1. (1) There is hereby created in the Colorado bureau of investigation in the department of public safety a unit for the investigation and prosecution of identity theft and financial fraud, referred to in this part 17 as the unit. The unit shall be known in the department as the Colorado fraud investigators unit.
2. (2) The purpose of the unit is to assist the attorney general, sheriffs, police, and district attorneys in investigating identity theft and financial fraud crimes and in prosecuting persons who commit those crimes. The unit also serves as an educational resource for law enforcement agencies, members of the financial industry, and the public regarding identity theft and financial fraud crimes and strategies for protection from and deterrence of these crimes.

3. (3) The unit shall:

   1. (a) Gather information concerning identity theft and financial fraud and to analyze the information and identify relevant criminal activities, patterns, and trends throughout the state or regions thereof, whether multijurisdictional or not;
   2. (b) Target specific forms of identity theft and financial fraud, as such forms change, on which to concentrate unit resources and effort;
   3. (c) Disseminate information to the public, local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, depository institutions, and other businesses concerning current and anticipated identity theft and financial fraud crimes, recommended steps to prevent such crimes, and patterns and trends in such crimes;
   4. (d) Prepare and present classes, briefings, and materials, in printed or electronic format, to assist local law enforcement agencies, district attorneys, and the attorney general in their investigations and prosecutions; and
   5. (e) Provide consultation on an individual case, but only upon the request of a local law enforcement agency, a local district attorney, or the attorney general.
4. (4) All unit resources shall be used to supplement and not replace existing law enforcement and prosecution efforts against identity theft and financial fraud crimes.
5. (5) The unit shall be responsive to shifting aspects of identity theft and financial fraud crimes and priorities among such crimes.
6. (6) and (7) Repealed.

Source: L. 2006: Entire part added, p. 1293, § 1, effective May 30. L. 2014: (7) added, (HB 14-1057), ch. 121, p. 430, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2017: (7) amended, (HB 17-1043), ch. 391, p. 2018, § 1, effective June 6. L. 2020: (7) amended, (SB 20-210), ch. 199, p. 978, § 1, effective June 30. L. 2025: (2) amended and (6) repealed, (SB 25-179), ch. 322, p. 1694, § 2, effective August 6.

Editor's note: Subsection (7)(b) provided for the repeal of subsection (7), effective July 1, 2025. (See L. 2020, p. 978.)