DMV News Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEThursday, January 31, 2008
Media Contact: Melanie Stokes
Department of Motor Vehicles
(804) 367-6623
DMV Zero Fraud Hotline Receives More Than 1,000 Tips in 2007
ID Theft, Fraud Prevention is Goal of Hotline
RICHMOND - During its second year, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Zero Fraud hotline received 1,447 tips, which is a nine percent increase over last year's number of tips. The hotline produced 612 investigations, five arrests and two $400 rewards for callers.
The Zero Fraud hotline, 1-877-ZERO-FRAUD (1-877-937-6372), was established in 2006 for DMV employees and customers to report information about suspected fraud regarding Virginia driver's licenses or identification cards. Tips may be anonymous. Information that leads to arrests may also net rewards of up to $1,000.
A $400 reward was given to a Texas resident in March 2007 after the individual provided a tip regarding identity theft. DMV special agents arrested the suspect. The tip resulted in a felony conviction and the criminal's deportation.
The second $400 reward in 2007 was given to a Virginia resident who provided information concerning driver's license fraud. The information resulted in a felony conviction last July.
"Criminals are attempting to beat the system to illegally obtain driver's licenses and ID cards," said DMV Deputy Commissioner Karen Chappell, chair of the Virginia Operation Integrity Task Force. "We won't tolerate fraud. Protecting the integrity of these credentials and protecting the public from ID theft are the top priorities of the task force."
Zero Fraud is a collaborative effort of Virginia's Operation Integrity Task Force. Partners include the Office of the Attorney General, Virginia State Police, Virginia Sheriff's Association, Virginia Chiefs of Police Association, Virginia Association of Commonwealth Attorneys and DMV.
The task force members are Martinsville Sheriff Steve M. Draper, Yorktown Commonwealth's Attorney Eileen Addison, Lt. Colonel H.C. Davis from the Virginia State Police, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Hicks-Thomas, Lt. Colonel and Deputy Chief Louis Tayon from the Chesapeake Police Department, DMV Special Investigative Unit Director Joe Hill, DMV Law Enforcement Services Director Don Boswell, DMV Communications Director Pam Goheen and DMV Deputy Commissioner Karen Chappell.
