Email Scams

Once in a while I will get a request to conduct some research on someone in another country. Sometimes these requests are founded and other times they are not. The reason for these requests are often email scams. These scams are also referred to as Nigerian scams because many of them originate in Nigeria. The website http://www.419eater.com/ actually pro actively fights back against these scams. These email scams usually involve some type of inheritance scheme, million dollar bank transfer, sweep stakes contest, offer to be a company representative, and many other situations. The majority of these schemes prey on a person’s ignorance and greed. Some simply ask you to send money to help them. I have over 100 examples of these scam emails on my website. I doubt this article will help anyone, but if you know anyone who is new to the internet please do not assume that they will not fall for this scheme. Make sure you educate your friends and family. I read an article where someone committed suicide after falling for one of these schemes. They lost over $400,000 to the scheme. Also be weary of offers of employment from Asian based companies. No one just offers someone employment over the internet.

Another scam involves sending people money orders for more than they are supposed to then requesting the balance from the transaction be mailed to them. This might happen on a roommate site or auction site. They will make up a story about how they got the money order for a previous deal that someone else backed out of and request you send them the balance from the transaction. When you deposit the money order the bank credits your account. You write a check for the balance and mail it off. A couple weeks later the bank finds out the money order is a forgery. They take the money out of your account, but before that happen the scammer already cashed your check.

Bank scams are also very popular. No matter what never go to a website from an email claiming to be from your bank. Even if it is from your bank just don’t do it. These scams are a full-time job for someone. They are getting more and more sophisticated. They will even go so far as to look up profiles and emails by city and state. Then they spoof the website of a small local credit union or bank. When they are finished with that, they will send you an email that you have been locked out of your account. Don’t click on the link.

Where are the police in all of this? Well they will never really get to the bottom of who received what in most cases. It occurs on foreign shores. It is basically a waste of time for them.

By: John Leonard

All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission from VersaTek, LLC.

Changing the locks when the spouse moves out

Many people think that simply changing their locks will prevent someone who once had access to the house or home from gaining entry. Guess again. Many vindictive people will enter the prior residence for mischievous purposes. How do they do it? Well, they call a locksmith and tell him that they have been locked out of the house. Locksmiths have different policies about unlocking vehicles or houses. Some require the client to produce a driver’s license or identification card showing the address you need to have unlocked. Some will ask if there are photos of you inside the residence. In any case sometimes they will unlock a residence for someone. Then the games begin.

How do you protect yourself from something like this happening to you? Call a locksmith who installs bump-proof, manipulation resistant, or special high security locks. Having a properly programmed alarm panel will also alert you to unauthorized entry. So you might want to change the pin codes or have one installed at your residence if you do not have one.

By: John Leonard

All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission from VersaTek, LLC.

How do I Know if my Spouse is Cheating?

Basically the number one way to know that your spouse is unfaithful may be to rely on your intuition. I have listed some behaviors that may or may not elude to an unfaithful spouse. Excessive or secretive internet activity Spouse has possession of prophylactics or contraceptives Habits in grooming and hygiene change Sudden interest in going to the gym or exercising Decreased or no sexual activity with spouse Hidden cell phone You receive hang up calls Works late all the time Comes home extremely late or spends the entire night somewhere other than the marital residence Uses prescription erectile dysfunction pills (but not with you) There are many other signs besides the above listed, but just because someone exhibits this behavior doesn’t necessarily mean someone is being unfaithful. They are simply a list of behaviors that many people I have consulted with say their unfaithful spouse exhibits.

By: John Leonard

All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission from VersaTek, LLC.

GPS tracking in Virginia for Private Investigations

I consider GPS tracking an extension of surveillance. There is hardly a difference between having a four man investigator team follow the target of an investigation or putting a real time GPS tracking device on a car. There are differences though. The primary difference is that the GPS tracking cost is fractional compared to a four man investigation team assigned 24 hours a day. To go on a tangent I think police departments could work more efficiently if they could deploy GPS tracking devices more liberally in the course of investigations. This would save tax payers a lot of money. You may be able to utilize this technology under Virginia Code Section 46.2-1088.6. If you are able to use GPS it will most likely save you money in the course of your investigation.

By: John Leonard

All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission from VersaTek, LLC.

Private Investigator Licensing in Virginia

It is important when hiring a firm to conduct an investigation in Virginia that a licensed firm be hired. In many cases a private investigator will never have to testify in court. This is primarily due to advances in technology. Evidence is primarily video taped, and many cases are settled out of court once this evidence is produced. In some cases though it may be necessary for an investigator to testify in court. When this happens it is very important that the firm hired and the investigator hired are in compliance with Virginia Department of Criminal Justice regulations and Virginia Code. You should look for a VA DCJS number on company materials and advertisements. If you don’t see this number call and ask if they are licensed in Virginia. If they are not, then hire a company that is. You can also check out the Virginia DCJS website.

By: John Leonard

All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission from VersaTek, LLC.

Bug sweeps and TSCM

I get requests from time to time to perform bug sweeps (electronic device detection) on vehicles or in residences. I was speaking with a woman the other day who wanted some piece of outdated equipment that would detect taps all the way back to the phone company. Well things are a bit more sophisticated now and the device she described is pretty much useless.

A TSCM inspection will help you figure out if there are devices in your residence, but an inspection is worthless if you cannot control access to the area and surrounding areas. Beware of all the fancy gadgets and radio equipment. They may work just great if the listening device is transmitting a wireless signal. Drop devices can record and be retrieved later. These devices will only be detected by physical inspection. The phone lines must be metered if they have a drop device. There are voice actuated recorders capable of storing hours of conversation when connected to phone lines or simply located in a room. The jist is this: If they had access to plant the device originally, they probably have access to retrieve it. On my website I suggest numerous ways to improve site security. Usually a good combination of high security locks, intrusion detection systems, and security cameras will stop entry by a would be technician.

You may also have an inside threat. If this is the case probably no amount of money is going to alleviate your problem.

It is also very important that the inspection not be announced. You may want to do all the scheduling from a pay phone or from a phone you never use. A pre-paid cell phone is a good option for communicating with a TSCM inspection team.

By: John Leonard

All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission from VersaTek, LLC.

How much does a Private Investigator cost?

The price a private investigator charges for services varies greatly depending on many different variables. The most important variable is location. The location a private investigator resides in will affect the firm’s number of potential clients. An investigator in a rural area is less likely to charge as much as an investigator in an urban area simply because the firm may not have a lot of business. The cost of living of the area will also affect the rates of firms. Some investigations require specialized investigators. For instance a forensic accounting or financial investigation may cost much more than a typical surveillance operation.

The biggest mistake people make when conscripting an investigation is to hire a (supposed) national firm. These firms charge well over $100.00 an hour. Then the firm will sub-contract the investigation to a local private investigator. It is typical for these firms to sub-contract these investigations to independent private investigators for as little as $300.00 a day. These investigations are sometimes successful, but are typically brute in their method. These firms may put an investigator on a house for eight hours even if it is completely uncalled for, and the investigator is not able to deviate from a preconceived plan.

In Northern Virginia the price for an hour of investigation ranges typically between $65.00 and $125.00 plus mileage and expenses. In my opinion it is always better to contract with a local private investigation firm unless a national management firm has some type of value added for handling numerous nationwide investigations for a single client. A national firm may be the way to go if you have numerous ongoing investigations in many states.

By: John Leonard

All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission from VersaTek, LLC.

Semen Test Kits

This subject is still fresh in my mind. It isn’t very often that I perform this type of test. It takes about 15 minutes to actually conduct the test. I would like to point out certain situations where it may be useful. Generally this type of testing would be very useful in an investigation where a cheating wife was having unsafe sex with a man outside of the marriage. If her underwear were tested and showed positive for semen it would warrant further testing. DNA testing of the husband and of the genetic material found on clothing could be tested in a lab to see if they are a match. If they are not a match the results would be really good evidence. However this evidence would be open to great scrutiny due to collection methods and the possibility of tampering. With that in mind people involved would still be sworn to tell the truth in court. With enough resources and information it might even be able genetic material from the other man. Many tissues are left behind every day. Some of these include ear wax, fingernail clippings, used band-aids, hair follicles, dandruff, dental floss, and others that may be discarded in a public venue.

On the flip side if a woman detects semen on unusual articles of clothing of her husband this may be grounds for an investigation.

By: John Leonard

All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission from VersaTek, LLC.

Welcome to my new blog

I started this blog to write down my thoughts on certain events and technologies as they apply to private investigations. Hopefully my posts will help people who are currently having an investigation performed or who are going to have an investigation performed in the future.

By: John Leonard

All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission from VersaTek, LLC.