C.B.P. News Release

Alaska C.B.P. Officers Seize over 36,000 Counterfeit Credit Card Holograms
(Wednesday, May 13, 2009)

Anchorage, Alaska - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Anchorage seized an express package from Hong Kong in late April containing over 36,000 counterfeit credit card holograms (Visa, Mastercard) and 10,000 counterfeit Alberta, Canada Department of Motor Vehicle Seals. The contraband was hidden inside a computer tower.

Holograms are a security feature incorporated into credit cards and Enhanced Driver Licenses. When combined with illegally obtained account information, counterfeit holograms allow criminals to manufacture counterfeit credit cards and licensess that are almost indiscernible from the genuine article. Counterfeited credit cards and driver licenses are key components utilized in bank theft, identity theft, and criminal impersonation.

“This discovery demonstrates the vital role CBP plays in U.S. national security and consumer protectionâ€