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The recent increase in criminal
activity involving the use of computers prompted District Attorney Tim Curry to
create the Computer Crimes Unit of the District Attorney’s Office. The Tarrant
County Commissioner’s
 Court also
recognized the need to attack criminal conduct in this area. It funded the unit
effective October 1, 2001. As a component of the Economic Crimes Unit, the
Computer Crimes Unit works to educate the public to prevent computer crime, and
to prosecute the perpetrators. Complaints are received from a variety of
sources. The unit is prosecutes such offenses as Possession of Child
Pornography, Identity Theft, Breach of Computer Security, Theft and fraud. Many
criminals use a computer as their weapon to prey upon citizens and, in doing so,
leave fragile digital evidence behind. The Computer Crimes Unit utilizes
forensic technology and computer examiners to search out and retrieve evidence
secreted in digital memory. This evidence is then used in trials prosecuted by
members of the unit.
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In addition, the unit serves as
Tarrant County’s main connection to the coordinated efforts of federal, state,
and local law enforcement agencies by assisting in on-line and Internet
investigations initiated through the
Internet Fraud Complaint Center. The Computer Crimes Unit
staff receives, reviews, and investigates the complaints referred by the IFCC
and attempts to identify and prosecute the perpetrators.
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The unit also assists other state and
local law enforcement in the investigation of computer crimes. Its computer
forensic experts assist in the execution of computer search warrants in an
effort to capture evidence of criminal activity. Most criminal conduct involving
the Internet crosses state, local, and even national boundaries. The Computer
Crimes Unit is active in the web community building a network of on-line
enforcement relationships throughout the United States. This network is an
essential element in the apprehension and prosecution of computer criminals.
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In the event you have fallen victim to
some form of computer crime, you may contact the
Computer Crimes Unit at 817-212-7371 or download the
following complaint form using Adobe Acrobat Reader
and mail or fax to:
Computer Crimes Unit
Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney
401 W. Belknap
Fort Worth, Texas 76196
(Facsimile: 817-212-7372) |
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Computer
Crime Complaint Form
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