the bank who treated you kindly.

It could be these two people or a dozen others like them who are trying to steal your money and identity when you least suspect it. Who are they?

They are Fraud Masters, says Dr. Jerome Jackson, professor of criminology.

"Fraud Masters is a term I coined to identify this type of criminal," said Jackson. "Because of the level of their skill and the planning involved in the scams these offenders carry out, they are masters at what they do - steal your identity and your credit worthiness."

Jackson inadvertently stumbled onto these elusive criminals as part of a broader research project. "I was interviewing an admitted credit card fraud artist for a newspaper article I was writing. He was a group leader and set-up man for the credit card fraud operations," Jackson said. "When he told his story I was shocked. I had to learn more. So I asked if he could get me into the group."

With the help of the group leader, Jackson was taken to a major western city and quickly submerged in the gang underworld, which happened to be in a pretty nice neighborhood, according to him.

"These people spend money ­ other people's money, so they have lots of expensive things," said Jackson. "I had to establish rapport with the gang members to gain access to their world. I had to work hard to earn their trust and convince them that I was not there to arrest them, but just to observe their activities and behaviors in their environment."

Jackson said the group leader introduced him to other criminals. Jackson made changes to his appearance because the gang members kept telling him he "looked like a cop."

"The group leader made suggestions to me concerning what to wear, how to look and what to say," said Jackson. "I had to grow a beard and dress a little different."

In what appeared to be a small army of people involved with this credit fraud gang, Jackson said he was able to convince 14 members between the ages of 24 and 32 to agree to be part of the study.

"I lived with them, ate with them, watched television with them off and on for more than two and a half years. I was doing some very dangerous field work by studying these offenders," he said.

Jackson did not allow himself to witness, participate or become involved with any criminal activity. "I simply observed behaviors, moved in select circles with select people, and asked a lot of questions," said Jackson.

Jackson said credit card criminals do not look like what you might expect. "They blend into neighborhoods, businesses, and communities like any other middle or upper- middle class citizen in the United States."

The crimes are so sophisticated and the credit destruction so complete, according to Jackson, that victims usually have to hire lawyers to clear their names. He said that in most cases, the victim does not even know what is happening until it is too late. Jackson said these criminals feel no remorse and even taunt the authorities.

Office mate and criminology colleague Dr. Eric Hickey, who has a national reputa-tion for his profiling of the Unabomber, says that Jackson is a fascinating individual.

"I have to say that he has risked his life to gather this information," said Hickey. "He is very dedicated to this research."

Jackson is the book review editor for the Journal of Criminal Justice Education. He has received awards for his poetry. A former associate pastor at St. Rest Baptist Church in Fresno and the pastor elect of Christian Community Church in Fresno, Jackson is a community activist and enjoys volunteering with youth groups. In February, Jackson received the distinguished Rosa Parks Award for Community Service from the African Peoples History Month Committee in Fresno.

During Commencement in May, Jackson's special talents will be recognized by Fresno State with one of the university's highest academic honors, the Provost's Award for Excellence in Teaching for Faculty Service.

Tips to help prevent credit card fraud

What can you do to protect yourself from this type of criminal?

• Never give out identification information over the phone to someone you do not know unless you have initiated the call and know the business to be legitimate.
• Check your credit file at least twice a year by calling a national credit reporting agency. (The local Yellow Pages will have listings.)
• Don't leave preferred customer offers and new check orders in your mailbox for long.
• Reveal as little personal information as necessary to private organizations like video rental stores.
• Use caution when providing personal information on a Web site, especially information relating to credit. Check to make sure the site is secured.
• Keep a list of all your credit cards and the account numbers in a safe place, like a safe deposit box.
• Cancel all credit card accounts that have not been used in a year or more.
• Report lost or stolen cards to the company immediately.
• As soon as you receive a new credit card, activate it by calling the toll-free number supplied by the company. Request an additional identification code other than your mother's maiden name.
• If you believe you are a victim of credit card fraud, report it im-mediately to the police ­ be sure to get a case file number. Cancel all accounts that might be involved and get new cards and account numbers.

Back to University Journal, 5/11/98 Issue