Surveillance

Private investigators discreetly follow subjects to document their activities. This can include tracking their movements, interactions, and behaviors. Surveillance may take place in different forms. Only legal evidence will be collected.

Digital Surveillance

PIs  use various tools to monitor social media profiles, online forums, court records, news articles, and other websites to gather information about their subjects.

Undercover Work

Private investigators may go undercover to gather information from within a specific organization or group. This is how private investigators get their information, especially in corporate investigations or uncovering illegal activities.

Witness Interviews

Interviewing witnesses is a fundamental part of an investigator’s job. They collect statements from individuals who may have information related to the case, whether it’s a legal matter or a personal investigation.

Records Examination

Investigators review various records, including financial records, medical records, and public records. This can help uncover hidden assets or past incidents.

Collaboration with Other Experts

In complex cases, private investigators may collaborate with forensic experts, legal professionals, or digital forensics specialists to obtain the necessary information.

When it comes to how private investigators get their information, it comes down to leveraging a combination of these techniques, while tailoring their approach to the specific needs of the case. Whether it’s for uncovering a cheating spouse, conducting a corporate investigation, or assisting in legal matters, their expertise in these surveillance techniques helps clients find the answers they seek.

The post Surveillance Techniques: How Private Investigators Get Their Information appeared first on She Spies Private Eye.

A group identifying itself as “The Impact Team” hacked into ALM servers between July 15 and August 20, 2015 releasing the private data of approximately 36 million user accounts online. The searchable information contained profile details such as user names, addresses, passwords, phone numbers, gender, height weight, ethnicity, body type, and experiences sought during the affairs, as well as account information such as, personal email addresses, passwords, security questions, billing address and the last four digits of the credit card numbers used to open the account. In addition to the many subscriber’s personal data, the CEO was also affected having his private email messages made publicly searchable.

Sighting numerous violations of privacy laws an investigation was conducted jointly by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner focusing on four key issues: Information security; retention and deletion of user accounts; accuracy of email addresses and transparency with users.

Even in the wake of irreparable damage of Ashley Madison’s famous security breach where some people lost jobs and took their lives, ALM acknowledged the Commissioner’s findings but did not admit the truth of the findings, claims or arguments set out in the Report of Findings.

If these findings are not rectified by the timeline stated within the agreement the OPC may then apply to Federal Court for an order requiring ALM to comply with the Agreement or such other relief as may be available in law, in accordance with s. 17.2(2) of the Act. It’s unknown how long the application process itself could take, let alone the litigation process while subscribers remain vulnerable.

ALM had remarkably mediocre security practices. The OPC found definite gaps in its critical security coverage, including a failure to implement commonly used detective countermeasures, such as intrusion detection systems or prevention systems that could facilitate detection of attacks or identify intrusion (ALM failed to monitor unusual logins). There were instances of unauthorized access to ALM’s systems, using valid security credentials, weeks before the actual data disclosure, which gave further credence to the finding that ALM was not adequately monitoring its systems for intrusion. ALM had no documented risk management framework guiding how it could determine what security measures would be appropriate for the privacy risks it faced to ensure its security arrangements were adequate for its business purposes, resulting in holes. As the OPC’s own press release noted:

• There were inadequate authentication processes for employees accessing the company’s system remotely as ALM failed to use multi-factor authentication practices.
• ALM’s network protections included encryption on all web communications between the company and its users; however, encryption keys were stored as plain, clearly identifiable text on ALM systems. That left information encrypted using those keys at risk of unauthorized disclosure.
• ALM had poor key and password management practices. For example, the company’s “shared secret” for its remote access server was available on the ALM Google drive — meaning anyone with access to any ALM employee’s drive on any computer, anywhere, could have potentially discovered it.
• Instances of storage of passwords as plain, clearly identifiable text in e-mails and text files were also found on the company’s systems.

ALM did not have documented information security policies or practices for managing network permissions, and their director of information security had only been working for the company since early 2015, and had not set in place written security measures at the time of the hack. In fact, 75 % of Ashley Madison’s staff had not been trained of even general privacy and security.

The OPC found that while ALM did provide some information about its security safeguards and account closure options, critical elements of its practices that would have been important to prospective users’ decision to join Ashley Madison were either absent, difficult to understand or deceptive.

The OPC found that some individuals may not have chosen to share their personal information with ALM had they not been misled at registration by fake security trustmarks and if they had been aware their information would be retained indefinitely unless they paid a fee for deletion.  The posting of such fake security emblems were found to invalidate user consent upon user signup. In fact, unless a user chooses a full deletion, their profile would be retained by ALM indefinitely. Moreover, users were not informed until after they had paid for the full delete that their information would be retained for an additional 12 months. So even if you paid for a full deletion, guess what? It may still be on the server for a full year!

ALM / Ruby Corp. and the OPC have entered into a compliance agreement whereby action will be taken in a number of areas in accordance with timelines that are not scheduled to physically begin until May 31, 2017.

“Life is short. Have an affair®.” A slogan made famous by the Ashley Madison website now gives way to the latest ad reading, “45 Million Members Can’t Be Wrong”.  Perhaps it should say ‘45 Million Members May Be Uninformed.’

Read the OPC’s own press release

Read the ALM / Ruby Corp. and the OPC compliance agreement

The post Ashley Madison 1 Year Later. Has Anything Changed? appeared first on She Spies Private Eye.

What exactly is surveillance?
Surveillance, sometimes referred to casually as “tailing someone,” is a tactic frequently used by private investigators that involves the investigator following and observing a person primarily suspected of cheating. This could be a husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend. Any suspicious activity is documented and typically captured on film when possible. Surveillance is also used to obtain evidence of fraud with Workers Compensation claims, bad business practices, activities of an employee or business partner. There are many ways surveillance can be beneficial for the consumer outside of spousal surveillance.

What should I do if I’m too embarrassed to talk about my suspicions that my partner is cheating?
You should not have any feelings of embarrassment. While we understand that it can be awkward to discuss the private details of your personal relationship with someone whom you barely know, rest assured that you will experience nothing but the utmost sensitivity. We deal with cases of suspected infidelity on a very regular basis, and your case will be handled with the same level of professionalism and confidentiality with which all of our cases are handled. We fully understand and respect your desire to confirm the validity of your suspicions. You are entitled to the peace of mind that you are seeking.

What if my suspicions are proven wrong?
If there is no evidence that your partner is cheating, then you are in a better position than before you obtained our services! You have gained the peace of mind that you were looking for, and you have validation that the integrity of your relationship is in tact. In addition, since all of the investigations that we conduct are 100% confidential, there is no risk of your partner being upset with you for being being suspicious of him/her.

Is surveillance legal?
All of our surveillance techniques are performed within the parameters of the law. We will capture and document all of the available evidence using tactics allowed by law. As licensed investigators, we are intimately familiar with all laws regarding surveillance.

What are the costs associated with surveillance cases?
Each case has different needs and requirements. The first step is to gain an understanding of your needs and expectations and then develop a surveillance strategy around those needs and expectations. This is the most cost effective approach. From there, a budget can be established. No work will begin until you have agreed on the costs. Surveillance is customarily billed at an hourly rate, plus a mileage charge. Rates can vary based on the location of the required surveillance. A retainer is collected prior to the commencement of work. Credit cards, cash, checks and money orders are all acceptable forms of payment.

What happens if my retainer is not used in its entirety?
If there is any unused portion of your retainer, once your case is closed, we will reimburse those remaining funds to you.

How is the surveillance strategy determined?
Designing a solid surveillance strategy is a critical success factor in a surveillance case. We don’t even think about launching an investigation without first having a surveillance strategy that has been methodically and thoughtfully created. We will require your assistance in the development of this strategy as you have far more firsthand knowledge of your partner’s schedules, behaviors and habits. We will rely on you to guide us in determining where and when to watch them. There will be a number of things that we will consider, jointly with you, as we determine the proper surveillance strategy.

How many investigators will be assigned to my surveillance case?
The number of investigators required to conduct a successful surveillance is something that will be addressed as we design the surveillance strategy. This can depend on a variety of factors, ranging from the surveillance locations and the habits and behaviors of the subject, for example. We have surveillance cases where one investigator is sufficient, and other, more complicated cases where two or more investigators are needed to get the job done. We will ensure that we are dedicating the appropriate resources to effectively execute your surveillance case, while being sensitive to costs. Know that if we recommend additional investigators be assigned to your case, it is in your best interest. And you should be prepared for any additional costs as it will result in a more effective surveillance.

What should I do once the surveillance is under way?
Your job is to go about “business as usual.” Make sure that you do not change your daily habits and behaviors. And it is advised that you not ask your partner too many questions about his or her activities, plans, etc. This could cause your partner to become alarmed and possibly suspect that he or she is being investigated.

Can I be assured video and/or photos on my case?
We do everything possible to obtain video, but you must realize that video and/or photos may not always be easily obtained. There are times when investigators enter establishments where no cameras are permitted. Sometimes the lighting may not be appropriate. And other times it may create suspicion from a subject. So we used our professional judgment to determine when to capture video and/or photos. But rest assured that since we are considered expert witnesses anything we personally observe is treated as credible testimony in court.

How do you follow someone?
One must remember, we are not invisible. The movies make tailing someone look easy, but there is actually quite a bit of technique involved. It is definitely an acquired skill that requires the delicate ability to follow someone closely enough while still remaining completely covert. It’s somewhat of a balancing act as our goal is to maximize how closely and effectively we can follow the subject, but minimize the chance of being discovered or losing tthe subject. Many times, if the circumstances call for it, we will recommend the use of at least two investigators.

What if my partner finds out that I’ve hired a private investigator?
It is unlikely that your partner will find out that he or she is being followed and watched, but there’s always a risk that may happen. We take many steps to ensure that the investigation remains covert. You should do your part to secure the covertness as well by not doing or saying anything out of character. You especially never want to make any threats to hire an investigator. This could result in the subject becoming suspicious and thus more difficult to pursue. If you have ever threatened to hire a private investigator – even in jest – please inform us as this may cause us to readjust our surveillance strategy. Lastly, if we ever suspect that the security of the investigation has been compromised, we will notify you immediately and jointly determine how best to proceed.

What evidence can I expect to receive upon conclusion of the investigation?
You can expect to receive a video (when possible) or photos with documentation, along with a comprehensive written surveillance report that details the subject’s activities. At that point, you should have enough evidence to determine your plan of action.

What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept checks, cash, money orders and credit cards, including MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express.

The post Questions About Surveillance appeared first on She Spies Private Eye.

Many people don’t realize there are many services a private investigator can provide. The industry today far surpasses the “Colombo” days. The industry today is full of professional, ethical and moral individuals. Some private investigators only specialize in certain areas while others are a full service agency. Many of the services provided, that the general public is not aware of, include the following:

Education/Experience/Resources
Most private investigators, but not all, come from Law Enforcement backgrounds or criminal justice degrees and/or careers. Their training and experience alone can expose them to resources and tools that the average person does not. Furthermore, most individuals don’t have the time, education, legal liability knowledge, skills or training to perform an investigation on their own. Many individuals do not want their own privacy compromised. There are many risks involved in performing an investigation and it is best to let the professionals, who have the knowledge, perform the task.

Benefits for Business Owners/Employers/Individuals
In today’s society, performing a background check on your potential employee is critical. This could be a staff member, business partner, household employee, nanny, etc. These are all individuals that should be checked thoroughly. Private Investigators have access to databases unavailable to the general public. A private investigator will also have the skills to dig deeper into a person’s history. You may also be checking on a potential relationship partner. With the increase of internet dating it has become imperative that you perform safe dating checks to avoid entering into a potentially dangerous or volatile situation.

Domestic and Criminal Investigations
Many attorneys, as well as individuals going through a civil or criminal law suit, need the assistance of a Private Investigator. Most attorneys don’t have time to do the digging in their client’s case. Many cases are won in court with the assistance of a Private Investigator and the evidence they collected. Licensed Private Investigators are considered Expert Witnesses. Private Investigators can interview subjects, perform surveillance and prove the facts they provide. Anything they personally observe is considered credible testimony in court.

Bringing families together
In cases of runaways, missing persons, or long lost friends and relatives, Private Investigators can work in the courts, along with other resources, in order to find these missing or lost individuals. Sometimes a Private Investigator is the only answer. Once the information is obtained, you will know it was collected in a legal and professional manner.

The post Benefits of Hiring a Private Investigator appeared first on She Spies Private Eye.