The International Chambers of Commerce Commercial Crime Services has launched a new forensic services arm to reveal even the most sophisticated fakes.
The International Chambers of Commerce Commercial Crime Services has launched a new forensic services arm to reveal even the most sophisticated fakes. The new division will also be able to give the accompanying legal advice, and to draw on its library of past examples of counterfeiting cases and their outcomes. Peter Lowe, who runs the new service, says: ?As counterfeits get more sophisticated, businesses are increasingly needing to test for fakes. We now provide the equipment and the expertise to answer this need.? According to Mr Lowe, the main activities of the new service include detailed analyses of holograms, packaging, handwriting and financial documents such as bills of lading – all of which can reveal clues vital to the detection of fakes and the eventual prosecution of fraudsters.
CCS expects a key role to be the authentication of suspect documents in commercial transactions. Banks, for example, often have to rely on little more than a signature as proof of a customer’s identity, making the transfer of large sums of money a risky business. This is where CCS can step in, providing handwriting analysis to check the authenticity of the transferor, and advice on the identity of the person, with other established due diligence services.
Pottengal Mukundan, Director of Commercial Crime Services, says: ?The new service will boost the scope of our existing services. We believe it provides a good, cost effective way for many of our members to enhance their efforts to deter commercial crime, protect themselves against becoming victims, or defend themselves from accusations of wrongdoing.? CCS say the new service will be particularly beneficial to its members operating in say Eastern Europe where access to trusted and reliable high-tech forensic services is limited. See www.iccwbo.org.
