Full Notification

The Southern California High Tech Task Force (SCHTTF) is a collaborative effort of local, county state, and federal law enforcement agencies working in unison to combat high tech crime involving the internet, intellectual property, computer equipment, emerging technologies, theft of identity information and numerous other high tech crimes. The SCHTTF includes members of both federal and local law enforcement agencies throughout Los Angeles County working jointly to combat cyber crimes and fraud. 

 

 

On Sunday, December 15, 2013, detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department assigned to the SCHTTF, worked with United States Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel, and arrested two suspects involved in installing card-skimming devices in banks in affluent areas located in the southern part of the San Fernando Valley. 

 

 

The investigation began in September, 2012, when detectives working in a joint investigation with two banking entities became alerted to skimming devices being installed at banks in Sherman Oaks and Encino. 

 

 

Working off leads provided by bank investors, taskforce investigators developed information which led to both suspects being arrested. Their vehicle was stopped Sunday morning, December 15, 2013, by undercover law enforcement officers, on the Ventura Boulevard on-ramp to the Interstate 405 Freeway, in Encino. Both suspects were booked at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station. 

 

 

Search warrants were served at both suspects’ homes later the same day. Evidence indicating the suspects were involved in the criminal act of installing skimming devices on ATMs was recovered. 

 

 

Multiple felony counts of Identity Theft were filed against the two men, Georgi Nikolov, 32, of North Hollywood, and Dimitar Dimitrov, 36, of Santa Monica, with the High Tech Crimes Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Nikolov and Dimitrov are both being held in the Los Angeles County jail system, in lieu of $70,000 bail. 

 

 

The Southern California High Tech Task Force includes members of both federal and local law enforcement agencies throughout Los Angeles County working jointly to combat cyber crimes and fraud. 

 

 

 

**** For additional information, please contact: 

 

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Josh Mankini at 562-347-2662 or Lieutenant Patrick Libertone at 562-347-2660. 

 

 

FRAUD AND IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION 

Victims Guide to Fraud: 

http://la-sheriff.org/sites/CCB_Internet/TriFolds/Fraud_Victim_Trifold.pdf 

Victim’s Guide for Identity Theft: 

http://la-sheriff.org/sites/CCB_Internet/TriFolds/ID_Theft_Victim_Guide.pdf 

 

http://la-sheriff.org/sites/CCB_Internet/fraud.htm 

 

Tips on how to avoid becoming a victim 

Avoiding identity theft is not simple but there are several common sense things consumers can do: 

 

Keep personal information in a safe place and avoid storing important documents in easily accessible places like glove boxes or day planners. 

 

Don't give your social security or account number over the phone to anyone who has called you, or to anyone you don't know. Don't be afraid to ask why your personal information is needed and how it will be used. 

 

Shred all documents that contain personal information before tossing them out. Never simply toss documents that contain your social security number in the trash can. 

 

Cancel your paper bills and statements wherever possible and instead check your statements and pay bills on-line from financial institution secure websites. 

 

Monitor your account balances and activity electronically (at least once per week). 

 

If you don't have access to on-line accounts, review your paper bank and credit card statements monthly. 

 

Refrain from carrying unnecessary information such as PIN's, passwords, or social security numbers in your wallet or purse. 

 

Retrieve paper mail from your mailbox promptly and deposit outgoing mail containing sensitive information in a secure mailbox. 

 

 

Forwarded by: 

 

Peter Gomez, Deputy 

 

Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom 

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 

323-267-4800 

Email: [email protected] 

Website: http://www.lasd.org 

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http://nixle.com/lasd----hq-newsroom-shb-los-angeles-county-sheriff/ 

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LASD YouTube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/LACountySheriff/videos?view=0 

 

Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org 

 

Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff 

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 

 

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