Hello class,
Although we have come a long way in protecting our personal banking information it is clear that with enough determination, contacts, and wit some people are still capable of gaining access to this data Luckily, in this case, some sort of red flag or tip allowed the FBI to insert an undercover officer and bring this scheme to light. After review of facts presented in the article, I found the key sources of digital evidence used in trial are (FBI, 2011):
Recorded phone calls between Perkins and the agent Digital communication and purchase information between Perkins and his Ukraine contact Money transfers from the victims to Perkins Online banking profiles and account information set up in Perkins name Merchant accounts at American Express set up by Perkins Purchase of items used to make and encode counterfeit cards
The communication between Perkins and the agent provides data essential to the search warrant, however, the need for a search warrant must also be met to ensure the defendant can not claim an expectation of privacy (Singleton, T.W.S.A.J., 2010). Communication with banking officials and victims of the fraud may have led to the digital evidence needed to confirm details of the schemes and establish "probable cause" for the warrant. At that point, CFS can recover information on Perkins personal computers, cellphones, and other devices that contained the admissible evidence used in court. This digital fingerprint, along with data provided by American Express and SunTrust Bank, is what led to successful prosecution of Perkins and his fraud scheme.
References
Singleton, T.W.S.A. J. (2010). Fraud Auditing and Forensic Accounting (4th Edition). Wiley Professional Development (P&T). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780470877913
Atlanta Man Convicted by Jury for Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud Schemes (2011). The Federal Bureau of Investigation.https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/atlanta/press-releases/2o11/atlanta-man-convicted-by
jury-for-multi-million-dollar-fraud-schemes.