SHREVEPORT, La. — The Shreveport-Caddo Financial Crimes Task Force is investigating a series of bank fraud cases involving fraudulent withdrawals and allegedly fraudulent identification documents, police said.
Investigators began looking into multiple reports from financial institutions and individual victims in early August. They reviewed police reports, photographs and surveillance footage provided by the affected banks.
With help from investigators from multiple agencies and facial recognition technology, two suspects were identified as Mark Dickson, 55, and Tonya Marie Pratt-Clifford, 47, according to the Shreveport Police Department. Investigators are also working to identify a third suspect, described as an unidentified white woman.
Dickson was already being held at the Caddo…
Investment fraud targets the human desire for financial growth by promising high returns with “low to no risk.”
- Ponzi Schemes: Named after Charles Ponzi, these schemes pay “returns” to earlier investors using the capital brought in by newer investors. There is no actual underlying business; the system collapses when new recruitment slows down.
- Pyramid Schemes: Similar to Ponzi schemes, but participants are usually required to sell a product or service. The primary “profit” comes from the recruitment fees of new members rather than actual product sales.
- Pump and Dump: Fraudsters spread false, positive rumors about a cheap stock (the “pump”) to drive up the price. Once the price peaks, they sell their shares (the “dump”), leaving other investors with worthless stock.