Smart phones are really great tools. They are especially great for private investigators. I finally broke down and got an Android phone, and I have used it like crazy. You can take notes, keep track of your mileage, integrate photos with map locations, browse the web, and you can use skip trace services on the spot.
I use the maps and latitude feature on my phone all the time. I can track movements from surveillance and spot my exact location right away. I have a Tom Tom which I love, but this app helps me go back and follow up much easier.
If you do civil process service there is an app that is great for that too. You can get a good app from http://www.truthinservice.com for about $80. I contract with a company and do process service and they have their own app. It seems to work pretty well.
I also use Droid Scan a lot for copying documents. All you need to do is have decent lighting and use the phone's camera to capture the document. The program does a good job of automatically cropping the edges of the document. It works really well and you can upload scanned documents to Google docs for later use. The OCR feature is pretty good if you need to make reports using information out of the documents.
It takes some practice and time to get really good at all of these apps, but there are many free ones that can get you going and help you with your work. I went a route that many may or may not want to go - I did the straight talk thing with the $45/month unlimited talk, text, and data - so far I have been happy with the phone, features and service.
Whatever you do out there - be safe!
This is the Blog of Barry Dunn Advisory Group LLC. You will find information about our company and Private Investigation in general.
Tracking Phones Using GPS
There are a lot of people that just do not understand about GPS tracking of cell phones. A lot of people believe that just because a phone has GPS capability, that the phone can be tracked using GPS. That is simply not the case and here is why:
1. A GPS unit does not transmit anything to the GPS system. It simply receives signals from multiple satellites to allow it to calculate its current position. This it true for hand held GPS units, cell phones, TomToms and all other GPS capable devices.
2. For someone to be able to track a phone using GPS a few things need to take place first.
a) The phone must have the GPS activated. This may seem obvious, but a lot of people do not realize this. Some phones have GPS activated in the default setting - so check your phone if you are not sure.
b) The phone must store the locations after acquiring the GPS coordinates. Most phone do this automatically if the GPS function has been activated. Note: All iPhones and iPads appear to log your location to a file called "consolidated.db." This contains latitude-longitude coordinates along with a time-stamp. Technically these are not done using GPS, but by cell tower triangulation. This information does not leave your phone unless you have certain apps (see c)
c) Some type of location sharing application has to be activated for the phone to be able to be tracked. This means the phone either is connected via the internet or sends the coordinates through text messages to a certain location.
I will expand on c just a bit. There are a lot of apps that may not tell you that you are sharing your location. At least they do not tell you overtly. An few of these applications are: Family GPS Tracker, GPS Tracker (for Android), Google Latitude, There are several "stealth" programs that can be installed, but a lot of social networking apps reveal and store your location in servers not in your phone.
3. Getting the GPS information from cell companies takes a subpoena for private investigators, but that information may be available for a lot of phones nowadays.
Whatever you do - stay safe.
1. A GPS unit does not transmit anything to the GPS system. It simply receives signals from multiple satellites to allow it to calculate its current position. This it true for hand held GPS units, cell phones, TomToms and all other GPS capable devices.
2. For someone to be able to track a phone using GPS a few things need to take place first.
a) The phone must have the GPS activated. This may seem obvious, but a lot of people do not realize this. Some phones have GPS activated in the default setting - so check your phone if you are not sure.
b) The phone must store the locations after acquiring the GPS coordinates. Most phone do this automatically if the GPS function has been activated. Note: All iPhones and iPads appear to log your location to a file called "consolidated.db." This contains latitude-longitude coordinates along with a time-stamp. Technically these are not done using GPS, but by cell tower triangulation. This information does not leave your phone unless you have certain apps (see c)
c) Some type of location sharing application has to be activated for the phone to be able to be tracked. This means the phone either is connected via the internet or sends the coordinates through text messages to a certain location.
I will expand on c just a bit. There are a lot of apps that may not tell you that you are sharing your location. At least they do not tell you overtly. An few of these applications are: Family GPS Tracker, GPS Tracker (for Android), Google Latitude, There are several "stealth" programs that can be installed, but a lot of social networking apps reveal and store your location in servers not in your phone.
3. Getting the GPS information from cell companies takes a subpoena for private investigators, but that information may be available for a lot of phones nowadays.
Whatever you do - stay safe.
How Long Do the Cell Companies Keep Information?
Wired Magazine broke a story that includes a memo "For Law Enforcement Only" that covers how long each cell phone carrier keeps information on cell phone calls and tracking. This includes information on where a cell phone has been (for ATT from 2008 to present) to billing information , calls made, text messages, etc. This can be useful information in many cases. For a PI in Texas you will need a subpoena to get this, but knowing how long the information is kept by the carriers is very important. You can see the memo here.
The story is about the court ruling that the government does not need a warrant to get cell tower information from the cell phone service carriers. This includes tracking the movements of the cell phone. The ruling basically says it is up to the district courts to decide if law enforcement needs a warrant. That is Federal Law. Texas state law requires a subpoena to obtain the records.
Ars Technica has a good article with detailed information concerning all of the stored infoprmation. They have an easy to read chart for your viewing pleasure.
The point is - knowing how long the data is kept by the companies can be very useful when investigating a case.
Remember to stay safe!
The story is about the court ruling that the government does not need a warrant to get cell tower information from the cell phone service carriers. This includes tracking the movements of the cell phone. The ruling basically says it is up to the district courts to decide if law enforcement needs a warrant. That is Federal Law. Texas state law requires a subpoena to obtain the records.
Ars Technica has a good article with detailed information concerning all of the stored infoprmation. They have an easy to read chart for your viewing pleasure.
The point is - knowing how long the data is kept by the companies can be very useful when investigating a case.
Remember to stay safe!
Employee Background Checks: Even the Smallest Businesses Need Them
Sometimes when people have a really small business they do
not think they need to get a background check done on potential employees. What
they fail to realize is that they can actually save a lot of money and a lot of
headaches by simply getting a basic background check done by professional
investigator. Why is that? It is simple. It is much easier to be in a
relationship with an employee that you feel you can trust. Wouldn’t you rather
know a little something about that new employee than hire them blind? Maybe you
are old school. And you will go by your "gut feeling."
Most investigations companies charge a very reasonable fee to conduct a background check. Some agencies offer a variety of background
checks depending on how deep you want to go. Most background checks will
include a check of the public records for criminal violations and driving
history. A better background check will also include checking past residences
and confirming previous employers. Some investigators will go even more in
depth and verify education.
Stop and think about it. Unless you really, really know the
person you're hiring, such as they are a son or daughter, then you really need
to get a background check to verify what they're saying. How much is peace of
mind worth to you? Can you risk hiring a felon? Can you risk hiring a known
thief? Maybe you can. Maybe you trust everyone still. But for a very small fee
and not much extra time you can get a background check and this check can help
you make a realistic hiring decision.
A background check is not the end all to knowing everything
about a person. However, having one is far superior than not having one. If you
trust your gut, and I cannot convince you otherwise, then go ahead and hire.
For a final question: Have you ever hired someone who was not really who they
said they were? This is very unlikely to happen is a real background check.
Remember, Whatever you do - stay safe!
Remember, Whatever you do - stay safe!
Process Servers Who Conduct Investigations
There seems to be a big fuss over whether or not process servers conduct investigations to locate people they serve. We all know that often a process server does conduct some sort of locate investigation to complete the service, they can do that for themselves all they want.
I think the area of concern is when a process server wants to sell this information that they derived from their own investigation. Once a process server charges a fee for that information, that is when it appears that process server has crossed the line if he or she is not a licensed private investigator. Said line they crossed being “conducting investigations without a license.”
I'm not trying to give legal advice here. I'm just giving my own opinion as to how I see everything unfolding. There are many PIs out there who are also process servers. Obviously there is no problem with these folks charging for the information. But when someone is a process server and not a private investigator, and they are conducting investigations for a fee whether it be before or after the fact is a violation of the law.
Remember that not only is the process server violating the law, but the person who hires the process server to obtain the information is also subject to fine. If you ever have a doubt – just make sure you hire a real Texas PI who is licensed.
Whatever you do – stay safe!
I think the area of concern is when a process server wants to sell this information that they derived from their own investigation. Once a process server charges a fee for that information, that is when it appears that process server has crossed the line if he or she is not a licensed private investigator. Said line they crossed being “conducting investigations without a license.”
I'm not trying to give legal advice here. I'm just giving my own opinion as to how I see everything unfolding. There are many PIs out there who are also process servers. Obviously there is no problem with these folks charging for the information. But when someone is a process server and not a private investigator, and they are conducting investigations for a fee whether it be before or after the fact is a violation of the law.
OCC §1702.104. INVESTIGATIONS COMPANY. (a) A person acts as an investigations company for the purposes of this chapter if the person: (1) engages in the business of obtaining or furnishing, or accepts employment to obtain or furnish, information related to: … the identity, habits, business, occupation, knowledge, efficiency, loyalty, movement, location, affiliations, associations, transactions, acts, reputation, or character of a person;I'm not sure why there's any confusion on this issue. There are exceptions listed in the code. The list is quite long but process servers are not an exception.
Remember that not only is the process server violating the law, but the person who hires the process server to obtain the information is also subject to fine. If you ever have a doubt – just make sure you hire a real Texas PI who is licensed.
Whatever you do – stay safe!
Why Do You Need a Real Texas PI?
This should be a fairly easy question to answer. You need a real Texas PI (a licensed investigator) because hiring a non-licensed investigator can cost you $10,000.00 in fines. That is a lot of money. See what the law says:
That is 10 grand for each violation.
Don't risk an outrageous fine. You should always hire a licensed investigator.
Whatever you do - stay safe!
§1702.381 - A person who contracts with or employs a person who is required to hold a license, registration, endorsement, or security officer commission under this chapter knowing that the person does not hold the required license, registration, endorsement, or commission or who otherwise, at the time of contract or employment, is in violation of this chapter may be assessed a civil penalty to be paid to the state in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each violation.
That is 10 grand for each violation.
Don't risk an outrageous fine. You should always hire a licensed investigator.
Whatever you do - stay safe!
Understanding Hidden Camera Laws
The key term to remember for hidden cameras is "the expectation of privacy." You cannot have hidden cameras placed in areas where people have an expectation of privacy. So, where would a person have expectation of privacy? In your own home, in a hotel room, in your bedroom are places obviously you would have an expectation of privacy. Where do you not have such expectation? In lobbies, halls, "public areas", anywhere outside are places you have no expectation of privacy.
So, can you put a hidden camera in a bedroom to catch a cheating spouse? The other spouse can - but an investigator is likely to be violating the expectation of privacy of the cheating spouse. The other spouse can place the camera there, because there is no expectation of privacy from the other spouse in the bedroom. There is nothing preventing you from selling or renting a hidden camera to the other spouse to catch the cheater.
What about in a privacy fenced back yard? A person has some expectation of privacy in such a yard. Maybe not like that in a bedroom, but some. So if you have to use a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), climb a tree or use a hidden camera in the back yard - you are likely violating the "expectation of privacy." I did not mention UAV in pure jest, as making a UAV out a radio controlled small plane and a tiny camera/dvr is not difficult. However, if you can take video/pictures from some place another person is likely to be, you can take video and photos, etc. This may be from a hill above the property, a neighbor's yard, the street or any other type of place.
The point is, be careful when placing hidden cameras or conducting surveillance and do not cross the "expectation of privacy." If you are not sure - you are best off erring on the side of caution - especially if you are a licensed investigator.
Whatever you do - stay safe!
So, can you put a hidden camera in a bedroom to catch a cheating spouse? The other spouse can - but an investigator is likely to be violating the expectation of privacy of the cheating spouse. The other spouse can place the camera there, because there is no expectation of privacy from the other spouse in the bedroom. There is nothing preventing you from selling or renting a hidden camera to the other spouse to catch the cheater.
What about in a privacy fenced back yard? A person has some expectation of privacy in such a yard. Maybe not like that in a bedroom, but some. So if you have to use a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), climb a tree or use a hidden camera in the back yard - you are likely violating the "expectation of privacy." I did not mention UAV in pure jest, as making a UAV out a radio controlled small plane and a tiny camera/dvr is not difficult. However, if you can take video/pictures from some place another person is likely to be, you can take video and photos, etc. This may be from a hill above the property, a neighbor's yard, the street or any other type of place.
The point is, be careful when placing hidden cameras or conducting surveillance and do not cross the "expectation of privacy." If you are not sure - you are best off erring on the side of caution - especially if you are a licensed investigator.
Whatever you do - stay safe!
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