Harris Investigations, LLC

The PI business

2012-01-23T07:52:00.000-05:00

Its been a few month since I blogged and i really had to think why? Believe me its not that we were busy, as we are not. It seems that i spend more time trying to market to find clients and to make those we have pay their bills then do investigations any more. I am also blessed and lucky to have in our office a amazing right arm in Jessica. She could do my job any time. She has that passion that I realized that might have lost until today. Seeing was the PSU family is going thru with the death of Joe Pa, loosing my cousin suddenly and unexpectantly, i have more to be greatful and thankful for.

Harris Investigations, LLC is STILL that amazing company that I run with my husband of almost 18 years. Harris Investigations, LLC STILL is the best agency out there according to 100's of people that are are clients. We get new clients every week that say, why why why, didnt we use you before.

This is not a business for the people that want to work it when they want to. You have to put your mind, heart and sole into this business. This is a 24 hour a day business, not a when you feel like it thing. This is NOT an easy business to get into. Many of my collegues from years ago are gone, not passsed away, but out of business. You collegue accross the street can undercut you in minute. The internet can put you out of business if people believe everything they read.

We continue to grow and expand every day, any way we can. Recently we moved into College Park, Maryland. This makes us licensed in PA, NJ, DE and MD. Where else can you get that? only people recently trying to be like us are doing this.

We did it first

Follow our facebook pages, our linked in, our Tristate groups and learn every day like i still do.

Check us out on the web www.harrisinvestigations.net or any of our other sites

its that time of year.. i think

2011-10-12T10:09:00.000-04:00

We have been getting more and more cheating spouse calls in recent weeks. I notice a spike with all the new fall shows come to TV

Basically my feeling is if you think they are cheating, they probably area, but talk to your attorney first to see what is really needed in your state to move forward

The Proof is in the Hand writing

2011-09-23T19:35:00.001-04:00

Another interesting method of detecting deception is the Scientific Content Analysis (SCAN) program, SCAN looks at what people write regarding a situation in which they are a person of interest. For instance many child abusers will refer to their victims as "the child", not Susy or Johnny. This is a way of distancing themselves. In a wife murder case, the husbands uses many pronouns avoiding the use of the deceased wife's name. The link for this is http://www.lsiscan.com/

Jeff Paige Investigations DCJS 11-5577

1007 N. King Street Suite H

Hampton, Virginia 23669

Email: jeff@jeffpaigeinvestigations.hrcoxmail.com

Web: www.jeffpaigeinvestigations.com

757.872.7007/800.358.9331

FAX: 757.251.6327

its all about the learning..

2011-09-19T10:09:00.000-04:00

Having just finsihed 8.5 credits from a PALI two day seminar, I realized that this business is all about the learning. With the age of the internet, people think they can do just about anything on line. WOW, can i tell you that is just so wrong. Most of the sites that the public can acess are not worth the paper you print them on. Then once they realize that they waste $50 on something that was wrong, cant be used in court or just a joke they call us.

We are learning new things almost daily. New sites we sign up for, new datbases with more accurate information, more ways to help our business, professional and person clients.

I then sit back and think, i tell our investigators i wouldnt do it that way and they still do it.. Its all about the learning. I have been doing this sicne 1987, i think i know better. I dont know it all but i know better.

We were nomiated again this year for investigator of the year, we are one of seven this year. We won last year. Win or lose, to us it was all about being nomiated.

The desk is full, but feel free to add to it

Make it a great day, or not...

Michele Harris
Harris Investigations, LLC
Licensed in Pa, NJ and DE (soon MD)

a fellow investigators information

2011-09-14T12:54:00.002-04:00

Walshin Investigations is a specialized private investigation firm that values client assurance and trust: Confidentiality is our first priority. Our firm and private investigators have numerous years of experience working with local and national law firms, individuals and corporations.

Walshin Investigations expertise focuses on comprehensive research and quality report writing. Our private investigators achieve all-inclusive results by conducting due diligence investigations, asset searches, background checks, witness interviews, service of process and several other investigative services.

CALL: 877-962-1272

Its been a while since we put up a blog

2011-09-14T10:00:00.000-04:00

Spending a few days at Pi Classes, you see what people do and dont out there. How cut throat this business is and can be. How you think your friend with someone and they stab you in the back. Im the first one to offer to help my fellow Pi but it seems I am the first one to get busted on for doing it. I am the first one to be told you are not doing it right. Well you know what... Yesterday it came out..we were one of 7 companies in the running for Investigator of the year in Philadelphia. One I never heard of, one isnt even a Pa company and subs out all their work. The others are multi people companies. Well you know what? I dont care. We have a great team in place. Based on facebook we have a great chance to win. One of the companies we were up against last year is not there this year. Wow.. should I go on. I am a woman in a field that is mostly men, mostly retired cops. I love my job and do my job well.

Brenna has been doing subpeonas, investigations and keeping the office together. Run jumped in on the ground and has been off running doing surveillance.

some of these topics mean nothing to me. Most of this year was criminal stuff, which we are now getting into, but some of these people talk in circles.

someone even tried to back stab us and tell them untruths about us then left this morning before we could talk to them about it

Its a day in my life

but I can say having vertigo and doing this work, stinks

hum... after 25 years... i dont know how to do my job??

2011-09-04T14:18:00.000-04:00

last week, i had someone tell me that i do not know how to do my job. I have been in this field since 1987. Started my own company in 2005. Made it as the Investigation Agency of the year last year (5 years into business), by the readers of the Legal Intelligencer and nomiated this year again and we are in the top 3.. polls open Wednesday and close in 30 days. I dont have all my eggs in one basket either. We do work for insurance companies, Law Firms, Fourtune 500 companies and every day people. Most put their eggs in one basket like private duty work or government contracts. We are licensed in 3 soon to be 4 states. Most are licensed in only one.

So you want to tell me i dont know how to do my job? Well i would look back and see that your wrong. We have grown and continue to grow...

HARRIS INVESTIGATIONS IS THE ONLY COMPANY TO CONTACT FOR YOUR TRI STATE AREA INVESTIGATIONS!

www.harrisinvestigations.net

the proof is in the handwritting...

2011-08-16T10:05:00.001-04:00

Recently our office manager Brenna has taking a liking to handwritting analysis and we just might start offering that. With a great local mentor, Brenna is very much interested in this subject.

Apparently its true, the proof is in your handwritting. We are in the process of having an actual expert check our samples for information as well.

So remember what they taught you in school, it might be valuable

They do find proof in the handwritting!

Michele Harris
Harris Investigations, LLC

Signs of Cheating Spouse

2011-07-14T11:48:00.000-04:00

Sudden increase in time away from you or your home.

Decreased sexual interest with you.

Cheating husband or wife is often "unavailable" or out of the office while at work.

Cheating spouse attends new functions outside of work and wants to go alone.

Cheating spouse leaves house or goes to other rooms to talk on the telephone.

Cheating spouse uses computer alone and secretly.

Cheating spouse asks about your schedule more often than usual.

Mileage on car is high yet he / she reports only short distance errands.

Clothes smell of perfume or cologne.

Cheating spouse gets his / her laundry done independently.

Unexplained payments on bank statements.

Cell phone bills contain calls with long duration. Many cheaters use cellular telephones to communicate with their lovers. Check the call detail on bill for the first number called when your mate first leaves for work and the same number called again right before they return home.

Cheating spouse now has a phone card but never used one before.

Cheating wife or husband has unexplained receipts in wallet or purse.

Cheating spouse has suspicious phone voice-mail messages.

Cheating spouse has suspicious cell phone numbers stored or dialed.

Internet web browser history list (this is a record of web sites visited) contains unusual sites.

Cheating spouse begins to use new or free e-mail account.

Cheating spouse is suddenly deleting e-mail messages.

If you believe your spouse is cheating, we can help, contact
Harris Investigations at 888-484-9827. We have offices in Pa, NJ and De

The job is not at all what i expected...

2011-07-06T10:36:00.001-04:00

The private investigating business is not what I had expected at all. Everyone sees all of the made for TV drama that happens on the reality shows and I will admit that I fell for it. I did not realize how much was involved in this line of business. There is a lot of hard work and clever ways to get done what needs to be done. I always thought that with all of the technology these days it wouldn’t be so hard to locate a person but I was proved wrong on that one!

One of the first cases that Michele had me attempt involved a local watering hole and there were a couple of leads on people to research. I hit many dead ends and I did not expect that. As I had said before, TV made it look easy, hahaha. I expected to be able to find more information easier. Michele gave me a lot of helpful hints on finding the information that needed to be found. I did not expect to use some of the tools that were used on the internet and needless to say, I was very interested in learning from Michele in order to accomplish the end goal.

I always assumed that private investigators were almost like bounty hunters in a way but now seeing how it really is, I have found it to be low key and more behind the scenes. I guess that is where the name “private investigator” comes into play. I am excited to continue learning and helping people uncover the truth.

Brenna Reilly
Harris Investigations, LLC

A Fresh Start....

2011-06-22T14:14:00.000-04:00

We have gone thru alot of changes the past few months, but change is good. If i would have taken my own advise and done background checks on potential employees maybe this would have gone smoother earlier.

Welcome Brenna Reilly to our office. She has taken over as manager. she has already taught me a few things, lol..

We are trying to get the right investigative staff in place, but its not easy to replace such good help. We have been threw a handful of people. Some started ok then took two jobs, some try to tell me what to do and how to run my company, some didnt want to work, some cant work. but if i would have done my homework that never would have happened.

so take it from me. do a background check, check references or you will be going over and over again to get the right person with the right fit

Summer Fun ........

2011-06-13T07:28:00.000-04:00

Summer time is an unusual time in an investigation agency. Some times its very busy with domestic cases. Some times is slow with insurance fraud cases. Either way its summer.

Its time for summer interns at alot of places. Picnic's and parties

for us its time to update databases, try new things, bring new people on.
Its time to do research and take CLE classes.

what about you. what do you do for the summer

This year we plan on expanding to Maryland in summer. Making us open in PA, NJ and DE.

i was adopted... can you help

2011-06-06T18:42:00.001-04:00

Recently i have been getting dozens of calls about finding birth parents. Yes it can be done, HOWEVER when looking for anyone, parent, sibling, ex girlfriend whomever the law CLEARLY states THEY must give us permission to give you the information. Most times we give them your informaiton and leave it up to them to contact you.

That being said, I then tell the prospective client that and they try to do it all on their own. HOWEVER, yet again, DO NOT use those databases and searches you find on line like Net Detective or Intellius or what not. They are NOT worth the paper you print them on.

Someone yesterday called me and asked me what i thought of a service that ran Pa plates on line. Yet again its NOT worth the paper its printed on. PA DMV like many many others are NOT on line in any way, shape or form. He said whatever hung up and used it. When it goes to court and its the wrong person or car, he will learn.

In this day in age you get what you pay for. If you really want to know, and know the truth, contact a licensed, bonded and insured Investigator... someone like Harris Investigations, LLC

Reasons to do a background cehck

2011-05-27T21:53:00.001-04:00

Checking applicants' references is one of the most important procedures in the hiring process. Many job seekers misrepresent their backgrounds and credentials; others simply leave out important information. And no matter how honest applicants are, you can still learn a great deal by talking to other people who know them well.

These nine tips will help you get the goods on a job applicant:

1. Tell all applicants that you will check their references before you make any hiring decisions.

2. Ask each applicant to sign a release form permitting you to ask detailed questions of former employers and other references (sample background check permission forms are listed on this page).

3. Fax over a copy of the prospective employee's background check waiver and your personal credentials before you call a prospective employee's references.

4. Verify basic information such as employment dates, job titles, salary, and types of jobs performed.

5. Avoid vague questions. Ask specific questions based on what you learned about the applicant in the interview.

6. Pay attention to neutral or negative comments from references.

7. Put less weight on positive references. Some employers give positive references even to bad ex-employees, because they're afraid of legal action or are tired of paying unemployment taxes on the applicant.

8. Use former supervisors or senior coworkers as references. An applicant might not want you to contact their current employer (who might not know about the job hunt), but there are always people who can provide a reference.

9. Don't rely on prospective employees' verbal word regarding salary figures. Ask for a current pay stub to verify employment and pay rate.

Another bit of research you might conduct on a prospective employee is a background check. Not every company does this, and not every position merits it, but it might be appropriate for many of your staff. Hope this post can be helpful to you.

election day is coming

2011-05-16T07:52:00.001-04:00

Tho there is no indication there will be a great turn out, you might be surprized to see a Private Investigator in the crowd. Some parties bring Pi's in to protect the canidate, some to keep an eye on the polls. Some to make sure things are fair. In some cases they are highered by one side or the other, the D or R or sometimes both together.

I know my team will be out and about tommorow and i know you will never know they are there.

I also know, no matter the weather, no matter what time, if you want change, you need to vote. Dont complain about the things that can be changed if you dont vote.

If you dont like Drop, fix it, If you dont like whats happening fixed it, go vote.

Granted its only the may election the biggy is in November but if you canidate doesnt make it this time they wont be there in November

in light of recent happenings

2011-05-11T22:14:00.000-04:00

in light of the recent news stories, we have been getting calls, facebook comments and the like about what someone could have done to prevent the things that happened recently.

I never really thought about having someone do a background check on their neigbors but that might be the way things are going now a days. Tho it can be done, we can not supply you their dob or SS# but can confirm or deny criminal or civil matters on file.

We always suggest landlords, big or small, do this themselves prior to renting. Even checking one's credit, employer and prior landlord contacts. Most, dont do it. The smart ones do and charge the would be tenant to do this.

I am not saying that would have prevented this matter, im just suggesting that background checks be done prior to renting, employing or dating someone

Dont use those searches you find on line, most are not very accurate and you get what you pay for.

In light of this as well, we have gotten calls to watch people's children or escort them home and inside their home safely until an another adult arrives.

It makes one think about things, even me, the investigator. I am a parent first.

My heart goes out to the famlies involved and the door to Harris Investigations is always open to help.

so you want to be a private investigator?

2011-05-08T21:03:00.001-04:00

Oddly, my company is looking for an investigator, so i felt the need to blog about it.

We have gone thru some great people and some not so great people. We have had men, woman and children interview for the job's over the years. some people say retired law enforcement are the best. They could be. Some say women can not do this. Well look at me.

This business changes every day, every minute and people in this business need to think business 24 hours a day. need to think on their feet. Dont want to get into this business becuase of what they see on TV. TRUST ME ITS NOTHING LIKE IT AT ALL. Have a good head on their sholders, can shoot a video and take photos, a very flexible schedule.

Yes, it is that hard to find a good worker.

Yes we are hard on people we bring on board.

yes we are bonded, licensed and insured, making us one step ahead of some of our competition, but yes we are sucessful.

So as i tell everyone. You think you want to do this ? then try. Its not easy. You must have a client base that will stay with you thick and thin. You cant learn this job in a book. You need to learn this from someone and one the streets of Philadelphia so the song says.

Harris Investigations,LLC is an agency with their main office in Lansdale, Pa but with offices in Pittsburgh, Pa, Deptford, NJ and Wilmington, DE

Call us any time at 215-368-1760 or on the web at www.harrisinvestigations.net

what can my blogs do for you?

2011-05-04T22:18:00.001-04:00

As an investigator a blog helps me get the word out there on what a Private Investigator really does. Many people think we are like magnum pi, rockford files . Well what can a Private Investigator do for you and why would you need one?

Investigators can-do background checks on your tenants, employees or potential employees, girl/boyfriend and spoouses. they can serve papers in matter. They can secure statements that the other side might not be able to get. they can find your long lost parents if you were adopted. Some even provide security guard services or exective protection.

There are also things that pi's can do like run a tag of the hot girl that drove past you, get phone bills, bank account numbers or credit reports.

You can get an education on what a general private Investigator does right from our website at www.harrisinvestigations.net

Our experience is listed there as well.

Not just anyone can be a PI. You need either years of law enforcement or working for someone else as investigator for years to get licensed in most states. There are still a very few states (i believe its 4 now) that you do not need a license to practice. You do need insurance and a bond. Most cases 1 million/3 million insurance and anywhere from a 10,000 to 50,000 bond.

I love my job and wouldnt trade it for the world, I just want people to undertand what we really do.

More blogs that are not posted to the batch side can be found at harrisinvestigations.blogspot.com. You can also follow our facebook page at Harris Investigations, LLC

Am I really a Private Investigator?

2011-05-04T10:51:00.002-04:00

Yes, I am. I have been in this business since 1987. Started my own company here in Lansdale, Pa in 2005. But the next question you will ask is... Wow is it really like what you see on TV? NOPE, not at all. TV is fiction most of the time. Then the next question usually is really? I want to do this? My answer to you is NOPE. First there are about 2000 PI's in Pa alone that are actually licensed. YES, you need to be bonded, licensed and insured. That number is about 1/2 of what it was 3 years ago. The work is just about gone for this field. There are many police officers and federal agents that get into this business and are done in about 3 years. This is a cut throat business as well.

Don't get me wrong, I love my job. Wouldn't trade it for the world. But you have to work 60-80 hours a week, even when there is no work to be done. You are always working or thinking about working. It is by now means glamours. There was a time all we were investigating was fraud. Then it was domestic and divorce cases. Now its little bit of this and little bit of that.

Social media has killed most of the PI work that we used to do on the ground.

So if you were thinking of doing this, think again.

If you think you need a PI, check out our website, www.harrisinvestigations.net for more information.

Not a day goes by

2011-05-03T19:48:00.000-04:00

when people and things cease to amaze me. The trend now seems to be criminal investigations (of which we have great retired law enforcement officals helping us with), and more legal investigations. Thirty years ago it was mostly insurance investigations and insurance fraud. For the past 5 years insurance fraud investigations are going by the wayside. Some companies do not invetigate claims any more, some raised their investigation limits, some have claim reps do their own investigations. Many rely on untruths they find on the internet believing everything they find, only to get hurt in court.

Social media has taken alot of surveillance away from people, so remember what is on the internet will come back and bite you in the ass if you dont watch what you are doing.

I love my job and love the friends , collegues and clients we have met along the way. I cant imagine doing anything more!

How do I become a PI?

2011-05-03T14:13:00.000-04:00

Gee i get that call two lot from May to June or every time a sememster ends. Can i come intern or how do i get your job? I tell people DONT, RUN. In this business its all about who you know. I was lucky. I had clients that begged me to start my own firm after being elsewhere for some time. They came with me. From that I obtained more. I get calls all the time from retired FBI agents or Cops getting into this about how to get work or stay in the business. I cant help them. Alot of companies have closed vendor lists and you cant get on them.

I love my job and spend hours each day looking for the new client or the new leads. My husband and i put at least 120 hours a week into this company, leaving not alot of time for sleep or kids.

but to answer the question.. alot depends on where you live, what the rules are so you have to start there.

There is no school for Pi's that is worth you money so save that time and money.. you have to work your way up the food chain like all the rest of the gumshoes have

that time of year

2011-05-02T20:51:00.000-04:00

While sitting here wondering what to post to the blog today, i wondered... What should I really write. Then i thought.. i must get dozens of calls a week saying can you do this? I say no. then i get well why not they do it on TV. I too love those TV Shows like NCIS, Magnum PI, Rockford Files, CSI etc,. but come on people that's tv. Today a man asked me why i cant put a camera in a hotel room where he knew his wife was having an affair. I said becuase thats tv. He said well cheaters is supposed to be pi's. I tried to explain they were recorded in their homes not a hotel and that you can put anything you want in your own home provided its your own home. Mad he hung up.

I get those calls alot but how do you have someone believe you that its only tv. After 30 years in the field and 5 of them at my own company, I am pretty sure i know what i can do and cant do legally.

So i tell them, I am sure there are Pi's out there that will do it but its not legal and it wont stand up in court.

I wish them luck and remind them to get someone that is bonded, licensed and insured in the state or states they do your work in.

Funny they always call me back .. then their price goes up..

whirlwind week

2011-04-21T17:19:00.000-04:00

Paul started this week and has put in alot of hours. Mike has been kicking surveillance but all week too, i had to give him 2 days off..lol. We are going to expand into Maryland by the summer. Charlie has been doing his marketing.. at CentralPAIday today in Camp Hill, meeting new friends.

People finally realize what Private Investigators can do for them and why Harris Investigations, LLC was the Best Private Investigation Agency of 2010 by the Legal Intelligencer Members.

check us out on the web at www.harrisinvestigations.net

follow this blog
check us on facebook at Harris Investigations, LLC

or join our yahoogroups

tristateprivateinvestigators@yahoogroups.com or tristateprocessservers@yahoogroups.com

you will be glad you did!

changes ahead at Harris Investigations, LLC

2011-04-10T14:59:00.001-04:00

We have partnered with a great guy in Pittsburgh, Pa to help Charlie with the Pittsburgh field office work. Stacey is keeping us sane (with her wine and shot glass) in the office and trying to keep us together. Leroy downsized to part time but we have added Chris and Paul to the mix. We still have Joe, Pop, Herb, Michael, Rob and Robert aboard. Katlynn helps Stacey in the office, tho i think they gossip most of the time lol.. Just when we get caught up we get slammed again. There are prints that say this field will increase by 30% by 2013 with more Pi's so we all have to work that much harder to stay in business.

There are great new things on the horizon for us.. wont you join us @ www.harrisinvestigations.net

April happenings

2011-04-03T20:19:00.001-04:00

We are making all kinds of changes around the Harris Investigations, LLC front. Change is good, so they say. We are moving forward with things and hope these changes help us with the Investigator of the Year again in 2011. Mike is helping us with our Pittsburgh Office. Leroy went from full to part time. Rob, Herb, Robert, Pop Pop, Chris and Joe are working part time. Paul is coming aboard to work full time. Stacey has taken the reigns in the office as the office manager. This all frees Charlie up to do more marketing and Michele time to give the clients the attention they need.

Follow our blog, which we hope to at least update weekly. Check our website for valueable information. Call our office with questions

www.harrisinvestigations.net is the only site you need if you need PI work or service of process in PA, NJ or DE

CHANGES ON THE HORIZON

2011-03-09T08:32:00.000-05:00

I always say you get what you pay for when you higher a Pi.. that being said we keep making changes to better our company..

We now have a marketing person. We now have an office manager and several full time investigators. We Strive every day to be better than the day before.

Its a tough world out there, as noted on my prior blog, a collegue was killed in the line of duty.

we were voted the Best PI Agency in Pa in 2010 for a reason and plan to make it a winning streak this year..

watch our website for updates and changes as we grow and expand

Dangers of Being a PI

2011-03-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

A former colleague of this private investigator found killed in Harrisonburg VW

Being a PI can be very dangerous, because we typically work alone in an emotionally-charged environment.

SEE THE BELOW ARTICLE ON MY COLLEGUE IN WV FOUND DEAD IN HIS CAR.. THIS SHOWS YOU WHAT I HAVE SAID ALL ALONG.. THIS IS NOT LIKE TV AND NOT FUN AND GAMES LIKE EVERYTHING THINKS IT IS

The man found dead in his car at the Valley Mall in Harrisonburg on Sunday had been a private investigator for several decades, and it was a business that ran in his family.

Greg Brown's body was found in the trunk of his car.

A private investigator from Florida, named Chuck Chambers, says he worked with Greg Brown back in the early 1980s. Chambers says Brown's father and brother were also private investigators.

He says Brown left Florida to become a preacher in Tennessee. Then, about seven years ago, Brown decided to come to Virginia to open his own private investigations business.

Chambers says he was so sad early Tuesday morning when he heard of Brown's death.

"There's not a lot of private investigators around," said Chambers. "When you lose one, it's almost like losing a brother. Greg's main goal in life was to help people."

Chambers says being a private investigator can be a dangerous job, because they typically work by themselves with no backup.

"You're out there working late at night," said Chambers. "You're alone, and the emotions are running really high in these cases, especially if it's a divorce case or infidelity case."

Court records show that the suspect, Ali Abid, from Weyers Cave, is going through a divorce. Police say they suspect that Abid has fled the country.

Moving Right along...

2011-02-13T21:04:00.000-05:00

We have had our share of ups and downs the past few months. Lots of changes in staff, office expansion (Harrisburg and a move in Pittsburgh area), changes in what services we offer and what we do most, working on our Act 235 to do armed and unarmed security in the future, and much much more.

We are doing more legal work, surveillance and background checks (which is a good thing, that means people are checking out their employees and finally doubting claims).

We are doing more research and court searches, more service of process.

We have had a few bumps in the road, snow, ice, sleet, accidents and mishaps, but Harris Investigations, LLC every day gets bigger and stronger and wants to keep our clients proud that they voted us the Investigation Agency of the Year in Pa in 2010...

Follow Harris Investigations, LLC here and on facebook and twitter

Check our our website at www.harrisinvestigations.net

Rain, Snow, Sleet and Hail...

2011-02-05T09:25:00.000-05:00

We have not missed many days in this business due to weather in the past 5 years but this past winter has taken a toll on us. We actually closed two days, along with everyone else in the area over the past two or three weeks. Month nature can be a PI's best and worst enemy I guess

More and more investigators are calling to offer to sell us their companies or find out how we are still in business. One offered to buy mine but we are not selling. We will not become part of one of those companies that has an office in a sunny warm place and then boast nationwide coverage yet they are using someone elses license.

I know two years ago 1/3 of the Pa Pi's closed. Im waiting for the numbers for this years report. I have a feeling its less yet again

To work in my office or be a subcontractor for my company you need to love what you do and have dedication to the company and the passion for your job. This goes for the investigators, owners, office help, and even the vendors we use.

Harris Investigations, LLC has offices in Pa, NJ and De. We have actual office space in Lansdale, Pa and Wilmington, De. Our NJ and Pittsburg offices are in shared office space either in a commerical location or one of my investigators homes for the time being until we expand more there. We will be expanding into Harrisburg, Pa soon

Call us any time 888-484-9827 or via web www.harrisinvestigations.net

change is good

2011-01-25T07:30:00.001-05:00

we have been going thru changes in staff, services, locations and ideas. Change is good. We are expanding to Harrisburg, Pa soon. We are partnering with Moonlight Courier Services for service work. We are changing inner office staff soon and having help inside a few offices not just the investigators. We have added new services that customers want. We are adding new clients that couldnt find someone to help them and we do quickly.

Look for new annoucments about these changes and our goal to be the investigator of the year for 2011 too!

Its a New Year....

2011-01-13T10:49:00.000-05:00

its a new year at Harris Investigations, LLC and i tend to try to blog at least once a week and even have my employees blog too.

We had a pretty good year last year. We were nominated the BEST INVESTIGATION AGENCY OF 2010 (PA) by the readers of the Legal Intelligencer. We hope to become the best in NJ and DE this year. This year started slow but its now booming along now the holidays are over.

The snow has slowed us some but we are all putting out our best effort forward. New clients are coming to us which is a great thing.

We still get alot of calls from every day people thinking we can do like on tv.. PLEASE TV Is fiction and in most cases can not be done in the real world or by a PI only the police, FBI or other authorities. We also can just find your lost love becuase you want us to. There are stalker laws that prevent us from giving you that informaiton but we can ask your lost love to contact you if they want.

dont forget.. do background checks on employees!

Dont forget.. if you think you need a private Investigator you probably do!

Contact any of our offices in Pa, NJ or De via one toll free # 888-484-9827 or check the web at www.harrisinvestions.net

Thankful for....

2010-11-27T13:09:00.000-05:00

Harris Investigations, LLC has expanded our staff and the services we provide. We are thankful for all our clients that have stood by us in the past 5 years and those that voted US the BEST INVESTIGATION AGENCY IN PA FOR 2010.. (the members and readers of the Legal Intelligencer). We have added to our staff retired Abington Township Police Officer Leroy Risell. He brings with him the experience as an officer. We are going to expand to armed security and protection in 2011. There is also talk of us going to repo work as well, based on client demand.

If there is a service we do not provide, let us know. We will be happy to talk about adding the service.

follow us on Facebook at Harris Investigations, LLC as well as on blogspot. Check our website as well. www.harrisinvestigations.net

what can a private investigator do for you ??

2010-10-26T07:18:00.001-04:00

What a Private Investigator can do for you...
WHAT CAN AN INVESTIGATOR DO FOR AN ATTORNEY?
A PRESENTATION BY HARRIS INVESTIGATIONS, LLC
Bonded, Licensed and Insured in Pa, De, and NJ
　
I. HIRING AN INVESTIGATOR
II. TRIAL PREPARATION
III. WITNESSES
IV. EVIDENCE
V. RECORDS
VI. SURVEILLANCE / VIDEO / PHOTOGRAPHY
VII. POST TRIAL
　
I. HIRING AN INVESTIGATOR
Request yearly copies of Private Detective License, Bond and Liability Insurance
Verify insurance with their insurance company or request your company be added to their policy
County requirement for Detective License: minimal bond (usually $10,000) – does not cover you should the investigation go wrong or the investigator’s information be incorrect
II. TRIAL PREPARATION
Why should an attorney use an investigator?
Private Investigator vs. Attorney
· More cost effective (charge less)
· Better results
· Do not divulge what side they are working for
· Trained to find existing laws as opposed to people and facts
· Limited time to execute full investigations
· Must divulge which side they are working for
　
Prepare trial exhibits including maps, enlarged photos, diagrams, overlays, jury instructions, etc.
Prepare case chronology
Prepare reports and personal testimony as requested
Prepare alphabetical witness summary with name, address, telephone numbers, and short statement of relationship to the case
Assist with large case management
Pick up and review records pursuant to subpoena duces tecum, court order or signed release

The most ask question.. are you really like what we see on tv? WELL NO we are not

2010-10-25T07:28:00.002-04:00

Do you REALLY know what a private Investigator does?

Is your spouse cheating? If you think they are they probably are!

Premployment background checks? Do you check them out before you higher them or just after they steal from you?

Do you need documents served? We do subpeonas, summons, complaints anything all, within the guidelines.

Scene or vehicle photos?

Surveillance?

Household checks (yes ask me what they are!!)

DMV searches

Product Liablity Searches

Statements?

Skip Traces?

We are licensed in PA, DE and NJ ..
We have staffed offices in all those states as well!

call toll free 888-484-9827,

email harrisinvestigations@verizon.net

Our websites: harrisinvetigations.net, deptfordnjpi.com, montcopapi.com, lansdalepapi.com, wilmingtondepi.com, or delawarepi.net

Monday Morning....

2010-10-25T07:25:00.000-04:00

Its Monday Morning.. most of the calls have been.. I met someone on line.. should I check them out.. HECK YEA!! Im not saying that becuase i want your business either. I just dont want someone to be investigating your rape, murder, loss of thousands of dollars or something else.

I am all for people being happy, but in this day in age, alot of work we do is background checks on your potentinal mate. Yes some info we can not give you, so if you have a family lawyer, you might get a little more informaiton.

But please be wary of that hot and perfect woman or hot and amazing guy..

I own a business or am in HR what do I need an investigator for?

2010-10-19T08:19:00.000-04:00

Do you ever higher a new employee ? After reading all the applications, interviewing and getting ready to higher.. do you do a background check? Why? Well what about intellectual property theft? What

What is Intellectual Property Theft

Employee theft does is not limited stealing merchandise from the store shelves or cash from the register. Some of the most common thefts today involve theft of company intellectual property, such as unfilled patent applications, potential trademarks, new product information, sales and price statics, client lists and the like.

What Can a Potential Employer Find on a Pre-Employment Background Check?

If you are going to change careers you might want to see what your prospective employer could find out about you. Have them help you with your drivers record and criminal and civil background searches and pull your credit report yourself.

Harris Investigations, LLC

Please note not all investigations by private investigators involve serious incidents such as homicide and bombings. However, serious incidents do arise in other contexts such as cases involving the searches for missing persons, division of assets, and child custody. Private Investigators - Let Them Find a Missing Person For You. There are a lot of things we can do.

Pre employment checks most often used.

Criminal background check: The investigator will conduct a criminal background check to see what crimes the individual has been charged with or convicted of. It many cases this will not eliminate you from the job, depending on the crime.

Credit check: A credit check is a valuable personal security investigation tool because it reveals a person's propensity for taking responsibility for their obligations. It reveals if someone is in financial trouble, it could lead them to do things they normally wouldn't do.

Verification: An investigator, will verify the employment and educational information provided by the employee, to eliminate the possibility of hiring someone who has committed resume fraud by lying about their qualifications for the job.

Rainy days....

2010-10-19T08:10:00.000-04:00

You would think on a rainy day.. my office would all be inside... well.. guess what.. Leroy is walking a field on surveillance, yea.. charlie is getting an oil change, but the boys are then going to met and greet clients today..

Stacey and I are in the office doing paperwork...marketing and well..

the life as a PI .. we never sleep, sometimes dont eat or pi

Its Cold Outside

2010-10-16T11:20:00.002-04:00

Tho its cold, im working a few hours today and so are some of my investigators.. Leroy is doing serves, the rest im not sure, but.. we have to live up to the Best Investigation Agency of 2010 as Voted by the Legal Intelligencer followers.. so.. we work 365 7 days a week.

got a question? email us at harrisinvestigations@verizon.net

wonder what we do.. check out www.harrisinvestigations.net

Voted the Legal Intelligencers Best of 2010 Investigation Agency

2010-10-15T07:52:00.000-04:00

Funny a few weeks back i found out from a client, we were voted on of the 7 best investigation agencies of the year in the Philadelphia area. Only being in business for ourselves since December 2005, i figured it was a mistake and we were a write in. But believe it or not, there we were. One of 7, and the others, well they have been around a long while.. I figured heck, we didnt have a chance. Then this week to find out we TOOK HOME THE GOLD, I was well shocked. But i actually talked to the people running the pole and we won. This is awesome to our team, and a very uplifting experience. A high i hope we can ride a while. Yes, I have been in this business since 12-1987 but to beat out actual companies that have been in business that long against us the new comers since 2005. Wow..

Charlie and I are greatful and thankful. Stacey, Leroy, Rob, Teri, Mike, Jan and Katlynn are excited to move forward.

We hope to live up to the reputation and title we were given

Call us with anything... any time.. 888-484-9827

New office Staff

2010-10-06T11:13:00.001-04:00

Please feel free to call our offices and Welcome Stacey, our office manager and Leroy our investigator.

We now can handle cases we never could before.. moving forward in the 2010-2011 year should be awesome

Our Newest Services

2010-10-04T07:59:00.001-04:00

Private Investigators at Harris Investigations, LLC's motto is: Large Enough To Serve Your Needs, Yet Small Enough To Care !!
In September 2010, we hired on a new full time investigator. Leroy brings alot of new services to round out our investigation team. Leroy will work on and provide assistance in the following types of Invetigations, some new to us.

Activity Checks

Art Investigations

Background Investigations

Child Abuse Investigations

Computer Forenscis

Criminal Investigations and support

Civil Investigation and support

Domestic Investigations

Drug Investigations

Due DIligence

Employment and Pre Employment Issues

Expert Witness

Explosives

General Investigations

Homicide and Death Investigations

Insurance/Fraud Investigations

Interviewing and Witness Locating

Missing Persons

Nursing Homes Abuse

Organized Crime

Photography

Profiling

Retail Issues

School Security

Security Consulting and Training

Security Officer Deployment

Sex Crimes

Surveillance

Undercover Operations

Workmen's Compensation Investigations

7 Best Business Practices for Process Servers

2010-08-10T21:47:00.002-04:00

According to ServeNow.com Allison Petty..

Being an effective process server is about more than just handling the summons. It’s important to have good business practices as well. Here are some tips to help process servers run their businesses smoothly and efficiently.

Be Professional

The job of a process server is a crucial step in the legal process. People who employ process servers are counting on them to do the job quickly and efficiently. Process servers who are sloppy or make mistakes can be costly and embarrassing to their clients. Therefore, it is important for process servers to act professionally and competently at all times, as a reflection of the seriousness with which they take their responsibilities.

Be Responsive

Everyone values responsiveness. This is especially true of people in the legal profession who are likely to employ process servers. Attorneys, like most people, are working on a deadline, and they do not like to be kept waiting. Process servers should return all calls and e-mails as soon as possible.

Have Good E-mail Etiquette

Along with responding to e-mails as soon as possible, process servers should make sure to use proper grammar in their e-mails. People who use process servers have often attained high levels of education and operate with a great deal of professionalism, and they expect the same from those they employ. Use spell-check and re-read your e-mails to make sure their meaning is clear.

Make sure someone is there to answer the phone at all times. This could be a receptionist or other office worker, but make sure the person is polite, professional, and good at taking notes. People generally prefer to talk to a person rather than a machine, especially if they are calling to inquire about the services of someone such as a process server. If a competent person answers the phone, potential clients are more likely to feel that their business is important to you and your business.

Maintain Good Organizational Practices

Process servers must maintain accurate records, and doing so requires a foolproof organizational process. Make sure you can find files that you need, as soon as you need them. Keep an accurate and updated calendar of any appointments you may have. An effective process server must be meticulous, and that attention to detail should be obvious in all of your business dealings or operations.

Use Business Cards and Letterhead

Process servers should have their own business cards and letterhead. Correspondence written on letterhead automatically lends professionalism to the sender and the content. Business cards are virtually free advertising, and process servers never know when they might meet a potential client with whom they can exchange cards.

Mind Your Manners

There’s a reason Mom always told you to say “please,” “thank you,” “ma’am” and “sir.” These words show that you respect the person with whom you are communicating, but they also tend to engender respect and warm feelings in return. Process servers should always take the time to say “thank you.” They are just two words, but they can go a long way.

If you practice these things every day, it will inspire confidence from your clients and in-turn create repeat business and potential referrals

A Day in the life....

2010-08-08T18:11:00.000-04:00

I get calls every day... for things they see Pi's do on TV. I have to tell people many times a day, we are in NO way like Tv and no you cant do that nor can I. I get calls that they want a cell phone record of all the calls, that they want a gps put in a phone, they want one on a car etc. Of course all of that i cant and wont do.

This is a dying field, but that is not becuase we dont want to be Pi's its becuase of the advent of the internet. Cheating spouses can get caught on the itnernet.

People swear Net Detective and google searches are better than we are. Some Insurance companies dont care any more

Criminal investigators and reconstructionist are the way to go right now, but they too know it can change in a minute.

any more its 90 percent of the day marketing and 10 percent working.

God bless the PI!

Today's Pi

2010-08-06T17:29:00.001-04:00

With the advent of everything on the internet, Pi's seem to be going by the wayside. Unfortunately people think the internet is gospel and true when the truth is , its far from the truth. Just today i had someone call to get the holder of a phone number. His police sources couldnt get it but i did. Then the client doubted my information becuase the the internet stated it was a differnt phone provider and in a differnt city all together. I told them dont call me i will call you. I stand by my search but you can use Net Detective, Spiesonline, Intellus or what ever you want. Good hard footwork beast all those sites hands down.

Go a head and play PI yourself but i guarentee you, the information will be 80 % untruth and 20 % accurate. You get what you pay for i always say!

2010-07-26T08:02:00.000-04:00

Many people who suspect their long term partners of infidelity will initially be very reluctant to look into hiring private investigators to prove or disprove their fears. Private detectives are often depicted in films in a certain way going about their business of private investigations in a very cloak and dagger manner but the truth is often far removed from this and hiring investigators can be a really wise decision. Just dont think they are going to look, act and be as sucessful the first time around like on TV.

Keeping in mind the nature of your relationship and how you wish to confront your partner over suspected infidelity, a private investigator can be an easier and more reliable option than trying to investigate a situation yourself. Your emotions will be running high and you cannot account for how you will feel if or when you find yourself in the situation where you catch your partner and their lover together. The impartiality of a third person may make situations easier to handle going forward should a divorce proceeding take place or a child custody battle.

Ensure that you research the investigators before deciding to hire them. You may feel uncomfortable about discussing your situation with several investigators but it is important that you are thorough in the process of selecting someone. You need to ask about their hourly rates as well as any other costs that may be incurred during their investigation. Some investigators charge additional costs for taking photographs or using other staff members in your investigation. Before employing the services of a private eye, the are many things to consider, not least what the financial cost may be, but hiring experienced private investigators, such as us at Harris Investigations, LLC, should mean that they will be able to give you an indication of what your reasonable costs will be and an estimate of the time that it might take to uncover the information that you require.

Communicate honestly and throughly with your investigative agency and you will be pleasantly surprized!

So you want to be a Private Investigator......

2010-07-25T23:03:00.000-04:00

Please understand.. this is in NO WAY like on TV, we are not Magnum PI, Rockford, Dog the Bounty Hunter or anything else you might think of on Tv. This is HARD work. Many Pi's that were in business 5 years ago are no longer in business now. This is a cut throat business. Your best friend or competition can be here today and gone tommorow. Everyone is trying to one up the other guy or back stab their best friend so it seems.

We get calls daily.. how do I become a Pi? Do you have any openings? the answer is and has been for the past 2 years.. NO.. I have let all my staff go except my partner and I. My daughter helps in the office after school and works summer mornings answering phones and filing. My son helps my husband. My parents help out when we are in need of an extra body.

I love my job. Have been in this field since 1987 and wouldnt want to do anything else, but its to the point where I have to find something else to do with this work... Every day we spend 10 hours marketing and 2 hours working, just to stay a step ahead

I honestly can say.. think twice before you want to get into this field.. unless you have a special thing you do no one else can or does.. its not the next few years are not the time to be here.

More information can be found at www.harrisinvestigations.net or by calling our offices 888-484-9827

another good one

2010-06-19T08:04:00.001-04:00

Ethics in an Electronic Era: 50 Ways to Get in Ethical Trouble with Technology
June 18th, 2010 • Related • Filed Under • Print This Post • ShareThis
The Electronic Peephole: Digital Evidence in Family Law Investigations
Every Private Investigator Needs a Digital Audio Recorder
How Can I Identify or Locate the Originator of a Digital Image, Illustration or Photograph?
Georgia PI’s Will be Prohibited from Using Hidden GPS Tracking Devices
Solving Cases with Voice Stress Analysis (VSA) Technology
Forensic Case Review & Analysis for Criminal Defense Investigations
Filed Under: Technology
Tags: ethics • Private Investigation • technology
Editor’s note: This article was originally written for attorneys but we felt that each of these ethical pitfalls applied to professional investigators, too.

Technology makes everything easier and faster. In fact, it makes it possible to commit malpractice at warp speed. We can fail to represent diligently, lose our clients data, perform incompetently, and violate the rules regarding attorney advertising—all in sixty seconds or less.

There are so many ways to potentially commit malpractice with technology that it is impossible to list them all. Still, let us make a credible stab at some of the more common missteps.

50 Ways to Get in Ethical Trouble with Technology
1. Use illegal software. You know who you are. You buy academic versions of software and use them in your law office. You buy a single license for an application and install it on three computers, contrary to the license agreement. You find a neat piece of software that is free for personal use, and you use it on your law office computer. “Naughty, naughty” is all we’ll say, but the Business Software Alliance (BSA) will say far more.

Potential liability for EACH copyright violation: $150,000. Average out-of-court settlement: $80,000. Have they been in our area? Yes, at least six times that we know of. Yes, they’ve come to law firms. They come with a U.S. Marshal and immediate ex parte authority to inspect your computers. If you are in violation of the copyright law at the time of inspection, you are toast. Intent is irrelevant. The moral? Make sure that you are properly licensed – and if you have a reasonable size firm, conduct an annual software audit. For heaven’s sake, have all the licenses in a single file.

2. Give legal advice in your blog. Blogs are not the place to give legal advice. Moreover, if someone in your firm has a blog, you need to be very sure that it conforms to insurance industry requirements. A great many insurers will not insure a law firm if anyone in the firm blogs and more and more are beginning to offer specific statements as to the kind of blogs they will – and will not – cover.

3. Spam to market. It is very tempting to market using some sort of bulk e-mail, but it simply is not legal to bulk market to folks who have no pre-existing business relationship with you. The (U.S) CAN-SPAM act has done little to control spam, but for a law firm, both real spam and the appearance of spamming can be deadly. This is a sure fire way to get your domain name blacklisted. This has happened to multiple law firms in our area – and to courts!

4. Get involved with a client via e-mail and give advice prior to the proper formation of a contract. This is all too easy to do, especially since many lawyers now have their e-mail addresses up on the Web. It is important to get the retainer agreement signed before the advice is the given, lest complications arise. Remember that your e-mail will leave a trail, so exercise extreme caution with anything that remotely seems like legal advice.

5. Get in trouble with your law society and decide to create your own defense by falsifying a document. Lest you think this far-fetched, a Fairfax County, Virginia attorney did exactly this. After a complaint was filed for failure to take any action in a case and letting the statute of limitations lapse, the attorney created a back-dated letter, purporting to show that he wrote the client closing the case, supposedly upon her specific instruction. The metadata that accompanied the document proved that the letter had been created two days before his response to the disciplinary board was due. He is no longer practicing law in Virginia.

6. Keep slipshod trust account records. The rules here are no different than they were in the paper world. Electronic records speak eloquently when attorneys fail to reconcile them, or dip into them when fees have not been earned. Worst of all are the many cases where attorneys put monies in the operational account, when they clearly should have been escrowed. If the firm uses a good accounting package, such as Quickbooks, any attempt to “fiddle the books” will be logged. Honesty remains the best policy.

7. Send a document to a client to sign and don’t PDF and lock it. All too commonly, clients take it into their heads to alter a document sent to them by their lawyer. THEN they sign and send it back. Be careful – PDF and lock down all important documents – the exception is when you are working on drafts of a document, when it is easier to use Word and the “Track Changes” feature. However, once done, PDF and lock the document before it is sent around for signature!

8. Miss a court date because the e-mail notice was trapped by your spam filter. Don’t laugh – this just happened to a respected firm in Colorado. The court was not amused by counsel’s failure to show up and assessed sanctions against the firm, requiring it to pay for the opposing counsel’s time. For heaven’s sake, whitelist the domain of the court – and important client domains at well. Remember that you cannot shift the blame to a third party service provider, however much you might like to. Why? Because court rules say you can’t.

9. Don’t proofread. The difference between “I will consider a $100,000 settlement” and “I will not consider a $100,000 settlement” is vast. This is but one of many examples of how attorneys get in trouble by not proofreading. At the very least, they often sound like hapless sixth graders who haven’t got a grip on the simple declarative sentence, much less the spelling of fairly complicated words. You wouldn’t send out a real letter that way – don’t send out an e-mail that way. This is especially true if you use voice recognition software. Although the programs are good at what they do, they are not perfect, by a long stretch – in fact, many judges cite the failure to adequately proof documents generated by voice-recognition software as a chief peeve.

10. Open an attachment from someone you don’t know or from someone you do know but where the circumstances are suspicious. Dumb, even if you DO have a good antivirus program. Just because you have good, even great protection doesn’t mean you can’t be the first kid on your block to get a virus for which there is not (yet) an anti-virus signature to defeat it. E-mail addresses can be spoofed – easily. Therefore, if you get an e-mail from a client that contains an attachment and you were not expecting it – and there is no explanation in the text of the message that makes sense, don’t open it. Call the client and verify that they sent you something.

11. Go to a place on the Internet you wouldn’t like mom (or the senior partner) to know about. This is precisely how spyware gets on your machines. Adult sites are particularly notorious for doing this, but many sites (even those with screensavers, computer utilities, recipes, etc.) do this to make extra money. Even a judge once called us after opening a “farm girls and their animals” e-mail attachment. He found himself trapped in an endless barrage of pop-up porn which refused to go away. Understandably, he was somewhat reluctant to call the courthouse IT staff. Enough said?

12. Use the Auto-Complete function with abandon. This feature is so helpful and so potentially deadly. It is incredibly easy to let this function go and send an e-mail to someone other than the intended recipient. At best, the result is embarrassing. At worst, it is a genuine problem where you have perhaps sent confidential data to an unrelated third party or, the nightmare of nightmares, to opposing counsel.

13. Use weak or non-existent passwords. Passwords are critical defenses, so do not use your pet’s name, your child’s name or the name of your favorite sports team. Make your password complex, including numeric characters. A good tip is to do a short sentence that you won’t forget.

14. Write in anger. An old chestnut, and still one to bear in mind. The unfortunate part of electronic communications is that when someone writes us something idiotic, we can immediately reply and point out the complete lunacy of what has just been transmitted. This is particularly tempting when a lawyer is under attack. Don’t do it! Cool off. Go take a walk. Do anything other than reply immediately with words that cannot be recalled and may live forever and come back to haunt you! Remember, there is no “do over” key for e-mail.

15. Hit the “Send” button quickly. We’re all so busy that hitting the send button promptly after composing an e-mail seems so natural. ‘Done with this, on to the next thing’. There is an inherent danger here. Look at the message one more time – is it going to the right people? Have you proofread? Is there anything wrong with the tone or substance? Just pause a minute. Remember – each time you send an e-mail, you must see it on the front page of the Globe & Mail, on a billboard on the highway, and in front of your mom’s face. If it can be in all three places without causing embarrassment or a problem, you’re probably ready to hit “Send.” Did we mention a warning about the lack of a “do over” key?

16. Make it impossible to find your own files. Files should be named appropriately, including the client name and the kind of document, perhaps the date. Having a good, descriptive name, you must now create a structure (one of your own or through a case management system) that makes it easy to find what you are looking for. If you do not have a case management or document management system, make sure that you have electronic files named by client, with descriptive titles for each file, including the client name in case you mistakenly move the file to another folder.

17. Rely completely on your computer calendar. So what happens when your Internet goes down or your server crashes? The authors are devoted adherents of the tech world, but it is always prudent to have a secondary calendar that can provide a fallback measure.

18. Leave your computers on at night. Are you nuts? Do you personally know each member of the cleaning crew? Can you vouch for each of them? Robbers who broke into an entertainment complex in Colorado recently found themselves unable to open the safe even though they had the code. Perplexed, they looked around and found a computer that was on and Googled information about the safe. Moments later, the safe was open and they left with $12,000 – so you see, it is very helpful to have computers on at night – helpful for all the wrong sorts of people.

19. Don’t change the defaults. Every script kiddy and macho hacker knows the defaults of all common computer-related devices. In fact, they are posted on the Internet. If you don’t want a burglar in your house, you always, at a minimum, lock the door. Changing the defaults is locking the door.

20. Don’t secure your wireless network at home or at work. Wherever you work, your wireless network should be secure. This means that you must change such things as the SSID and the default admin password. Disable the advertisement of the wireless network and enable some sort of encryption for the cloud. Create MAC filtering rules to limit connections to those that are predefined. After all, you shouldn’t be in the business of creating the neighborhood hotspot.

21. Don’t have adequate anti-virus and anti-spyware software. This is “bare bones” protection these days. You should have one good anti-virus solution and preferably two anti-spyware solutions these days. If you have a subscription, don’t let it lapse.

22. Don’t backup – and almost as bad – don’t do “test restores” of the backups. Most lawyers should be doing incremental (or differential) backups daily and full backups at least weekly. If you’re doing less, think again about the potential danger. Also, backup media fails over time, so don’t assume that you have a good backup without doing periodic test restores. In case after case, we’ve seen lawyers rely on backup tapes only to find that they were corrupted when disaster struck and those tapes held the only backup of the law firm data. External hard drives increase reliability, but should also be changed in rotation just like tapes.

23. Use an online backup system. This one is controversial. There is nothing inherently wrong with an online backup system from a technical standpoint. WE hasten to add that we have seen several total failures when it comes to restoring backup from online backup providers. Even in the best scenario, someone else is holding your data. What will you do if they belly up? What if they have a disgruntled employee who sells your data? What kind of REAL recourse is there in a situation like that? At the very least, encrypt the data before you send it offsite!

24. Don’t have a disaster recovery plan. Do you think the lawyers caught in Katrina ever imagined that they would face a disaster that was so large it would involve both their home and office? Many of them had backup media at home and lost that media as well as the computers/server at work. This was compounded by not having power or cell phone towers. The communication breakdown was further aggravated by food and water shortages, office buildings being declared closed by authorities, etc., etc. In our world, where natural disasters present plenty of hazards, the ante has been upped by our realization that no one – anywhere – is safe from acts of terrorism as well. Many of the Katrina lawyers lost their practices forever because they were not sufficiently prepared. When it comes to disasters, an ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure.

25. Fail to have an employee termination policy or fail to follow it. Our cynicism comes from the number of ex-employees who have caused technological havoc by accessing the law firm network once their authority to do so has expired. When you are ready to terminate someone, never let them have access to their computer post-termination. Immediately cut all access to your systems from the outside and forward all of their business e-mail to someone else. Collect all their keys. Change the security codes if necessary.

26. Have a laptop without a power-on password, encryption, or biometric access. In a world where laptops are the #1 stolen item at airports (and they rank in the top five at hotels, from cars, etc.), you must take precautions. The new “finger-swipe” biometrically accessed laptops are no longer out of anyone’s price range. Encryption of data is no longer difficult. At the very least, make sure no one can get on your laptop at all without that power-on password. It is surely malpractice not to take this most elementary of precautions.

27. Put client data on an unencrypted thumb drive. Look at the size of a thumb drive. Smaller even than our now very small cell phones. How often do we lose cell phones? About 50 per cent of us have lost one at one time or another. Here we have an even smaller device. It is critical that data on a thumb drive be protected either by requiring a password or by encrypting a portion of the drive which carries client data.

28. Have client data on a cell phone that doesn’t require a password. As our business frequently forensically images cell phones, it always strikes us as remarkable how few cell phones we see that require a password. It may well be that we are simply the “hurry up” generation that doesn’t have time for that extra step, but if there is client data on the phone, it certainly seems like we MUST take the time to ensure that client data cannot be accessed if we accidentally lose our phones in a cab!

29. Don’t scrub the metadata. It is impossible to overstate the importance of this. Court briefs have actually been filed with metadata intact. In one memorable comment, an attorney asked if anyone thought that the “yo-yo brain judge” would understand what was being argued. As you can imagine, the judge was not amused as he viewed the comment in the electronic document. Our favorite metadata scrubber is Metadata Assistant, by Payne Consulting (about $80 per seat) www.payneconsulting.com. Already own Adobe Acrobat? Convert your document to PDF and that will strip out almost all the metadata, usually everything you’d care about.

30. Redact PDF with black boxes. Even the U.S. government has pulled this gaffe, thus exposing the placement of troops in Iraq. More notable to the legal community, a law firm involved in the infamous suit against AT&T for intercepting citizen e-mails and sharing them with the government made the same error in one of its briefs. Ordered by the court to release some documents but with certain sensitive information redacted, the firm clumsily used black bars to do so. Journalists promptly pounced on the black boxes and stripped them out, revealing incredibly sensitive data which seemed to confirm the allegations of the Electronic Freedom Foundation. If you are going to redact information, use professional software such Redax or upgrade to Acrobat 8.0, which includes redaction and Bates stamping ability.

31. Donate your old computers to charity (or otherwise dispose of them) without wiping the hard drives. As much as you’d think this was obvious, every time a college student does a new study with hard drives purchased on eBay, they find law firm data. If you have someone who is IT competent, it is a simple matter to wipe the drives effectively. If you do not, it might cost you $100 per drive to have it professionally wiped. A small price to avoid a big security hole.

32. Be a “chatty Kathy” online. We have become a society of online chipmunks, happily chattering away in chat rooms, on blogs, on listservs, and via IMs and e-mails. You should assume, at all times, that whatever you transmit electronically will live forever. Remember, deleted isn’t deleted and the power of computer forensics to recover deleted data is fearsome. If you don’t want to answer for what you’ve written three years later, don’t send it!

33. Don’t have an Internet and e-mail usage policy for your office. Are you daft? Do you know what these people do, especially when you are not in the office? All of the things we tell you not to do in these tips are exactly what they will do. They will check what’s going on in their soap operas, visit the celebrity gossip columns, etc. Not to mention the temptation to post things on a listserv (with your law firm signature attached of course) that may not be precisely the representation of your firm that you would choose. Make a policy and then enforce it.

34. Don’t have a policy about what data may and may not leave on removable media (thumb drives, iPods, phones, PDAs, etc. This is precisely how much of your confidential data leaves the office. If they don’t e-mail it, they download it. So have a policy – there are even utilities to help you monitor anything being downloaded via USB drives.

35. Don’t train your employees about computer security. There are few ways to get more “bang for the buck” than by training those who work for you. Most of them don’t know how to spot a phishing attack or how to recognize social engineering over the phone that might persuade them to give up a password. Give them the benefit of safe computing training and policy training and you will have built a worthy moat around the castle which contains your client information.

36. Hesitate to terminate a disgruntled employee that you’re thinking about firing. This is a common scenario – you know you have someone who is angry or disgruntled. Perhaps you didn’t give them a raise, perhaps they don’t like your demeanor – the reason doesn’t matter. Once you are aware of a potential problem, the likelihood of misconduct increases exponentially. As soon as you have your “employment law ducks” in order, let them go. If they do any work on your network whatsoever, this is an especially firm rule. As one law firm system administrator boasted, “I can bring this firm to its knees anytime I want.” Believe him, for he speaks the truth!

37. Fail to encrypt your e-mail. OK, this is a red herring. No one requires encryption. Very few lawyers use it. It isn’t hard, but it takes a little extra time. Still, the real message here is that important things (such as proprietary data) should not be transmitted electronically without being encrypted. Think before you use e-mail!

38. Converse via e-mail with your client using the client’s work e-mail. This is always a troublesome area, since it is not yet fully clear whether the attorney-client privilege will apply to e-mail sent from a work machine, whether via a work e-mail address or a personal e-mail address. In at least one case in Virginia, the judge found that there was no privilege between attorney and client for anything sent from a work computer. Period. As experts, we believe that decision was wrong, but that doesn’t change the current practical implications for lawyers. Better reasoned decisions from other states have indicated that the privilege would not be lost if the client took reasonable measures to protect the privilege (e.g., not using the work e-mail address, keeping attorney-client e-mails segregated on the hard drive in an appropriately named folder).

39. Fail to address e-mail correspondence in your retainer. Given the paragraph above, the perils of e-mail correspondence should be evident. Many lawyers believe, and we agree, that there should be a separate paragraph in your retainer pertaining to e-mail, in which the client specifically agrees that e-mail communication is acceptable or not acceptable. It should discourage the client from communicating from work and also stress the importance of not divulging sensitive data in e-mail. Many lawyers, including one of the authors, will ensure that this paragraph is separately initialed so that it is abundantly clear that the client understood potential risks before using e-mail as a vehicle of communication.

40. Have a file sharing program on your computer or network. C’mon, fork over the money for the new Elton John CD or for the new Harry Potter movie. File sharing of protected works not only constitutes copyright infringement, but it leaves your computer/network wide open to the Internet. If you have kids at home, and work from home, you may not even be aware that your kids have installed file sharing programs. We have six kids, and yes, it happened to us. Forewarned is forearmed!

41. Enable file sharing between the workstations at your office. This is a tough one. Microsoft allowed peer-to-peer file sharing among Windows computers. Disable this feature if you have a server. Small offices will use file sharing to keep costs down and still allow access to client data from multiple computers. If you must use file sharing, limit and restrict the access. Require user IDs and passwords to get to the data. Don’t configure unrestricted access to your data since that’s what the hackers love.

42. Use copyrighted images on your website without a license. This is done all the time. It is incredibly simple to get royalty-free clip art or photos on the Internet. If you want something classier, the prices to get a license are generally quite modest. Folks are searching for infringing materials on the Internet all the time these days and there are sophisticated tools to help them. Don’t help the infringement bounty hunters!

43. Call yourself a specialist or an expert on your website. Play it safe—check your jurisdiction’s advertising rules.

44. Appear to promise results on your website. See number 43 above. If you even describe results of cases, you must explain that results are dependent on individual fact scenarios and state that case results do not guarantee or offer a prediction of the same result in another case. It should do this in bold type, in caps, and in a font size as large as the largest size font used to describe the case results.

45. Don’t have a disclaimer statement in your e-mail. This entry is here under protest. It is probably a good idea to have one, but most experts agree that disclaimers are pretty worthless and provide almost no protection. However, it is nice to put in the tagline that tells people what to do if they receive an e-mail message in error. Remarkably enough, most folks actually want to do the right thing and will tell you that they received your message in error. All things considered, it is better to know than not to know!

46. Decide you don’t need to know about electronic evidence. Sorry, but this is no longer possible. You can no longer make a deal with the opposing counsel that “I won’t go there if you won’t.” In a world where 95 per cent of data is created electronically and only a fraction of it is ever reduced to paper, you have no choice but to consider whether ESI (electronically stored information) may be a part of your case.

47. Mishandle or spoliate electronically stored information. Until recently, lawyers were getting away with this on a regular basis, but no longer. Judges have had enough, and are beginning to hand out sanctions like penny candy, mostly against clients, but now and again against the law firm as well. You must understand your client’s technology well enough to avoid spoliation and to determine where relevant evidence may be in order to preserve or produce it. If you are not up to speed, it is time to get there.

48. Violate password protected data. Outside of the workplace (where employers have the right to monitor what transpires on their networks), passwords create a right of privacy. It doesn’t matter who owns the computer. The right of privacy applies between spouses as well. Why? Because the law says so. If we had a one dollar for every time a spouse argued that they had the right to search their partner’s e-mails, we would be rich.

49. Accept or use telephone records obtained by pretexting. According to Wikipedia, “pretexting is the act of pretending to be someone who you are not by telling an untruth, or creating deception. The practice of pretexting typically involves tricking a telecom carrier into disclosing personal information of a customer, with the scammer pretending to be the customer.” This is against the law in some jurisdictions, if you know the records have been obtained by pretexting when they slide those records across the desk and you nonetheless take them.

50. Counsel your client to put a GPS tracking device on someone’s car without fully knowing the facts. These gadgets provide great evidence, but in many jurisdictions, it is illegal to put a GPS tracker on a vehicle unless you are that vehicle’s owner. There are no reported cases thus far, so we cannot tell you whether it is OK to put a GPS tracker on a car which both parties have purchased but which is still owned by the bank because there is a car loan. These are not dice we wish to roll.

This list could go on and on and on, but hopefully it is clear that there are significant dangers in the electronic world, waiting to trap the unwary lawyer. Here, at least, is a good starting point for making sure you’ve covered as many ethical bases as you can.

Read more: http://pursuitmag.com/ethics-in-an-electronic-era-50-ways-to-get-in-ethical-trouble-with-technology/#ixzz0rIeQehqB

interesting read from Pursuit Magazine

2010-06-19T08:02:00.001-04:00

The Electronic Peephole: Digital Evidence in Family Law Investigations
June 18th, 2010 • Related • Filed Under • Print This Post • ShareThis
Ethics in an Electronic Era: 50 Ways to Get in Ethical Trouble with Technology
Every Private Investigator Needs a Digital Audio Recorder
Pretext: An Essential Recognized Investigative Technique
When Does Surveillance Become Stalking?
How Can I Identify or Locate the Originator of a Digital Image, Illustration or Photograph?
Recovering Deleted Emails (Video)
Filed Under: Private Investigation
Tags: child custody • computers • Divorce • email • in • law • Private Investigation • technology
Editor’s note: This article was originally written for attorneys concerning questions that often arise out of family law disputes but as private investigators are often called on to investigate matters involving divorce, infidelity and child custody matters we are often asked about the application of technology to develop evidence and information. The topics discussed in the article are all very applicable to anyone who handles these types of assignments.

Electronic evidence in family law cases cuts a wide swath these days. It consists of e-mails, text messages, instant messages, word processing documents, GPS data -and who knows what the next generation of mischief will bring? But let us begin with the diva of evidence in family law cases – spyware.

Spyware has made the notion of peeping through keyholes wonderfully quaint.

How much simpler it is to record your spouse/lover/significant other’s every keystroke and know for sure what they are up to without ever leaving the comfort of your computer station. Adultery is as old as time, but who would ever guess that cyber-adultery would be a commonplace phenomenon, and often the genesis of divorce?

Who would ever imagine that the authors would be interviewed by NBC, ABC, CBS, USA Network, NPR and Oprah’s “O” magazine, each interview focusing on the obviously sexy topic of spyware and divorce?

The legality of spyware used to be murky, at best. The courts have spoken of it only infrequently, so there is precious little guidance. How does a lawyer appropriately advise the client who wants to employ spyware, or who already has? How does a lawyer appropriately advise the client who believes that someone has used spyware to conduct surveillance on their computer usage? It is a dicey business, and fraught with risk for lawyer and client alike.

Before plunging into the legality of spyware, let us attempt to set the stage.

First and foremost, what constitutes spyware?

No one quite agrees, but generally speaking, it is software installed on a computer without the target user’s knowledge and meant to monitor the user’s conduct. Most of the time, in domestic practice, the target is e-mail and chat rooms, but the software will record everything the user does, including financial record keeping, the preparation in a word processing program of letters to counsel, or the keeping of business records. Some spyware is used to gather personally identifiable information like passwords, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers, all useful for those interested in fraud and identify theft. Some spyware programs will hijack your web browser, reset your home page, add toolbars, alter search results or send popup ads that cannot be closed, all intended to hawk some vendor’s products.

Spyware has become insidiously clever recently – many programs come with a persistent reinstaller – as soon as you attempt to remove it, it reloads itself. Many forms of spyware hide in Windows system files and even mimic the file names so the average user would have no idea that the files are in fact shielding spyware. The latest wrinkle with spyware is that it can turn the infected machine into a spam zombie. This means that your computer is being used as a relay point to send spam messages without your knowledge.

What are some of the spyware programs commonly in use?

These days, there are so many spyware manufacturers that it is well nigh impossible to list them all. They have such names as eBlaster, IamBigBrother, SpyAgent, Spy Buddy, Spector Pro, Keylogger Pro, Invisible Keylogger and 007 Spy Software. They have different features and have slightly different operating characteristics but they are all intended to spy on someone else’s computer use – stealthily. There are also hardware keystroke loggers such as KeyKatcher, a small, dongle-like device that fits in between the keyboard and the PC. It’s a modern day “bug” with a memory capacity of 64K, 128K, 256K and 4MB, able to store several weeks’ worth of typing, after which it can be removed and all the text downloaded onto another machine. The major advantage of the KeyKatcher is that no software will be able to detect its presence. The drawback, obviously, is that this requires that the person placing the KeyKatcher have continuing physical access to the machine. KeyKatcher is therefore primarily used by husbands and wives residing together. It is certainly cheap, beginning at $32.99. But in point of fact, having analyzed hundreds of computers in divorce cases, 100% of the time, a software spyware application was used instead of a hardware logging device.

How much does software spyware cost? Not much – $30-$100 is a common range, a cheap price for a heinous invasion of privacy. Two of the most devious spyware applications, eBlaster and Spector Pro, cost $99.95.

Will the user know that spyware has been installed?

No – these applications are exceedingly clever. They change their install dates, don’t show up as a running program, don’t show up in your list of programs, don’t show up in the “Add/Remove” function, and change their names to something that sounds like a benign – and boring – system file. Who would ever give the file name windowstht.dll another thought?

So how does spyware get installed? Clearly, if the spouses reside together, it is easy for one party or the other to install spyware. However, if the parties live apart and the spouse wishing to install spyware doesn’t have physical access to the other party’s machine, then there are methods of remotely installing spyware. As a for instance, the husband might send an electronic greeting card to the wife saying how sorry he is for the pain he’s caused, etc., etc. He sends the card as an attachment with a cover e-mail that says, “Honey, I’m so sorry for all the pain I’ve caused – the attached card helps me to express my real feelings.” Whether she loves him or hates him, she’s going to want to see the card so she opens the attachment. And bada-bing, the spyware downloads (invisibly) right along with the greeting card. In the same mode, perhaps he sends some cute photos of the kids when he took them to the beach. Irresistible to the wife – she opens them and the spyware, piggybacked on the photos, covertly installs itself and begins monitoring her online activities.

Fortunately, spyware programs cannot hide from skilled forensics examiners who know where these stalkers hide. This is one of the most difficult parts of computer forensics because you are specifically looking for something which intends to be invisible. In the vast majority of cases, the authors have found that significant amounts of data can often be uncovered, most notably the e-mail address to which the reports were sent. Once an attorney has that, if there is not currently a divorce proceeding on file, the attorney can file a John Doe suit and serve a subpoena on the Internet Service Provider to learn the identity of the account holder.

What is the status of laws explicitly dealing with spyware?

As of October, 2008, there is no federal anti-spyware law. The House of Representatives has passed (again) two bills designed to punish those who install spyware on people’s computers without their knowledge. This charade has gone on for at least five years, with the bills stalling when they get to the Senate, reputedly due to the lobbying efforts of the Direct Marketing Association. All such bills say they will pre-empt state law, so it will be fascinating to see what Congress agrees to, assuming it ever agrees.

Many states currently have legislation which is intended to prevent some kinds of spyware. Sometimes the laws are anti-spyware specific, sometimes they are computer trespass, unauthorized computer access or privacy laws and sometimes they are wiretap statutes which apply to electronic communications. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, as of March 24, 2008, there were 14 states with specific anti-spyware statutes: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah and Washington.

Note that Virginia is not mentioned, which makes us nervous about the accuracy of the NCSL’s information. Below is an excerpt from Virginia’s Computer Trespass law, which clearly includes the use of spyware in paragraph eight (but note the possible exception for a machine which is marital property). Also note that it was clear under the previous spyware law that interspousal interception was prohibited – however, the 2007 changes to the law added the “computer owner’s authorization” language.

§ 18.2-152.4. Computer trespass; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person, with malicious intent, to:

8. Install or cause to be installed, or collect information through, computer software that records all or a majority of the keystrokes made on the computer of another without the computer owner’s authorization

How about other laws, not specific to spyware?

Aha, an excellent question. Herein lays many a trap in which a lawyer might unwittingly step. First, let us consider the federal laws:

The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 prohibits the interception and disclosure of wire and electronic communications. It also applies to those who use information they know or have reason to know was intercepted. Distinctly not a good thing if your client has violated this Act.
The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act prohibits a person from accessing a computer without authorization or from exceeding authorized access and thereby obtaining certain governmental, financial or consumer information. Clearly, spyware is often used for these purposes.
Because this area is indeed a sand trap, there are also a number of state laws that may apply. Some examples include:

Computer privacy laws
Wiretap laws
Computer trespass laws
Fraud laws
Harassment laws
Stalking laws
Voyeur laws
Not only may spyware violate a myriad of laws, some laws do and some don’t carry with them a clause excluding the admission of illegally obtained evidence. And where they don’t contain such a clause, especially at the state level, it is generally held to be at the discretion of the trial court whether or not to admit the evidence. If admitted, the illegality goes toward weight.

What are the leading cases in this area?

An oldie but a goodie, White v. White (N.J., 2001), in which a wife accessed the husband’s e-mails which were stored in an America Online file cabinet on the marital computer. No password was required to get to the e-mails, though the husband was unaware of that. The court held that the wife had violated no laws in getting to those e-mail messages.

In O’Brien v. O’Brien (Florida, 2005), the wife installed spyware to monitor her husband’s conduct. He had begun playing dominos with a woman he met through Yahoo, and then began playing, well, something more than dominos. Under the Florida Wiretap Act, the data gleaned from the spyware was not required to be excluded; however, the trial court had chosen to exclude it. The appellate court found that the exclusion of the data was within the trial court’s discretion and it therefore declined to disturb the lower court’s decision.

The case of Potter v. Havlicek (S.D. Ohio, 2007) involved the question of whether evidence obtained via monitoring software on a family computer could be introduced even though the act of obtaining the evidence may have violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. The court noted that the ECPA applies only to “oral and wire communications” and not electronic. Judge Rose noted that several courts, including the Sixth Circuit, have concluded the Congress intentionally omitted illegally intercepted electronic communications from the category of cases in which the remedy of suppression is available. He also noted that “this is not to imply, however, that disclosure of the information in state court by {the husband} or his attorney might not be actionable civilly or criminally under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2511.” With respect to the husband’s argument that the e-mail were not intercepted in transit by the monitoring software, Rose discerned “some merit in the position of Judge Reinhardt who opposes a hyper-technical application of the contemporaneous requirement emasculating the ECPA” (referring to Konop v. Hawaiin Airlines, Inc. (9th Cir. 2002). The same position was adopted by the First Circuit in U.S. v. Councilman (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2005), applying a law similar to the ECPA. Rose further noted that there is no interspousal exception to the ECPA.

For the record, the authors believe that Judge Rose articulates the correct view of the law, and one which we believe is beginning to prevail across the nation.

What are your clients up to?

Attorneys who do domestic relations work can answer this question easily. If you want to check out what your clients are reading online, just type “cheating spouse” in Google and prepare yourself for a slime bath. One typical site is http://www.chatcheaters.com/, which contains real life stories, ads for keystroke loggers, advice on how to catch cheaters, and even a PI and lawyer directory. Most of the time, clients will have surfed all over the Net on this subject and purchased/installed/used spyware before they ever consult an attorney. They will arrive in your office with printouts of e-mails that scorch your eyebrows as you read them. They are generally quite pleased with their resourcefulness and blissfully unaware that they may have broken a law or multiple laws. The common belief is that “the computer belongs to both of us so I can do anything I want.” When told they may have broken a law, they become ashen-faced, and are stunned to think that the “guilty” party now may have a cause of action against the “victim.”

But what about monitoring kids?

You do have the right to monitor your minor children. However, you absolutely may not use the software installed to monitor your children as an excuse to ALSO monitor your spouse, ex-spouse, etc. To the extent that there are communications, for instance, between an ex-spouse and a child that show up in the child’s e-mail, you are (so far as current cases are concerned) ok in having those communications. However, the point must not be to spy on the spouse – there should be a concern involving the child which motivates the usage of the monitoring software.

What should you advise a client who thinks there may be spyware on his/her computer?

If it sounds to you like the facts warrant it, you’ll want to have a forensic technologist find and document the spyware’s existence. This software is so squirrelly that the evidence a lay person can get, if any, is so fragmentary as to be worthless in court. Far better to let an expert find and document the spyware. In any event, you don’t want someone trampling all over the evidence, changing access dates, etc. Sometimes, the expert’s advice will be to let the spyware continue operating briefly while a sniffer is employed to determine precisely where the information is going once it leaves the target network. The data contents of the transmission may be unreadable as more and more software packages are encrypting the communications prior to sending the information.

Clearly, an attorney cannot threaten a criminal charge. However, we’ve seen the use of spyware used as a trump card time and again. Once the use of the spyware is proven, all the attorney needs to do is communicate that fact to the other side’s counsel for the implications to be clear. Sometimes, this is done in the course of a deposition where the deponent will deny under oath having used spyware, only to have the evidence shown to them. Likewise, if they take the Fifth, but the evidence is extant, it is clear to all what the risks are. To put it bluntly, cases in which the use of spyware can be proven tend to settle quickly.

If your objective, particularly in a case of modest assets, is to simply get the spyware off, you can have the client try running a reputable anti-spyware program, such as Webroot’s SpySweeper or Sunbelt’s CounterSpy. They may not find ALL spyware, but they will find most of it. Beware, however, because the installation of these programs will be detected by the spyware, thereby alerting anyone monitoring computer activity that you are “on to them.” At that point, they may well use remote technology to instruct the software to remove itself and delete all traces of its existence.

If your choice is to simply find and eradicate the software, just be mindful that you will have no evidence of the computer spying to use in the future. Also, you must stress to your client that they should never again open an attachment from anyone likely to be interested in remotely installing spyware. A caveat: Some people are convinced that there is spyware on their computer when there is not. If you have a competent computer forensics expert and they say there is no spyware, the client is probably the one mistaken. One frequent explanation – the spouse has guessed or cracked a password – which is also illegal – so make sure you consider all the alternatives!

What should you advise a client who is using spyware to monitor someone else’s computer activity?

Get it off. Now. No excuses. It certainly violates federal law, and possibly Virginia state law as well, depending on the facts.

It is important to explain to anyone who has used spyware that they may be compelled to take the Fifth in depositions or in court.

It is a fact of life that many clients seem unable to “pull the plug” on their spying. Remarkably enough, the spying itself often becomes an addiction and the perpetrator is unwilling or unable to break the addiction. It may be necessary to be quite forceful, stating unequivocally that you will have to withdraw from the case if possible criminal conduct continues.

What do I advise a client who is fairly certain there is significant evidence on a marital computer?

No spyware. Wrong solution and it will likely end up getting the client in trouble rather than the spouse who is actually engaging in bad conduct. The first thing you’ll want to do is have a forensic image made of the computer. This can be done without the spouse knowing while he/she is at work or away on a business trip. Generally, if a computer is received in the morning, a forensic technologist can make and verify the image, returning the computer in the afternoon. At this point, at least you have a record. You will not want to authorize the technologist to analyze the image until a court order has been received, which will protect both attorney and client against any civil or criminal claim of computer trespass or invasion of computer privacy. If the court order is not a current possibility, and perhaps no divorce action is underway as yet, you still have a forensic image to examine when the time is right and you have the court’s imprimatur.

What about cell phones?

What if a spouse brings us a cell phone that is marital property? If there is no PIN required to access the phone, what law prevents her from authorizing the accessing of the phone’s data, assuming it is marital property? We can’t think of one. With the PIN of course, the phone owner has established an expectation of privacy – with that being the case, we will “freeze” the data by imaging it if possible (some phones will not allow for data extraction while a PIN is active), but we will not analyze it without a court order.

Can you go to the cell phone provider for text messages? Not usually. AT&T says it stores the actual text of cell phone messages only for 48 hours. Verizon has recently said it will hold the text message for two weeks. There is no blanket statement to make here: the carriers all have different rules and change them constantly.

And about that GPS

Perhaps the hottest surveillance device of the last year has been the GPS, which many a spouse or lover has resorted to in order to track the location of the spouse or lover suspected of wanderlust. In Virginia, it is illegal to place a GPS tracking device on a vehicle in which you do not have an ownership interest. In the average family law case, the cars are marital property, but there are a significant number of cases in which the car is titled in only one name, or the car is leased. If you own the car, you can track it. If you don’t own the car, you can’t. Need the law to prove it?

See Virginia Sec. 46.2-1088.6, which says that recorded data may only be accessed by the motor vehicle owner or with the consent of the motor vehicle owner or the owner’s agent or legal representative; except for 1) a contracted service such as LoJack 2) service of vehicle or 3) access by an emergency responder service. If both parties own a vehicle, you’re probably fine, but our observation has been that these devices are being used willy-nilly without respect to ownership.

It has been our experience that private investigators use these devices regularly, remaining blissfully unaware of the law. In fact, many a lawyer has disputed our assertion that Virginia has such a law until we produce the actual statute! It is very much a case of “say it ain’t so!” But wishing it were otherwise doesn’t change the law. Note that cell phone monitoring chips are frequently intended to monitor the use of children, a very legitimate purpose. But there is nothing to keep them from being used as a device to monitor a spouse’s location.

What about filming bad behavior?

Out of luck there, if the law violates Sec. 18.2-386.1. Unlawful filming, videotaping or photographing of another; penalty. A portion of that law is excerpted here:

It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and intentionally videotape, photograph, or film any nonconsenting person or create any videographic or still image record by any means whatsoever of the nonconsenting person if (i) that person is totally nude, clad in undergarments, or in a state of undress so as to expose the genitals, pubic area, buttocks or female breast in a restroom, dressing room, locker room, hotel room, motel room, tanning bed, tanning booth, bedroom or other location; or (ii) the videotape, photograph, film or videographic or still image record is created by placing the lens or image-gathering component of the recording device in a position directly beneath or between a person’s legs for the purpose of capturing an image of the person’s intimate parts or undergarments covering those intimate parts when the intimate parts or undergarments would not otherwise be visible to the general public; and when the circumstances set forth in clause (i) or (ii) are otherwise such that the person being videotaped, photographed, filmed or otherwise recorded would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Nowhere do we see an interspousal exception. So a webcam in the bedroom, which is frequently suggested by surveillance sites, does not seem like a stellar idea.

How about obtaining phone records via pretexting?

You could do it once, but no more. Check out The Virginia Code § 18.2-152.17, Fraudulent procurement, sale, or receipt of telephone records. If telephone records have been obtained under false pretenses, a lawyer dare not even accept the proffered documents without violating the law. Though this law was enacted in 2006, a good many Virginia lawyers remain blissfully unaware of it. The federal government passed the Telephone Records and Privacy Protection Act of 2006, which was signed into law in January of 2007, also outlawing pretexting. Like the state law, the act of receiving the documents may also constitute a crime. The days of private investigators routinely obtaining phone records for lawyers via pretexting are officially, and probably forever, over.

Final words

As excruciatingly slow as Congress is, the outcry over spyware will probably lead to the passage of a federal law explicitly outlawing spyware, probably when the economy has, if indeed it will, settle down. As for state law regarding spyware and other forms of surveillance, you can probably anticipate a lot of tinkering. One of the problems with the new technology and the consequent new laws is that we have so little case law to guide us. The vast majority of these cases settle. Added to that, no sooner has the law caught up to technology than technology leapfrogs the law, which again limps gamely behind it, playing a never-ending game of catch-up.

Read more: http://pursuitmag.com/the-electronic-peephole-digital-evidence-in-family-law-investigations/#ixzz0rIduG1zp

scripts

2010-06-15T13:21:00.002-04:00

>THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE
TAKEN SERIOUSLY. ANY ACT YOU TAKE ON YOUR BEHALF OR ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY YOU PARTICIPATE IN AFTER READING THIS MATERIAL, THE AUTHOR MAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY, AND CAN NOT BE HELD LIABLE.

To find someone's insurance provider,   1.) You could pull a CBR
(Credit Bureau Report) looking at the inquiry list, in the hopes of
finding and insurance provider.
   2.) Patch into the National Ticket Exchange and see who's made the
last 10 inquries. This could provide you with an insurance provider.
   3.) Some states require that you provide proof of insurance before
you can renew your vechicles state tab licenses. Depending on the
information you have on your target your maybe able to talk the DMV into
giving you this information.
   4.) Most car dealers require the buyer of a vechicle to have full
coverage insurance before the target can leave the car dealership, when
making payments on a contract. And Limited Liability when outright
purchasing a vechicle, and this is before the vechicle can leave the
dealership property. I believe this is because of a widely accepted state
law that requires all drivers on public roads to have limited
liability insurance.
   5.) A sweeping pretext to all major insurance companies, and minor
ones that you find advertising in the area the target lives in. Most
minor carriers resell major provider insurance.


        Repo Script
Tracer: This is investigator "Tracer", out of "Whatever County".
I am trying to reach "John Debtor", regarding a replenvin order, that
was sent to my dept. to file with the sheriff's office for a warrant to
debtnue.

Target: WHAT! Whats this about, I am his mother?

Tracer:I cannot go into the details with you mam. However, I can tell you that
it is a simple matter that can be cleared up very easily. I just need
to speak to "Joe". How can I reach him?

Target: Oh, I don't know, I don't have no way to reach him he calls me.

Tracer: Do you know a phone number or address?

Target: NO! Like I said he calls me.

Tracer: Well, I can only keep this on my desk for approximately 24 hrs. tops.
If I cannot reach him I'll have no, choose, but to file the
warrant-to-debtnue. At that point the local sheriffs will take over. Do you know of
anyone else, that may be able to get a hold of Joe?

Target: Well, I guess you gotta do what you gotta do! I'm sorry, I ain't got no
phone number or anyway to reach him.

Tracer: How, about, I leave my number with you, and if he happens to come by or
call, you have him to call me? I will hold this on my desk for as long
as possible. I would hate to see this escalate. I'm sure I can clear it
up over the telephone. BUT! I need him to call me ASAP!

Target: Okay, whats the number?

Tracer: 1-800-GET-SKIP. Trapline!!!!
Remember! I need him to call ASAP, or I'll have too process the warranttou. Then
I will not be able to help him clear this up, it will be out of my
hands. You have a nice day.

(When you do get the "Debtor" on the phone you just continue to inform
him, that you need the location of the unit, to have it picked up, to
void out the replevin-warrant-to-debtnue!

If he refuses! Explain again that the next person that contacts him
regarding this matter will be the local sheriff dept. And, that you will
no longer be able to help him after this is filed!!!)

Day in the life

2010-06-08T14:24:00.001-04:00

Rushing to be in court for a trial.... which settled, driving, paperwork, client calls, marketing calls, skip tracing, billing invoicing.... its not all like TV, which is what most people getting into this field think it is. this is not a field to jump into if you dont have clients already waiting, this is not a field if you dont have the drive to work. It Pa alone 1/2 of the Pi's that started out 5 years ago or less are gone. Many retired, many just found out this is not profitable. Delaware is worse... its a reinsurance state so work there is hard to come by....

take it from me, love this work, and understand.. this is NOT like cheaters, magnum, rockford or anything else.

check us out at www.harrisinvestigations.net

NY service of process update

2010-05-20T12:57:00.001-04:00

In the past 45 days, New York City has adopted two new policies that stand to help residents counter unlawful debt collection practices. But advocates say very little is being done to penalize the debt collectors who for years have broken pre-existing laws.

The majority of the 300,000 New Yorkers sued annually for bad debt have their wages garnished and bank accounts emptied on fraudulent grounds, after their debt collectors don't take suitable steps to notify them they are being sued, said Johnson Tyler, an attorney for South Brooklyn Legal Services who helps low-income people fight illegal debt collection.

The Department of Consumer Affairs has received 2,667 debt collection complaints in the past three years, according to a fact sheet the department displayed at a press conference this week.
In some cases, the Bloomberg administration has helped debtors ensnared by bad collectors get restitution for their losses. In the past three years, DCA restored $4.2 million in wrongful debt, charging back on average $1,559 per violating company, according to the fact sheet.

The New York attorney general's office is seeking restitution for other debtors and DCA has forced some violating companies to pay fines or surrender their licenses. Between January 2008 and March 2010, at least 32 paid a median fine of $300, according to testimony given by Tyler. During that time, at least 11 had their licenses revoked.

Some advocates feel that civil penalties like those may not be enough.

"Sometimes a slap on the hands is not enough to make them reform their practices," Carolyn Coffey, co-author of a 2008 report analyzing debt collector's abuse of the court system. "If they have to pay a fine, sometimes they see that as the cost of doing business, a criminal charge, that's something different."

But few of the business owners who have for years flouted pre-existing laws have ever faced criminal charges and few ever will, advocates say.

Tyler said that he knows of only one person who's ever been convicted on related criminal charges – William Singler, the owner of Long Island-based American Legal Process. Singler pled guilty in January to a charge of "scheme to defraud" for failing to provide proper legal notice to thousands of New Yorkers facing primarily debt-related lawsuits.

The New York Attorney General's office, which prosecuted Sigler, is prosecuting another process server on similar grounds; and the office has already garnered criminal convictions against 10 bad collectors. But a spokesman said criminal charges are not their primary tools of enforcement.
DCA aggressively pursues criminal charges against fraudulent debt collectors, by referring the offending businesses to the district attorney's office, Commissioner Jonathan Mintz said during a press conference held Monday to announce the latest policy change. "It's up to the DA's office after that," Mintz said.

The Manhattan district attorney's office arraigned 52 people on scheme-to-defraud charges in 2009, but a spokesperson for the office said it's unclear how many of those arraigned were debt collectors. Additionally, DCA doesn't track the number of cases it refers to the DA's office.

"I haven't seen any major indictments coming down, or any press conferences," held about it by the district attorney, Coffey said. "I'm guessing that it's below their radar."

One reason so few process severs face criminal charges is that, under the old law, it was too time consuming and complicated to prove a pattern of fraud, advocates say. To prove that a process server consistently failed to serve, an investigator would need to utilize a special computer program or a team of other investigators to analyze thousands of pages of documents, including some documents that he or she couldn't access without a subpoena.

"I'm pretty convinced that you could have the whole freshman class at Pace Law School, Brooklyn Law School and NYU Law School trying to catch process servers in fraud and everyone would come out saying, 'Wow that was a frustrating experience,' " Tyler said.

There is no consensus that bad debt collectors should be criminally charged.

"I don't necessarily see that the best way to go about pursing these cases is in the criminal arena," said Janet Ray Kalson, chair of the civil court committee of the New York City Bar association. "I think it's better in the civil arena because the standard of proof" there is lower.

investigations

2010-05-19T08:58:00.000-04:00

The various opinions about private investigation as a career range from romantic to sleazy, crazy to insane, However, the truth is far from fiction. In TV and news media, private investigations are portrayed as a somewhat romantic lifestyle. In the media, private investigation is usually done by men who are either smarter than the police or who are willing to take more risks. However, the truth of the matter is that private investigation today is done by anyone and YES EVEN WOMAN.

This means that private investigation is not for amateurs. The word “private” means that you are on your own. If you find yourself in a tricky situation, no one will be there to back you up. Sometimes, being “private” can be very effective in investigation, but there are times when you just wish that you have someone to watch your back.

Tracking down the owner of a telephone number is common in private investigation work. Surveillance, skiptracing, and service of process are also part of the work.

To get more details go to www.harrisinvestigations.net
or read other portions of this blog.

email headers

2010-05-09T08:16:00.001-04:00

http://www.ad2p.net/what-is-an-email-header-trace/

internet dating boom

2010-05-09T08:15:00.002-04:00

Online dating websites are booming and daters now have hundreds of match-making and internet dating sites to choose from. In addition to popular websites such as Match.com and eHarmony, millions are connected to social networking sites such as Facebook , Twitter, etc. Experts warn that persons met via the Internet should be verified to minimize the risk for scams.

International background check services are available and recommended for any relationship which is begun over the Internet, and when the person involved is not known personally. Without the assistance of a professional investigator or background check company, it can be nearly impossible to verify if someone is who he or she claims to be when the subject resides in a foreign country. Private investigators recently have reported strong demand in background checks as the risk for scams and fraud increase, and more people are now connecting online.

A dating background check is simply a background check or verification process which involves a subject who was met over the Internet, and where the relationship is romantic in nature. If a relationship is progressing and there is a chance for a serious relationship, industry observers emphasize getting a background check early, since many consumers contact private investigators after the damage is done, and the fraud or scam complete.

Of course most people on the Internet on social networking sites and online dating websites are good people and honest. Criminals have unfortunately taken advantage of this situation, as nearly all such websites don't provide any verification process for their subscribers. As a result, many scammers are now targeting such websites and targeting the consumers online. The criminals pose as Mr. or Ms. Perfect and work to gain the victim's trust and heart - and later their money. Scammers are increasingly sophisticated in their techniques and distinguising the good from the bad is no an easy task, and a professional background is advised.

Major red flags include working overseas, sudden emergencies or illness, requests for money, and so on. Investigators warn however that the combinations are endless. In conclusion, online dating is a risk-reward game, and the risk continues to rise.

Going to Jail for a good cause

2010-04-12T07:56:00.002-04:00

Time to go to jail ... for a good cause
Published: Monday, April 12, 2010

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More Photos
Click thumbnails to enlarge

BREAUX

BY TONY Di DOMIZIO

Click to enlarge

HARRIS

Staff Writer

A private investigator and a newspaper editor are among those getting locked up for doing good.

Michele Harris may never know who anonymously nominated her to be "locked up" for a Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraiser April 14, but she can't complain about helping raise money for those who need it.

"I've asked everybody I thought it could have been. I originally thought it was the Chamber of Commerce, and it wasn't my husband and it wasn't my parents. I don't think I'll ever know," said Harris, who co-owns Harris Investigations LLC on Broad Street in Lansdale.

Reporter Executive Editor Nona Breaux was also nominated anonymously to get locked up for MDA.

"I was surprised to be asked to represent The Reporter as a jailbird, but happy to participate. I just wish I was a better fundraiser, because I hate to think that I might be letting the group down," she said.

In the national MDA Lockup, local business and community leaders agree to be "arrested" for having a "big heart."

They get donations from sponsors ahead of time, but, if individuals don't raise the $3,000 goal, they spend the hourlong lockup making calls for donations.

This year's lockup locally will occur at Cravings Cafe in Lansdale. Participants actually get picked up at their workplace and taken to "jail."

"My understanding is as long as you haven't made the quota, you keep making calls and donate," Harris said. "You can eat and mingle for the hour you will be there if made quota."

Donations have been slow, Harris said.

"I have mass-marketed and mass-e-mailed," she said. "I provide a link and I e-mailed all clients and contacts. I probably sent it out to 200 people, and I put it out on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter."

This will be Harris' first time taking part in the lockup, but she has worked phones in the local MDA telethons in the past, including at Channel 6 studios and at the Civic Center.

Breaux is anxious to see what happens April 14 when people come to haul her off to Cravings Cafe.

"Really, the whole program is designed to raise money for Jerry's Kids, and I know the day will be devoted to helping this group to further their efforts into research and other programs," she said.

She said MDA is a really great cause: it puts funds and effort into researching the disease, it provides treatment and support groups and sends youth to camp where they can just be kids.

Breaux is hoping the community will support the cause and bail her out.

"And, of course, I'm still taking donations," she said.

Comments

NY No Fault Insurance System

2010-03-31T20:38:00.001-04:00

Suspicious claims and insurance fraud continue to plague New York’s no-fault auto system. In fact, many contend that the problem is only worsening. In a recent press release, the New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud (NYAAIF) pointed to a 30-percent increase in the number of no-fault fraud reports received by the New York State Insurance Fraud Bureau since 2005.

NYAAIF noted that this costly form of insurance fraud rose nine percent between 2008 and 2009 and accounted for 54 percent of all fraud reports received by the Bureau. In its annual report, which was released this month, the Bureau estimated that suspected no-fault claims totaled 13,433 last year, a noticeable uptick from 12,339 in 2008.

“No-fault fraud is often committed by organized criminal enterprises operating corrupt medical clinics that submit fraudulent claims for treatment that was either not performed or not necessary,” explained Ellen Melchionni, president of NYAAIF, in a press release.

The Bureau agreed, adding that this type of fraud can often include corrupt medical clinics and corrupt attorneys, acting with state accident/solicitation rings to submit fraudulent no-fault and bodily injury claims. It cited statistics from the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) that indicated the average no-fault claim in New York was $8,690 in 2009, exceeding the average of $5,615 in late 2004 by 55 percent.

I.I.I. said that New York’s no-fault claims costs are among the highest in the country — 64 percent higher than the U.S. average of $5,289. Overall, the Bureau investigated 1,707 new cases in 2009, which represented a 25-percent leap from the previous year. In addition, 24,920 reports of suspected fraud were submitted in 2009, up more than 8 percent from 2008

Tips on how to hire a private investigator

2010-03-31T07:23:00.001-04:00

Ultimately the hiring of a private investigator will be for legal purposes, which means with good information you can carry out your legal work effectively. You private detective must be meticulous, dependable and resourceful.

There have been cases where people have been misled by poorly trained investigators so we want to try and prevent this from occurring as much as possible because it could jeopardise the success of a legal case and it damages the credibility of highly trained and experienced private detectives such as Conflict International.

Step 1

Ask colleagues or friends if they know of a reliable private detective. A referral is the best way to get to the good ones in your area. Knowing someone who has used a private detective before will help give an insight into the experience and course of action. However if the reason for hiring a private detective may involve colleagues or friends it is probably best to not mention anything.

Step 2

Search membership directories of professional associations if you can’t get a referral. Conflict International is a member of The Institute of Professional Investigators and the Association of British Investigators. Our advice is to only work with a private detective company with these memberships.

Furthermore at Conflict International, investigations are conducted and managed within the guidelines of RIPA (The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) following on from The Human Rights Act 1998. We are also registered with the Data Protection Act and The ICO.

This ensures all investigations are carried out within necessary guidelines; ensuring operations are conducted with knowledge and expertise and in accordance with appropriate protocol.

Step 3

Ask about the detective’s training and education. Legal knowledge from law school can be helpful if you’re hiring for litigation. Journalism school may have taught the detective to be persistent and creative. Business education can help when doing company due diligence.

Step 4

Take note of a private detective’s experience. Many come from a law enforcement background, which is great for legal work but may not help you with investigating a company. Others may have a military background and others may be extremely specialised in surveillance.

At Conflict International our array of experience and training gives us the ability to offer a thorough range of services. We have worked with many lawyers specialising in many areas such as divorce, corporate fraud, and due diligence from which we have learned a great deal and used to improve our ability.

Step 5

Inquire about the private detective’s area of expertise. A background screener isn’t suitable to draw up a balance sheet of your ex-husband’s assets. You’re better off with an investigator who specializes in tracking down hidden accounts and creative financial dealings.

Step 6

Ask about work the private detective contracts out like surveillance and asset searches. This will give you an idea of the type of work the investigation agency carries out, but don’t expect to hear specific details because they should not be disclosed.

Marketing Tips for hte PI

2010-03-22T11:01:00.000-04:00

Now more than any other time over the last several years, private investigators and process servers are required to become their own supporters. In good economic times, the professionals in these fields have concentrated on surveillance, skips, and other related areas of operations and those services sold themselves. But with times being lean everywhere, they are having to put on yet another hat in order to not only keep their sales numbers up, but in some cases, even to survive. This seldom used hat, or in some cases brand new hat, is the hat of marketing and advertising.

Advertising can be a part of marketing, but marketing is not exclusively advertising. Marketing is anything that a business does to promote itself. There are literally hundreds of books and articles that have been written by successful entrepreneurs on how to market retail and even service businesses. But investigative and process companies are not only service businesses, but ones that at times, touch on high emotions and the personal lives of their customers. This combination can make marketing difficult. So what can an investigative firm or process service company do to stay viable?

When thinking about advertising and marketing for a detective agency, a lot of things come to mind. Unlike a typical retail business whose target demographic is within a few radius miles, this business has a demographic that is sometimes worldwide. That may amount to a small overall percentage of the year-end total, but every little bit adds up anymore. So as opposed to a local newspaper, flyers, or even radio advertising for a typical business, a detective agency has a lot more avenues that it can consider.

A detective agency needs to really sit down and map out who their clients are or who the clients are that they want to attract. They then need to figure out where these clients are located and just how they might go about connecting with them. Unlike a small retail or local business that is probably boxed-in to being local or maybe regional, this type of business can be local, regional, statewide, nationwide, and even worldwide.

A typical retail or local business may benefit from joining some associations. But, will it bring them any real additional business or sales? Most of the time, the best they can hope for is helpful hints and advice. Such advice or hints may include: how to lay out their floor plan, what a new product might be that is about to come out, or any number of cost cutting methods. But, this is not really the case for a detective agency.

Joining an association or a local chamber of commerce can help a private detective in at least two different ways. It can possibly open up the agency to any advertising or publicity sponsored by that group such as trade magazines, shows, and the like. It may also put the agency right in the middle of a networking bonanza, especially if that investigator is in a smaller area with not much competition. Should another agency who is out of that area need to accomplish some work in the area of you are in, they now have a possible source to get that done so they won’t have to travel a great distance.

Speaking of networking, there is probably a local chapter of a business networking organization in your area. The most popular one of these is based in California with several chapters throughout the United States. They meet once a week and the membership is around $300.00 a year, give or take. You have an optional lunch and then a networking meeting. The main goal is to keep as much money in the group as possible. There is only one type of business in each group also. One lawyer, one detective, one flower shop, etc. They work very hard to spend money back and forth in the group before going outside of the group.

What about different websites that gather together investigators and paper servers and their information? Subscribing to these can open you up to nationwide and worldwide exposure to potential clients. That is not only to target individuals; but law firms, insurance companies and again, the all-important networking aspect, too. Some sites will mention your company under a general heading, while others give you a chance to embellish yourself and your services. The cost varies widely and so does the style of the site and the benefit for you.

The tried-and-true method for your local and regional demographic area is the dependable yellow pages. There is a true benefit to being placed in the phone book. A lot of people still pick it up when they need something local, while checking the internet if it is out of their area. I have only tried this method of advertising once. I didn’t notice a big jump in business, but I don’t remember how and what I listed either.

Local advertising can be accomplished many ways and usually has a lot more flexibility than anything else mentioned. Newsletters, whether created in-house or purchased from a vendor, can accomplish a great deal. While establishing name recognition, they will also build credibility and will educate the reader on just what it is that you can do for them. Most two-sided newsletters can be done in-house for about ten cents apiece. I think the key to these is to hand deliver as many as possible. Mailing is fine also, but you don’t get the chance to walk into another person’s business and see them face-to-face. Idle conversations can sometimes lead to a new case or a new client.

Newspapers, radio, and television can help you with your local and regional markets. Newspapers, while seeming expensive, can get you into a small demographic that is still out there. Write a small article and offer it free to a newspaper and see how many comments you get off of the street if it gets published. They are still relevant, so far. The problem is figuring out what days and where in the paper to put your ad.

Radio and television cover a lot more area and are more widely used. Whether you want to target an established area you already have, offer a new product or service, or you want to expand your name into a new area, these two mediums can be very useful. The nice thing about radio and television is the flexibility. You can produce your spots and find that they are either not working or you may realize a new opportunity that just came to light by some area circumstance. An editing can be done on a portion of the spot without having to redo the whole commercial and problem solved.

There are several little things that an agency can do to help itself, also. Business cards, pens, and other novelty items can help. Have you ever noticed that everyone needs something to write on at one time or another? How about ordering some pads of paper with your business information across the top? The next time you are in the courthouse at the public terminals, drop a pad of 100 pages next to each computer. Three computers? There are 300 little business cards ready to walk out with some of the very people who are in your demographic!

Don’t hesitate to appear at a meeting, local or otherwise, and give a talk on something related to your field if asked. By donating your time and expertise, you have built some goodwill and name recognition. Have you been to a school or some type of training lately? Type up a paragraph about it and submit it to all your local media. Radio, television, and newspapers need fillers for their outlets at different times. And, they will publish these for free as long as they are not blatantly advertising your business.

One of the things that I have been doing the last month or two, is emailing fraud alerts for free to anyone who wants to be notified. The alerts may be local problems, like a rash of burglaries, or they may be a nationwide credit card fraud. Either way, people eat this kind of stuff up and think you are an expert in your field. I sent one out on New Years Eve and got a call from an Indianapolis radio station. They called back later at an agreed upon time and interviewed me live on the air about the alert. Didn’t cost me a dime. The nice thing about these is that you can subtly (or not) promote your business and services that you offer. They are your emails, your creation, and they are free. They can’t complain too much.

Lastly, consider publishing a monthly “Poop” sheet for your county. Take the civil and criminal records from the County Clerk’s office and compile them into a readable format. Add the deeds, mortgages, liens and releases, plus the federal bankruptcy information, and you have a collection of information that is desired by banks, real estate people, leasing companies, and short term lenders. I charge $15.00 a month. This also does something else for you. It puts a lot of people’s names in front of you that you are probably looking for to either serve a paper to or to investigate. This can be a wealth of information for your subscribers and for you at the same time.

Figure out a way to get to the important people in an attorney’s office, the secretaries, by maybe taking some snacks in to them every once in a while. Come up with new ideas that get you recognized by the local attorneys. It is all a production, so be your own star.

Spring has Sprung!

2010-03-17T11:06:00.001-04:00

Spring has Sprung at Harris Investigations, LLC.. so far this week we have served subpeonas in Scranton, Harrisburg, Blue Bell, Wilmington and caught a woman working on a surveillance.. the week is still young.... Do you have any investigative needs in PA, NJ or DE? Contact us toll free 888-484-9827 if you do!

Rainy days

2010-03-11T11:29:00.001-05:00

what does one do on Rainy days? Well alot of Pi's make calls, catch up on paperwork and the such, but its also a prime time to do investigations. Alot of outside workers are home and people that are under surveillance tend to do things they would not do, expecting us not to be watching. EMployee and retail thefts are also up on rainy days.

Want to learn more?

Contact us at Harris Investigations@verizon.net or call 888-484-9827

subrogation

2010-03-10T13:59:00.000-05:00

Myth: Subrogation Is Just Another Part of the Claim Process

In fact, pursuing a subrogation claim is an altogether different animal than adjusting a first-party claim. Not only is the fundamental nature of the claim very different, but that fundamental distinction creates a ripple effect, giving rise to a different primary focus for each adjuster and requiring distinct core competencies that are not interchangeable. In reality, the differences between the two types of claims are so fundamental and pervasive as to require not only segregated, dedicated subrogation recovery specialists.These specialists, however, have distinct training and expertise apart from the typical claim environment to maximize the potential return of an organization’s subrogation opportunities.

Unfortunately, the crucial distinction between the essential nature of each type of claim is not only the most critical, but is also the most fundamentally misunderstood. A first party adjuster’s (FPA) primary function is essentially ameliorative, in that he is trying to resolve a claim and restore the insured to its pre-loss position while conscientiously balancing the employer’s expectations. The subrogation recovery specialist’s (SRS) primary function, on the other hand, is more adversarial. In effect, it is the exact opposite. He is creating claims by attempting to recover damages from whatever entity the investigation has determined is liable for a loss. Invariably either his liability call or the amount (or valuation) of damages — and more often than not, all of them — are being hotly contested by the targeted entities.

Subrogation has long been misunderstood, under-utilized, often under-capitalized in the insurance industry. It is sometimes even derided as a drain on otherwise valuable claim department resources. However, the current economic climate has forced a re-evaluation of all potential revenue streams — and that’s what subrogation is, after all — to ensure they are being implemented with utmost efficiency and delivering maximum returns.

This has led to a critical re-examination of how subrogation is perceived and pursued; the role subrogation recovery can play in the life and health of an insurer; and the numerous benefits subrogation can provide, especially to an insured. The results are revealing. Many are reconfiguring several old and axiomatic principles underlying many core concepts in subrogation, and rightfully so, as they are misaligned or counterproductive.

Let’s examine some core concepts and how certain misconceptions have insinuated themselves into popular paradigms so thoroughly that now what were once considered “best practices” actually work to minimize subrogation’s effectiveness and neutralize its benefits. We will also explore how to approach subrogation so that it can be a vibrant source of revenue for any organization.

Myth: Subrogation Is Just Another Part of the Claim Process

In fact, pursuing a subrogation claim is an altogether different animal than adjusting a first-party claim. Not only is the fundamental nature of the claim very different, but that fundamental distinction creates a ripple effect, giving rise to a different primary focus for each adjuster and requiring distinct core competencies that are not interchangeable. In reality, the differences between the two types of claims are so fundamental and pervasive as to require not only segregated, dedicated subrogation recovery specialists.These specialists, however, have distinct training and expertise apart from the typical claim environment to maximize the potential return of an organization’s subrogation opportunities.

Unfortunately, the crucial distinction between the essential nature of each type of claim is not only the most critical, but is also the most fundamentally misunderstood. A first party adjuster’s (FPA) primary function is essentially ameliorative, in that he is trying to resolve a claim and restore the insured to its pre-loss position while conscientiously balancing the employer’s expectations. The subrogation recovery specialist’s (SRS) primary function, on the other hand, is more adversarial. In effect, it is the exact opposite. He is creating claims by attempting to recover damages from whatever entity the investigation has determined is liable for a loss. Invariably either his liability call or the amount (or valuation) of damages — and more often than not, all of them — are being hotly contested by the targeted entities.

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This is a quantum shift in focus, which necessarily affects how each party approaches and pursues duties from the earliest stages. In fact, it is this initial strategic distinction that gives rise to all the other distinctions in its wake. Everything else flows from the basic fact that the FPA tries to resolve a claim as quickly, efficiently, cooperatively and cost-effectively as possible, within a closed circuit of players. Meanwhile, the objective of the SRS is to create and then pursue first-party claims against a whole new and expanding set of adverse FPAs.

It is unreasonable to expect an FPA to shift easily from the mind set of a claim adjuster, which he needs to perform his job, and to that of one who is typically an adversary, the plaintiff, or even worse, to maintain both simultaneously. Such a responsibility would boarder on the schizophrenic, and to expect such mental gymnastics would be unreasonable. However, that is exactly the mind set an SRS needs in order to be most effective. They must “think like plaintiffs” because they are plaintiffs.

This distinction is best illustrated by drawing an analogy to the difference between a marriage counselor and a divorce attorney. For the FPA and the marriage counselor, the optimal outcome is a restoration of the parties previous position via amicable resolution. Typically, the primary focus is not to find fault for whatever damages have occurred, but to instead examine those damages as they exist and get them remediated as quickly as possible. The longer this takes, the less likely an optimal resolution becomes. Therefore, significant effort is not usually expended on liability, and indeed, it may be counter-productive to do so.

Also, in this scenario, the number of parties involved is usually relatively small and fixed. There is pre-existing relationship that can be built upon — even if, in the case of the FPA, it is contractual and less interpersonal. Typically the parties are participating with a mindset, at least initially, conducive to amicable resolution. Ultimately if such resolution is not possible, then the parties can agree to dissolve the relationship. Litigation is a dreaded last resort; usually an indicator that something has gone dreadfully wrong, where optimal resolution is no longer possible.

Now, let us turn to the SRS, who is more akin to the divorce lawyer. The SRS’s primary focus in the earliest stages is exactly the opposite: he must seek to determine fault. Moreover, liability must be established to a higher, legal standard as his claims will most likely result in litigation. This means, though, that how the claim is built and supported will contain a whole catalog of practical problems and jurisdictional requirements the FPA does not usually have to face.

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By contrast, in subrogation the essential parties’ interests are clearly opposed to one another and are adversarial from the outset. Also, the number of parties and their degree of involvement cannot be contained in a closed circuit. The parties can be expanded not only by the SRS, but also by entities over which he has no control (third-party actions and impleaders). Amicable negotiation is possible, but it is less likely, as both liability and damages must be agreed upon before settlement can be negotiated. As with a marriage dissolution (or human nature in general), where one party must accept fault before the matter can be concluded, it becomes difficult to proceed in an amicable, non-confrontational manner.

Moreover, having to apportion liability among multiple parties — some of whom may be absent or uncooperative — may make this stage even more troublesome. An SRS must expect litigation (at times, multiple, concurrent suits); plan for it from the beginning; and prepare for it accordingly. As a result, the timeline for resolving the claim is usually not in the hands of the parties alone (not that such a condition would guarantee significant cooperation or timely resolution). Instead, the claim is subject to the vicissitudes of the court’s calendar and the possibility that some party will take advantage of a venue’s loose enforcement of its discovery deadlines to delay and obfuscate the resolution of a claim for a prolonged or protracted period of time.

Lastly, both the SRS and the divorce attorney have the same objective: to obtain the maximum recovery for their principal. However, this is done with the implicit understanding that it will take longer to resolve than the average first-party claim and that it will cost money to pursue. Yet, this would clearly run afoul of the fixed cost structure of most claim departments.

This does not make subrogation claims less attractive, however. A properly trained SRS can compensate for many of the usual pitfalls that trap the inexperienced and mitigate many of the delays. This produces a tangible benefit for the principal in better, and often time larger, recoveries (a “better recovery” being defined as either higher dollar amounts per recovery or a greater ratio between expenses and recovery dollars).

So, organically, an SRS’s focus, processes, and objectives are complete outliers to the traditional first-party claim process. For the sake of purely operational integrity, subrogation should be distinct from the claim process. This seems especially true in light of the fact that, at least technically, a subrogation claim does not even exist until the first-party claim is fully paid and closed, until the FPA is finished and ready to move on to his next assignment. In contrast, the SRS is necessarily thinking beyond the FPA’s point of closure to the actual recovery. Therefore, having the subrogation process controlled by a claim paradigm, one that has already reached its natural terminus just as the subrogation claim is accelerating, is counter-productive.

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In sum, it is now apparent that the nature of a subrogation claim is fundamentally different than that of a first party claim for a variety of reasons. Further, recognition of this fundamental distinction requires accepting that substantive differences therefore exist in how the respective adjusters must perform their responsibilities.

Therefore, efficiency requires any organization serious about pursuing subrogation have a separate unit dedicated exclusively to its recovery.

Myth: Subrogation Recovery Requires No Special Skill or Training

This is a dangerous misconception. A hypothetical description of a typical FPA’s claim process would help to demonstrate the need for an experienced subrogation specialist to work alongside him. The process begins with the notice of loss. Next, the policy is reviewed for the initial coverage determination. Assuming there is adequate coverage for the loss, the FPA then moves to determine the cause of loss. The determination can be made in any way that satisfies either the policy language or the custom and practice of the adjuster.

It often involves site examination and the retention of experts who will help determine the cause of the loss. Next, the FPA usually begins to focus on the loss support documentation from the insureds or their representatives, analyzing it to determine what is payable and what, if anything, is excluded as an uninsured loss. Evidence in hand, the FPA now attempts to negotiate with the insured or his representative to conclude the claim. This may involve the use of an entirely new set of experts or consultants just regarding damages. All of this is done with the intent of completing all of the steps necessary from the first notice to cutting the final check and sending it to the insured, hopefully in exchange for a release or subrogation receipt, and thereby allowing the FPA to close the file and move it off of her desk permanently.

From this highly abbreviated sketch, we can extrapolate, for comparison purposes, some typical core competencies for an FPA: policy language familiarity and coverage determination ability; expert retention and oversight skills for cause and damages determination, client trust and relationship building skills, damages documentation evaluation and claim resolution negotiating skills. Overall, the aim of the FPA is to adjust and settle the claim quickly and efficiently.

Many organizations actually use a metric designed to track the number of days it takes an FPA to close this circle and resolve the claim as a way of judging the FPA’s performance and the company’s success. As a result, deviation from the steps in the claim cycle are at least tacitly discouraged and considered to be counterproductive.

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The primary motivating factors for the FPA and the entire claim organization therefore become time, as in the number of days the claim is open and on the FPA’s desk, as well as expense, meaning the cost to determine the nature and extent of the claim as well as the amount of the final negotiated settlement.

Unfortunately, effective subrogation pursuit is almost exclusively outside of this claim circle and must, by necessity, consider more complex factors. It is this friction that creates most of the tension between claim organizations and subrogation programs. The typical subrogation recovery program simply can not fit neatly or economically into the customary claim super-structure.

Since the subrogation recovery process is so much longer lived then the typical first-party process, includes all of the distinctions enumerated above, and contains additional variables that directly affect its outcome, to attempt to synopsize the SRS process would be unwieldy. Therefore, for comparison purposes, we can look at one element of the process the two specialists have in common to illustrate how the different perspectives play out.

Specifically, let us examine the initial scene investigation. As noted above, the FPA will customarily engage an expert to attend the scene and prepare a report with his opinion regarding the cause of the loss. Considering the way so many policies are written today, this could be more perfunctory than necessary. Regardless, once the opinion is prepared and the adjuster is satisfied as to the determination of cause, he can now move on to evaluate damages. There is no technical requirement that the expert’s opinion adhere to any particular standard other than those imposed on the FSA by custom and practice in the industry or by her employer.

However, the SRS has a more nuanced criteria. The SRS knows that on average somewhere between 60 to 70 percent of his claims will require some sort of litigation or ADR to resolve, and the more complex or the higher the amount of indemnity dollars paid, the more inevitable litigation becomes. First and foremost, just a few claims like this would completely skew the “time and expense” model of a typical FPA. More importantly, this has a significant impact as to how the SRS must proceed from the outset. He must first determine where his cause of action will likely lie and what is required of him in that particular venue.

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For many subrogation departments or subrogation vendors, this point in the process is a “cut-out.” They go out and hire local counsel, or refer the investigation to panel counsel and let them handle the matter exclusively. However, this provides no economic advantage to the carrier, as it:

§ Transfers control of the development of the claim away from the SRS while it is still in a preliminary stage of development.

§ In effect, has a highly paid professional perform what the SRS is trained to do.

§ Starts the attorney’s compensation clock ticking from a very preliminary stage in the overall process, arguably long before a professional with this particular type of expertise is necessary.

§ Encourages all parties to engage their own lawyers, which exponentially increases the number of people involved and opportunities for delay.

§ Neuters the SRS's ability to continue active negotiations with the adverse carrier’s representative.

Instead, an experienced, well-trained SRS can handle the development of the claim and continue active negotiations with the adverse carrier’s representative until the time there is no alternative but to file suit. This also enables the SRS to provide a highly focused and fully documented referral to local counsel when he determines the time is right, thereby preserving every opportunity to settle pre-suit and limiting the overall legal cost per file.

The SRS must also obtain and maintain his scene evidence in accord with the legal standards of the applicable judicial forum in which he is likely to litigate, regardless of wherever in the world that might be. He must therefore be cognizant of the requirements of a proper “chain of custody,” the proper standard for the admissibility of expert opinion and evidence, the standard for spoliation and how best to maintain the availability of his witnesses all the physical evidence until they are needed for resolution. Moreover, and as part of any spoliation concerns, he must orchestrate providing adequate and timely notice to all the potentially responsible parties, their representative and agents. Finally, if the evidence is of value to his claim, he will have to arrange for its long-term storage and preservation.

While there is some overlap and even some redundancy between the two specializations, the set of parameters within which an FPA operates differs from that of the SRS. The FPA’s activities exist within the closed circuit of the policy requirements, his employer’s requirements, his agent’s, and the insured and his agents and consultants. By contrast, the SRS is really the root of an expanding tree of potentially liable parties, their agents and consultants, and the variable jurisdictional and practical norms superimposed over the claim.

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The FPA and his insured are united in interest and striving toward a similar goal; the SRS, however, deals with opposing and competing interests in a zero-sum game, especially if the policy limits are insufficient. These are not compatable outlooks, and neither is served by the half-measures or blurring of focus that arise from an incomplete division of labor.

Ideally, an SRS will work cooperatively with the FPA in the earliest stages to ensure the cause is determined properly and that all necessary experts — even those ancillary to the initial cause determination but necessary to satisfy the legal burden — are engaged and provided what they need to make their contributions; that all interested parties are involved in the fact-finding process to avoid prejudice or spoliation; that evidence and witness will be preserved for litigation and attorneys can be brought in when necessary to pursue or protect the subrogation claim.

All the while, the SRS must continue to communicate with the experts to ensure the best possible claim is presented to the adverse adjusters and prepared for litigation; oversee the continued development of the facts; and progress the negotiations with the adverse carrier’s representative until resolved or exhausted. Continued pursuit is the key, throughout development, through litigation, and until the claim is settled. This would obviously be exponentially more difficult if the subrogation recovery process was constantly intercut with a steady flow of new first-party claims, requiring the above described significant shift in focus.

Therefore, the idea that subrogation recovery does not require specialized skills or training, or that it can be assigned to first-party claim adjusters as part of their regular case load, is easily overcome by just a cursory examination of each adjuster’s unique, mission-critical procedures. It is inherently unfair to an FPA who, by trying to prioritize the pursuit of a subrogation claim on top of his pre-existing case load, is really being asked to traverse largely unfamiliar and unfriendly waters. However, experience teaches us that the difference between the successful recovery of a large paid loss and its less attractive alternative often results from a command of the subtle nuances of the subrogation recovery process. It seems equally clear that such command is really the province of the separate subrogation specialist.

Myth: All Subrogation Recovery Pursuit Is the Same

There is at least one more important, substantive distinction about subrogation claims that must be recognized. There are significant differences between how a small-dollar claim is typically pursued and how a large-dollar recovery should be pursued.

It is not reasonable for all subrogation claims to be treated the same way. Subrogation recovery “enjoys” the reputation it has because the bar of expectation has been set so low. Until now, there has been the widely held belief that recovery meant, at best, 50 cents on every dollar of the paid loss. However, this expectation has arisen primarily because non-specialists have been pursing subrogation recoveries as part of a larger, more diversified job description without the proper tools to maximize recovery.

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As a general rule, the larger the paid loss, the more complex the issues; the more time it will take to resolve; the greater likelihood multiple parties will encumber the claim; and that litigation will be required to resolve the claim. Additionally, the possibility of early or amicable settlement usually diminishes in direct, inverse proportion to the paid loss and the number of potentially liable parties. Moreover, investigation and discovery are both generally far and away more fact specific, issue laden and expert intense.

If the above distinctions are true, then it is as unreasonable to assume that large, complex losses can be recovered using the same processes used for lower dollar losses as it is to assume that subrogation can be effectively pursued as just another part of the claim-handling process. For example, could the investigation of a multi-million dollar fire at a commercial industrial facility be handled in the same way and with the same methods as the investigation of the fire at a single family dwelling, or even more extreme, any auto accident? Is is realistic then to believe that anyone but a thoroughly trained and experienced, large value SRS should be entrusted with what will likely be a lengthy, complex and expensive recovery process?

Lower dollar losses require very little substantive investigation, issue examination, or evaluation. These can often be handled by volume processing, very much like a collections agency in many respects, so long as it is done by trained subrogation specialists. Even so, it is not reasonable to automatically assume that systems able to process a high volume of lower value claims can accommodate the multitude of unique issues that can arise when the paid loss exceeds approximately $100,000.

However, because large loss subrogation claims are relatively rare and occur infrequently in comparison to the high-volume, smaller value, no-fault or auto subrogation claims, it does not make economic sense for most organizations, even those that specialize in subrogation, to have highly trained and experienced large loss specialists on hand all the time. Thus, despite their special needs, large losses often do not get the development or support they require because there is no alternative but to treat them the same as lower dollar claims. As a result, there is a higher risk that money is being left on the table when it comes time to negotiate and settle these higher value claims. In a time when the bottom line commands so much attention, it is folly to miss an opportunity so wholly within grasp. Yet this is the paradox many organizations face today.

How then is this paradox resolved? Each organization would have to examine its own circumstances and decide how best to proceed. One option is to ensure that any in-house subrogation department has a sufficient number of properly trained or experienced large loss subrogation adjusters on staff to handle the number of large losses incurred.

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Some organizations choose to farm-out their subrogation recovery efforts, engaging one of the many vendors in the marketplace for a fee. The organization still has a duty to make sure the vendor has a sufficiently strong roster of large-loss subrogation specialists who can (and will) handle the losses. Lastly, consultants can review the organization’s circumstances and recommend how best to proceed.

The essential nature of a first-party claim is quite distinct from a subrogation claim. This produces sometimes subtle but nonetheless significant differences in each type of adjuster’s primary focus and core competencies. Moreover, subrogation claims can also be distinguished by the different types and larger number of parties that are needed to resolve those types of claims and the unique relationships that give rise to their involvement, the different costs and time lines of action and for resolution of each type of claim, and the expectations and definitions of success with respect to each type of claim. There must be a sufficient number of well-trained and experienced subrogation recovery specialists who can handle a variety of losses, especially the large, complex subrogation claims.

status

2010-02-28T17:29:00.001-05:00

It might start to snow but we are still on the go go go. Harris Investigations, LLC Is open for those of you working at home. Granted we will not be out in the field but we will be in the office finding bad guys and writting reports, so if you need something.. call us 888-484-9827 or email us at harrisinvestigations@ve......rizon.net . We are on the web at www.harrisinvestigations.net

2010-02-18T20:37:00.001-05:00

Pa Identify theft law changes

2009-12-23T09:09:00.001-05:00

Pennsylvania law has been modified to expand the restitution permitted in Identity Theft cases. In addition to all traditional restitution, the amendments provide for all reasonable expenses incurred by the victim, or on the victim’s behalf, to:
1) investigate the identity theft
2) bring or defend criminal and/or civil actions in court to redress the identity theft
3) repair any blemishes on the victim’s credit record
Perhaps most importantly, the amended law permits recovery of fees paid to attorneys, credit bureaus, and private investigators, as well as recovery of court costs and filing fees. It is very rare that Pennsylvania law permits recovery of professional fees, investigation fees, or courts costs. This will be a powerful new statute that will permit victims to enlist the aid of private attorneys, at the expense of the perpetrators, in an attempt to recoup any losses they have suffered. Our experience and expertise in Identity Theft cases leaves us uniquely positioned to benefit either the victims of Identity Theft or the accused, though obviously not within the same case.

Security Tip: How to secure your computer

2009-11-24T09:15:00.002-05:00

Implement and maintain anti-virus, anti-malware software and firewalls.

Protect yourself against viruses and Trojan horses that may steal or modify the data on your own computer and leave you vulnerable.

Check your anti-virus software and your firewall regularly to
update the programs definitions.

Regularly scan your computers for spyware. Spyware or adware hidden in software programs may affect the performance of your computer and give attackers access to your data.
Keep Software up to date. Hackers will attack known problems or vulnerabilities.

Protect your computer by regularly checking for updates and installing your operating systems automatic updates.

Create separate user accounts. The more people that have access to your files the greater the risk that someone else may accidentally access, modify, and/or delete your files. The best way to protect your data is to have your access and account separate from other users. Only one (1) account per person.

Follow corporate policies and contractual obligations for handling and storing work-related information. If you use your computer for work-related purposes, make sure to follow any corporate policies for handling and storing the information. Our policies have been created and are frequently updated to protect proprietary information and customer data.

Dispose of sensitive information properly. Simply deleting a file does not completely erase it. To ensure that an attacker cannot access these files, make sure that you adequately erase sensitive files.

Time saving tips for internet users

2009-11-16T17:52:00.000-05:00

How many hours a week do you spend on Internet? Do you get frustrated in not being able to find just
what you're looking for in seconds rather than minutes? Would you like to get more of whatever it is
you desire for work or play using Internet?
According to Internet World Stats latest report there are 220 million U.S. Internet users or roughly
three-quarters of the population. If all of those users could save just 10 minutes per week using better
Internet technique that would be a productivity increase of almost two billion hours a year – a very
impressive number.
A recent informal poll reveals that a majority of experienced Internet users waste at least two hours per
week in fruitless or ineffective activities. With that in mind, here are 25 time-saving tips to increase the
productivity of Internet use.
1. Use keyboard short-cuts. Shortcuts can save many minutes each day and at the end of the
year it may add a week of productivity. By pressing two or three keys at the same time you can
dramatically speed up the manual processes that take more time when mousing. A favorite of
mine is Ctrl+C to copy something in the browser, Alt+Tab to switch to a document running in
another window then Ctrl+V to paste into the document and Alt+Tab to go back to the browser.
2. Set your browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc.) start-up
page to something useful. Going into “Tools” and then “Internet Options” you'll find a field in
which you can type a web address. After you do this every time you start your browser it will
open to the specified page.
3. While were on the topic of setting a specific start page, consider a customized home page.
Google and Yahoo offer the capability to create a customized page with a dizzying array of
possible uses. Google has iGoogle and Yahoo has My Yahoo. They are similar in capabilities
but I prefer iGoogle for its lack of jarring animated advertising but I also have a MyYahoo page.
Sign up for a free account on either service and you'll be given the option to create a customized
page which is accessible from any computer anywhere in the world provided you have your
user name and password.
4. Use quote marks when searching for a person's first and last name or a phrase. This tells the
search engine to show you only that exact combination of words so try a person's name with
and without a middle name or letter. This literally improves searching at least 1,000 percent
almost every time compared to not using quotation marks around a search term.
5. After you've searched and clicked on a search result link do you read through all of the text to
locate what you originally sought via the search engine? Save many minutes each day by using
Ctrl+F to call up a search box on your computer, type in the original search term and it will
find the search term very quickly.
6. Do you really know what key words will give you exactly what you want to find? Sometimes
not. The “Directory Approach” might be more productive. Sites like dmoz.org present
information in categories. The deeper you go into categories and subcategories the more precise
the information in a particular category.
7. Are you using automatic systems? If you are seeking a continuous stream of information on a
very specific topic then set up an automatic search. It finds and forwards an email to you
containing the desired information you want on an ongoing basis. Try Google Alerts and note
the ability to specify the Internet sources you want to monitor. If you choose “comprehensive”
from the drop down selections you will set up a very wide-scope “dragnet.”
8. While we're saving time with automatic systems consider RSS feeds too. Real Simple
Syndication enables you to monitor changing information from a web site. For example,
Craigslist provides that capability after you've searched for something. There's a tiny “RSS” at
the bottom right of an individual listing. Copy that link and use it with a customized home page
like iGoogle or My Yahoo.
9. While I'm applauding Google I'll mention Google Desktop. This is a good example of a
desktop search tool that enables you to rapidly search your hard-drive and/or a network drive
to find desired information on your own computer. Download it from desktop.google.com and
install it on your computer. Two nice features – when you do a web search using Google the
Desktop software runs in the background and will display matches on your computer in the
space above the regular web search results.
10. Make sure your computer is cleaned and (no joke) dusted. The later won't save you any time
but cleaning out dust could save your power supply from overheating and burning out.
Regarding speedier Internet use, cache, cookies and a whole lot of other stuff puts a brake on
your surfing speed. Defragment the hard drive. While the Microsoft Windows operating system
has programs (usually tucked away in Programs>Accessories>System Tools) I use a great
program called CCleaner. If you really like it you can make a voluntary contribution.
11. Where do I find all of these great free programs? The only site I fully trust is download.com.
If you only want to review freeware do a keyword search first then click on the By License
Type: free link. You can quickly and efficiently review all types of software there and compare
offerings from competitors too.
12. Use email filters to manage the incoming flow. Most of the time you just want to read
important email. Filters (see Microsoft “Mail Rules” and Mozilla Thunderbird) enable you to
specify such criteria as sender, keywords, etc. and actions like deleting, routing to a specified
folder (Google uses “Labels”) so they don't clog up your in-box. Yahoo combines filters with
email or cell phone notification. If a message is filtered you have the option of having Yahoo
send a notification message to your cell phone.
13. You can go a step further with Yahoo Mobile. If you have a My Yahoo page you can use the
Mobile Alert function to stay up to date on just about anything. You'll only pay for SMS
messages but you'll avoid the surcharge that some cell phone plans charge for this type of
service.
14.Centralize your calendars. Perhaps the first important step toward good time management is
to use only one calendar. There are many free web-based calendars but I firmly believe
Google's is the most useful. There are many features available but the two I like best are
sharing functions and event reminders sent via email or SMS.
15.Get help while you sleep. Why struggle over a challenging question or problem when there's
likely to be an expert somewhere who will be happy to help you? There are many “Answers”
type sites where you can pose your problem and hopefully get an answer in a short time. Yahoo
Answers is a good example of this type of Internet Resource.
16. Too busy to read a long document? If you download an Adobe PDF document and you're
using Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.2 you can activate the “Read Aloud” feature. If you have a
pocket digital audio recorder connect it to the headphone output of your computer. It may take a
little time to do the first time but thereafter you can have audio recordings of many PDF
documents.
17.Call a meeting using chat to avoid the walk, drive or flight to a central meeting place. There
are many chat and collaboration services, many of which are free, that provide all kinds of
communications features way beyond just typing text back and forth. Check out several
common chat services for details and be sure to look at Adobe ConnectNow.
18. Find images for your project using Google Advanced Image Search. The form provides a way
to find exactly what you need including a selection for copyright status.
19.Use the new People Metasearch tools to find people. This is an interesting development and a
few people might consider it intrusive but these powerful sites do the job. Try 123people,
PeekYou, or pipl to see how this type of search works.
20. Speaking of people search, do you ever need to find public records? Here's a tip that works
very well in Google. Just search for a jurisdiction (municipality, county, state) name and the
type of record you are seeking.
21.Are you a frequent user of multiple blogs and/or social networks? If so, try time-saving
posting services like atomkeep, Flock, Ping.fm, or posterous. These “roboposters” can save
you time and keep all of your friends and business contacts efficiently updated on your doings.
22. There an unknowable amount of very high quality information available via Internet but not all
of it is free. For example, you can avoid the trip to a newstand and the purchase of an expensive
paper-based magazine by using sites like goreadgreen, issuu, zinio Recently I needed a
specific article from a popular national magazine. By the time I heard about it the magazine was
no longer available but I got it via zinio for a small charge.
23. If you find yourself hitting a lot of dead ends while trying to find something you need here's a
tactic you will find useful. Each time you find one of the bits and pieces or leads to follow copy
it from the browser into a document running in another window on your computer. After
collecting several of these initial leads copy them into a search engine and follow threads. This
prevents you from going too far on each lead during your initial search. See tip number one for
shortcuts to execute this tactic quickly and easily.
24.You might even benefit from using an overall framework for Internet activities. My PROACtive
process (Plan, Retrieve, Organize, Analyze and Communicate) helps. I teach this in my
workshops and webinars.

websites

2009-11-13T11:35:00.002-05:00

Do you have websites you use for your work ? Would you be interested in the list I complied? I have about 23 pages, in a booklet type format.

Granted you might find some of these on Black book on line, but i check mine daily and these are ones i have used or at least looked at. I updated my list 1-12-2010 so the links are fresh.

Email me at harrisinvestigations@verizon.net to purchase it!

What really does a Private Investigator do?

2009-11-11T09:20:00.003-05:00

Harris Investigations, LLC information

2009-11-07T09:03:00.000-05:00

Our Background

Harris Investigations, LLC is proud to be able to supply you with their information.

Our company founder, Michele Harris, has been working for Pennsylvania Private Investigation Agencies for over 20 years. She has an A.S. in Criminal Justice. Michele, along her husband Charles, opened their own firm in 2005. Both are Licensed Investigators in PA and DE and have their own specialties. Michele recently became licensed in New Jersey. Our Wilmington, DE office opened in 2007 and our Deptford, NJ office opened in 2009.

Harris Investigations, LLC specializes in last minute and rush assignments. Most of your assignments can have results on your desk within 48-72 hours. They cover the Tri-State area on the ground, with assistance from partner licensed agencies in NY and Maryland.

Your case is very important to us. From start to finish, each referral is handled individually, by one member of our highly qualified office staff.

Harris Investigations, LLC is Licensed, Bonded and Insured in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. Copies are available upon request. They are members of PALI and NAPPS. Their company also has representatives who are Notaries of PA and DE. Physical office addresses disclosed upon request.
Services Provided

Activity Checks
Assets Searches-customized to your needs
Background searches-customized to your needs
Civil record searches
Corporate record searches and UCC filings
Criminal record searches
DMV searches-aka Motor vehicle searches
Educational background searches
Employment verification
Household checks
Litigation support
Medical Fraud Investigations
Modified Household checks
Newspaper and TV story searches
PO Box breaks
Police reports
Pre-employment screening
Process Services-Subpoenas, Complaints, Writs, etc.
Product Liability Investigations
Property searches
Professional license searches
Scene/Vehicle photos
Skip Tracing
Utility Searches
Vehicle photos
Witness statements

This is only a PARTIAL listing of services we offer. We specialize in the unusual and unique results, if your request is not listed, please feel free to contact us. All services are offered NATIONWIDE

Moonlight Courier

2009-11-06T21:44:00.001-05:00

Moonlight Courier Services started in 2009, by the President and CEO, Charles A Harris, III. Mr. Harris has a Private Detective License in both the State of Pennsylvania and Delaware. He also holds a class B license, which permits him to move larger items for his clients.
Started out of needs of clients, the company has blossomed into what it is today.
Mr. Harris and his team have the ability to pick up documents, serve documents, copy documents, get documents file, move and haul items quickly and transport individuals and displays if needed. Same day service is available in most situations.
Their main office is in Lansdale, Pa. They have an office in Cranberry Township, Pa as well as Wilmington, De. A Deptford, NJ office will be opening soon.
Moonlight has a coverage area of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and DC. We have partner companies nationwide that will be able to assist you as well.
　
　

marketing a PI business to others

2009-10-31T21:17:00.001-04:00

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” -Joseph P. Kennedy
It’s tough being a private investigator (PI) during this recession, just as it’s tough for many small business owners. But now’s not the time to get static. Instead, get dynamic. Rather than wait for the phone to ring with a new case (the popular image in movies and books of what PIs do when business is slow), create a list of marketing tasks to attract new clients.
You don’t have the money to advertise? You think marketing means shelling money out of your already stretched finances? Think again. There are numerous free, or relatively cheap, ways to advertise your PI business, some of which are listed below:
Create brochures. There are easy-to-use, free templates on the Internet that you can download (for example, type “brochure templates free” in your browser). Fill the template with content about your skills, background, investigative expertise, memberships, and tools. Add quotes from satisfied clients… Highlight your contact information (name, phone number, website, blog, etc.), then print. For the cost of envelopes and stamps, you can mail brochures, or skip the mailing costs and take them along on cold calls, leaving one with every office you visit.
Write a letter of introduction about your business and services. Easier than making a brochure is simply writing a letter. Write a punchy opening paragraph that tells them why they want your services. Follow up with a brief list of your skills and expertise. Let them know how to reach you. Mail letters or take them along on cold calls.
Make business cards. For little money, you can purchase business card forms at an office supply store. For free, you can download a business card template off the web. Be succinct as space is at a premium. Name your business, contact information, key skills. Carry the business cards with you at all times – hand them out to people you meet, friends, associates, and other contacts.
Update your website. Add new skills you’ve developed, investigative courses you’ve taken, quotes from satisfied clients, new organizations you’ve joined. Write a short article about your area of expertise, the steps you took to successfully complete a case, or a review of a new investigative tool or book. If you don’t have a website, there are Internet sites that offer free websites to their members (in your browser, search for “free websites”).
Advertise online. Check where your competitors are advertising online, then visit the site and check their requirements for listing your business. Many offer free listings to all who register.
Join reputable PI organizations. For a listing of state, international, and miscellaneous PI organizations, check out http://www.irbsearch.com/links_resources.shtml. Not always free, but worth the price of membership.
Start a blog. You can build a free blog through sites such as blogger, WordPress, LiveJournal. Not sure how to build a blog? In your browser, type “How do I create a blog?” and see how many links display!
Write articles. Lucky for you, the Internet is hungry for content. Check out online article sites, study their requirements, and start submitting articles. Write about what you know–for example, a how-to article for an investigative specialization, a list of recommended equipment for a PI office, a checklist for people wanting to hire a PI, etc. Make sure to include contact information in your byline (your website link, blog link, business email address, etc.).
Speak to a group. Offer to speak to an organization on a topic of interest to them. And don’t forget to bring your business cards!
Start an e-newsletter. Easy to do for free on sites like Yahoo! Add a sign-up link on your website and/or blog. There are many Internet articles on how to set up an e-newsletter (for example, type “how to set up an e-newsletter” in your browser).
Join social networking sites. Doesn’t cost anything to sign up on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and other social networking sites. Post links to your investigative website, blog, articles, etc. Offer investigative tips, insights, resources. These are opportunities to network with other PIs as well as attract new clients.
Broadcast your PI business on YouTube. Use your video camera to film a short piece about an investigative technique, trend, or tool. Add your contact information at the beginning and end of the video so potential clients will know how to reach you. After you download the link to YouTube, share that link on your website, in articles, on your blog, networking sites, etc. Not sure how to structure your video? Check out YouTube for examples of what other PIs have done in theirs.
When the tough times end, and they always do, don’t stop marketing. Continue keeping your business, expertise, and contact information visible by following the suggestions above. Just as the tough get going, they also keep doing.

2009-10-31T17:46:00.001-04:00

DateCheck phone app gets the 411 on suitors
Program does varying degrees of legal snooping, but some question its use

A new program for mobile phones, DateCheck by Intelius, does background checks on prospective suitors for a range of fees. Some like the idea, while others think it goes a bit too far.

link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33423647/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/

2009-10-26T10:07:00.000-04:00

Infidelity, adultery, cheating, being unfaithful, having an affair...
...whatever you care to call it, is likely to be one of the most painful and devastating things that can happen to you. Not knowing if your spouse is cheating on you or not is equally as painful. Even the prospect of a loved one being unfaithful is painful and extremely disruptive. Each private investigator at Harris Investigations, LLC helps clients like you with this issue every day. We know that you need a private investigator to get you proof so that you can move forward with your life.

What a Private Investigator can do for you...

2009-10-21T22:14:00.000-04:00

WHAT CAN AN INVESTIGATOR DO FOR AN ATTORNEY?
A PRESENTATION BY HARRIS INVESTIGATIONS, LLC
Bonded, Licensed and Insured in Pa, De, and NJ
　
I. HIRING AN INVESTIGATOR
II. TRIAL PREPARATION
III. WITNESSES
IV. EVIDENCE
V. RECORDS
VI. SURVEILLANCE / VIDEO / PHOTOGRAPHY
VII. POST TRIAL
　
I. HIRING AN INVESTIGATOR
Request yearly copies of Private Detective License, Bond and Liability Insurance
Verify insurance with their insurance company or request your company be added to their policy
County requirement for Detective License: minimal bond (usually $10,000) – does not cover you should the investigation go wrong or the investigator’s information be incorrect
II. TRIAL PREPARATION
Why should an attorney use an investigator?
Private Investigator vs. Attorney
· More cost effective (charge less)
· Better results
· Do not divulge what side they are working for
· Trained to find existing laws as opposed to people and facts
· Limited time to execute full investigations
· Must divulge which side they are working for
　
Prepare trial exhibits including maps, enlarged photos, diagrams, overlays, jury instructions, etc.
Prepare case chronology
Prepare reports and personal testimony as requested
Prepare alphabetical witness summary with name, address, telephone numbers, and short statement of relationship to the case
Assist with large case management
Pick up and review records pursuant to subpoena duces tecum, court order or signed release

Due Dilliegence

2009-10-13T08:03:00.000-04:00

http://www.workoninternet.com/article_28254.html

Pa Court Rules Trademark law too vague

2009-10-12T11:16:00.001-04:00

Pennsylvania no longer has a law prohibiting the use of trademarks without permission, as the highest court in the commonwealth declared the Trademark Counterfeiting Statute unconstitutional last Monday.Two Centre County cases were factored into the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's 4-3 decision, which said the law was too vague and breached First Amendment rights.In one case, police arrested a man in May 2007 after finding boxes of counterfeit Nike shoes in his car during a speeding stop. The other case involved a man selling hats with the Penn State logo near Beaver Stadium in 2008.Defense attorney Karen Muir, who defended the man police said had counterfeit shoes, said the law was too vague and could apply to the smallest of things.Muir said she and Centre County Public Defender Sean McGraw appealed their cases to the Supreme Court in 2008, after Centre County Judge Thomas King Kistler said the law was too vague -- and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed. "We are pleased that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld Judge Kistler's decision," Muir said. "Kistler was saying the statue was unconstitutional, so no one should be charged or convicted."Justice Max Baer wrote that the law was unconstitutionally vague and overbroad, applying to constitutionally protected activity such as writing the words "Penn State" on a political sign.Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Aaron Tiracorda said he's been involved with six to 12 incidents in the past nine years involving trademark laws."It's no longer a crime," Tiracorda said. "As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing we can do because there is no legislation against it."Tiracorda said most of the cases he's encountered have been along Interstate 80 with items coming from New York. Many suspects are found transporting counterfeit Nike shoes, various brand-name clothing and Louis Vuitton handbags."We're trained to identify it along the roadside," he said. "And once we encounter it, we have to photograph the items and send it to different companies to authenticate it for court purposes."Centre County District Attorney Michael Madeira said no arrests will be made under the nullified law, but local and federal copyright laws still exist and could be applied in certain areas, including Beaver Stadium and across state lines. Penn State Police Deputy Director Tyrone Parham said his department is prohibited from charging anyone under the stricken law, and they haven't since the Supreme Court appeal.In a statement released on Penn State Live, the university said the high court's ruling will not affect Penn State's ownership of its trademarks. Individuals and businesses still have to obtain approval from the university to use Penn State's trademarks, according to the statement.Muir said she doesn't know how future cases will be handled, but she credits McGraw for the change in state law."Sean McGraw paved the way for these arguments," Muir said.

If you have an I Phone!!

2009-10-10T15:11:00.001-04:00

http://tinyurl.com/qw2pweYou might want to look at some of those apps your bought!

Back from Continuing Education Classes

2009-10-08T11:00:00.001-04:00

Not all PI's take these sort of thing, but we at Harris Investigations, take them in several states. We just took two days worth in Carlisle, Pa and we learned alot . We are expanding our company as well. We have offices in Pa, NJ, and De. Yes ACTUAL offices, tho PO boxes are listed on the websites.

We are available for presentations (What a Private Investigator Can do for an Attorney/Paralegal/Claim rep) and available to talk about many other things.

We hope to hear from you soon.. POST SOME QUESTIONS!!

Harris Investigations, LLC
1-888-484-9827

top 7 ways to prevent identify theft

2009-10-06T14:43:00.000-04:00

1. Do not carry your Social Security number in your wallet or purse. If your social security number is listed on your driver’s license, health insurance card, or checkbook, request to have it reissued with the sensitive information removed.

2. Make a list of all your credit card account numbers and bank account numbers with customer service phone numbers, and keep it in a safe place. An easy way to do this is to photocopy or scan the front and back of all the contents of your wallet regularly. This will make it easier to contact the creditors in case of theft or loss, as well as replace items such as your health insurance card and driver’s license.

3. Review your credit report annually and correct any mistakes promptly. Credit reports are available for free from http://www.annualcreditreport.com/. This central site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. At no time should you have to enter a credit card number or provide other type of payment for these services. What I do is to request one credit report from each bureau every four months. The information is fairly common so there’s no need for you to get all three reports at the same time.

4. Password protect your PDA’s, laptops, etc. Safeguard these items as you would your wallet or purse. Although, those passwords can be broken by a skilled hacker, you will want to at least have a deterrent in place for that petty thief.
Memorize your Social Security number, passwords, and PIN numbers. If you must write them down, do not carry them with you. For good tips on choosing a password read this article on: How to pick a good password.

5. Clean out your wallet or purse frequently. Do not carry around your social security card, birth certificate, or passport unless absolutely necessary. Remove receipts or statements with your account numbers on them, then shred or file as appropriate.
Shred your old statements and other sensitive documents. Invest in a cross-cut or confetti type shredder. Destroy anything with personal information that can be used in identity theft, such as account numbers, social security numbers, pre-approved credit applications, cash advance checks, etc.

6. Keep your phone number and address unlisted. Pay the additional fees, if necessary.
Remove rarely used credit cards from your wallet or purse. Cancel any credit cards that you no longer need. Make sure your credit report reflects the account closures.

7. Be wary of anyone who tries to solicit sensitive information from you over the phone. If they claim to be from a company you do business with, they should already have your account number, address, etc. on record. You should never be asked for your password or PIN. If you are suspicious, ask the caller for a number they can be reached, and compare it to the information in your records.

If you have a blackberry you MUST read the article

2009-10-06T10:28:00.000-04:00

http://tinyurl.com/yc8rqbb

daily PI news updates

2009-10-04T20:59:00.000-04:00

Want the best place to find updates relative to the PI world?

http://feeds.feedburner.com/PINewswire

Its an excellent place to start!

What a Private Investigator can do for you...

2009-10-04T15:14:00.001-04:00

Whether is follow a cheating spouse, checking up on your employees, pre employment background checks or mystery shopping, Private Investigators can assist you in many ways. At Harris Investigatoins, LLC we are a full service agency. We can do all of the above things and many many more. We offer armed and unarmed security (only in the State of Pa). Sweeps of your office, voice stress analysis (differnt than polygraph but as effective if not better, surveillance, skiptracing, DMV work, processs service and MUCH MUCH MORE.

Most of our clients are Major Law Firms nationwide (references on our website harrisinvestigations.net), and Insurance Companies. Believe it or not, we also do alot of work for other private investigators, nationwide.

We are a family owned and operated company, with most of our employees family members.

We are Small enough to care yet Large enough to serve.

Give us a try.. toll free 888-484-9827

We have licenses to operate in Pa, De and NJ.. With 4 offices to suit your needs!

Private Investigations-What we do

2009-10-04T11:26:00.000-04:00

Private detectives and investigators assist individuals, businesses, and attorneys by finding and analyzing information. They connect small clues to solve mysteries or to uncover facts about legal, financial, or personal matters. Private detectives and investigators offer many services, including executive, corporate, and celebrity protection; pre-employment verification; and individual background profiles. Some investigate computer crimes, such as identity theft, harassing e-mails, and illegal downloading of copyrighted material. They also provide assistance in criminal and civil liability cases, insurance claims and fraud, child custody and protection cases, missing persons cases, and premarital screening. They are sometimes hired to investigate individuals to prove or disprove infidelity.
Private detectives and investigators have many methods to choose from when determining the facts in a case. Much of their work is done using a computer, recovering deleted e-mails and documents, for example. They may also perform computer database searches or work with someone who does. Computers allow investigators to quickly obtain huge amounts of information such as a subject’s prior arrests, convictions, and civil legal judgments; telephone numbers; motor vehicle registrations; association and club memberships; and even photographs.
Detectives and investigators also perform various other types of surveillance or searches. To verify facts, such as an individual’s income or place of employment, they may make phone calls or visit a subject’s workplace. In other cases, especially those involving missing persons and background checks, investigators interview people to gather as much information as possible about an individual. Sometimes investigators go undercover, pretending to be someone else to get information or to observe a subject inconspicuously.
Most detectives and investigators are trained to perform physical surveillance, which may be high-tech or low-tech. They may observe a site, such as the home of a subject, from an inconspicuous location or a vehicle. Using photographic and video cameras, binoculars, and cell phones, detectives often use surveillance to gather information on an individual; this can be quite time consuming.
The duties of private detectives and investigators depend on the needs of their clients. In cases that involve fraudulent workers’ compensation claims, for example, investigators may carry out long-term covert observation of a person suspected of fraud. If an investigator observes him or her performing an activity that contradicts injuries stated in a worker’s compensation claim, the investigator would take video or still photographs to document the activity and report it to the client.
Detectives and investigators must be mindful of the law when conducting investigations. They keep up with Federal, State, and local legislation, such as privacy laws and other legal issues affecting their work. The legality of certain methods may be unclear, and investigators and detectives must make judgment calls when deciding how to pursue a case. They must also know how to collect evidence properly so that they do not compromise its admissibility in court.
Private detectives and investigators often specialize. Those who focus on intellectual property theft, for example, investigate and document acts of piracy, help clients stop illegal activity, and provide intelligence for prosecution and civil action. Other investigators specialize in developing financial profiles and asset searches. Their reports reflect information gathered through interviews, investigation and surveillance, and research, including review of public documents.
Computer forensic investigators specialize in recovering, analyzing, and presenting data from computers for use in investigations or as evidence. They determine the details of intrusions into computer systems, recover data from encrypted or erased files, and recover e-mails and deleted passwords.
Legal investigators assist in preparing criminal defenses, locating witnesses, serving legal documents, interviewing police and prospective witnesses, and gathering and reviewing evidence. Legal investigators also may collect information on the parties to the litigation, take photographs, testify in court, and assemble evidence and reports for trials. They often work for law firms or lawyers.
Corporate investigators conduct internal and external investigations for corporations. In internal investigations, they may investigate drug use in the workplace, ensure that expense accounts are not abused, or determine whether employees are stealing merchandise or information. External investigations attempt to thwart criminal schemes from outside the corporation, such as fraudulent billing by a supplier.
Financial investigators may be hired to develop confidential financial profiles of individuals or companies that are prospective parties to large financial transactions. These investigators often are certified public accountants (CPAs) who work closely with investment bankers and other accountants. They might also search for assets in order to recover damages awarded by a court in fraud or theft cases.
Detectives who work for retail stores or hotels are responsible for controlling losses and protecting assets. Store detectives, also known as loss prevention agents, safeguard the assets of retail stores by apprehending anyone attempting to steal merchandise or destroy store property. They prevent theft by shoplifters, vendor representatives, delivery personnel and even store employees. Store detectives also conduct periodic inspections of stock areas, dressing rooms, and restrooms, and sometimes assist in opening and closing the store. They may prepare loss prevention and security reports for management and testify in court against people they apprehend. Hotel detectives protect guests of the establishment from theft of their belongings and preserve order in hotel restaurants and bars. They also may keep undesirable individuals, such as known thieves, off the premises.
Work environment. Many detectives and investigators spend time away from their offices conducting interviews or doing surveillance, but some work in their office most of the day conducting computer searches and making phone calls. When the investigator is working on a case, the environment might range from plush boardrooms to seedy bars. Store and hotel detectives work in the businesses that they protect.
Investigators generally work alone, but they sometimes work with others during surveillance or when following a subject in order to avoid detection by the subject. Some of the work involves confrontation, so the job can be stressful and dangerous. Some situations call for the investigator to be armed, such as certain bodyguard assignments for corporate or celebrity clients. In most cases, however, a weapon is not necessary because the purpose of the work is gathering information and not law enforcement or criminal apprehension. Owners of investigative agencies have the added stress of having to deal with demanding and sometimes distraught clients.
Private detectives and investigators often work irregular hours because of the need to conduct surveillance and contact people who are not available during normal working hours. Early morning, evening, weekend, and holiday work is common.

Private Investigations

2009-10-03T18:04:00.000-04:00

So you want to be a private investigator? First and foremost you have to check your states licensing requirments. YES , you MUST be licensed, bonded and insured to do this work. There are a few states that have exceptions. Check http://www.pimagazine.com/links_Licensing.htm for your specific state. Next, if you are going to do this, you MUST have a client base. Its a proven fact, without a client base you will be out of business in 5 years or less. I have been in this field since 1987. Started my own company with my husband in 2005. We are now licensed in several states. I am licensed in Pa, De and NJ. My husband in Pa and De. We are both notaries in Pa. I am a notary in De.

This business is NOT like you see on 99% of the TV shows. Dont be misconcieved. This is a hard job to do, with some common sense. It can be dangerous. It can be a 24 hour a day 365 day year job, if you want to be sucessfull .

Check out our website for some of our services www.harrisinvestigations.net and check back here for more blog updates!

Service of Process Via Social Media Sites

2009-10-03T13:06:00.000-04:00

In an increasing, distrubing and troubling trend, another court has allowed Service of Process using a social networking site. Yesterday an English High Court ruled that a court injunction (order) could be served via Twitter. The Order approving this service method is being called the Blaney’s Blarney Order after the subject matter of the litigation. The law firm representing the plaintiff in this case claims this is the first time an order has ever to be served via Twitter. Not so fast... It may not be the first time Twitter was used to provide notice to a party to a lawsuit. Earlier this year a Dutch antipiracy group brought suit against Pirate Bay (a Swedish company accused of hosting illegal downloads) and provided notice via Facebook and a Twitter account claiming they weren't able to locate the company founders. See tweet below.

It is interesting that many of the same issues process servers deal with in the physical world, exist in the virtual world.
- Can't locate the person to serve
- Get creative in serving the documents
- Claim you weren't served
- Serving the wrong person

What do you think?