COMPUTER FORGERY

The next important crime we are going to discuss is  computer forgery.

Any person who creates, alters, or deletes any data contained in any computer or computer network, who, if such person has created altered, or deleted a tangible document or instrument would have committed forgery shall be guilty of the crime of computer forgery.

Here is an example for Computer Forgery,

Type of Case: family law
Court: Tarrant County in Fort Worth, TX
Plaintiff: Jane Doe
Defendant: Richard Roe

Description: Jane Doe and Richard Roe divorced. Once Richard Roe had remarried, a few years later Jane Doe decided to sue Richard Roe for additional assets. Jane Doe presented a document, purported to be a contract outside of the divorce decree between Richard Roe and her. This case was filed as a civil suit and was referred back to Family Court.

Summary

Timeline
Purported contract signed: June 5, 2003
Divorce finalized: June 20, 2003
Jane Doe purchased new computer: June 1, 2005
Suit filed: September 26, 2005

Claims of Plaintiff
Jane Doe claimed the contract was provided to her by Richard Roe in return for her agreeing to the divorce settlement. Jane Doe further claimed the contract was lost by her,  only to be rediscovered just prior to her filing the suit.

Defendants’ Response
Richard Roe claims the contract was a forgery.

Computer Forensic Evidence Recovered

There were three computers available to Jane Doe on which the purported contract could have been created. Only one of the computers contained information to support Richard Roe’s claims. Jane Doe purchased a new computer on June 1, 2005 but did not begin to install the computer until June 10, 2005. On June 28, 2005, Jane Doe performed her first login on the new computer.

Protegga was able to recover, more than seven months after the document was deleted, in excess of 75% of the purported contract from Jane Doe’s new computer system. Data was recovered from both unallocated file system space and from slack space at the end of newer files. While all metadata was completely overwritten, and, therefore, not recoverable, a timeline was established based upon dates that data was overwritten and from the Microsoft Windows Registry.

Through a detailed analysis of the computer system, it was verified that the contract was created between the dates of June 28, 2005 and July 3, 2005. Further editing continued until August 31, 2005. The computer forensic evidence indicated that at least six different edits occurred from July 20, 2005 to August 31, 2005.

Through interviews with Richard Roe and his new spouse, Protegga learned that Richard Roe, his new spouse, and his two children were on a 14-day pleasure cruise during the time frame in which the contract was created.

Jane Doe created a purported contract, she used it as a weapon to get some of Roe’s assets. The contract was adjusted to three pages and the final page had Richard Roe’s signature, which helped her in a greater way to cheat him. Doe was clever enough to make it with an accurate timeline so that no one could suspect her. Through computer forensic evidence they proved  that was a fake contract and Doe created it between the dates of  JUNE 28, 2005 and JULY 3, 2005.

 

This is an accurate example for computer forgery. In this world we have to be clever enough to prove ourselves correct and the opponent is guilty, you got to be aware about the fraudulent behaviour of others which would affect yourself, some may even try to destroy your identity. I hope everyone will be alert and prevent yourself from such activities. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.