I found a fabulously clever Twitter account today - PI Magazine. I guess it just reminded me that we all cannot own specific phrases and brands when they are generic or when specific words or abbreviations like P.I. can be attributed to other uses.
This Tweeter(?) uses PI in the context of "π, the mathematical constant whose value is the ratio of any circle's circumference to its diameter."
Nice!
Here are a few of my favorite 3.14 related tweets:
"The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi."
"If you want this twitter account, you'll have to apologize first, then write a $3.14M check with "Newby" in the subject line. You know my number."
and of course...
"Need to find followers who share a love for "geometric investigations.""
Hahahahaha.
Here is another great use of the term from Private Investigator Magazine:
Showing posts with label investigation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label investigation. Show all posts
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
One Online Private Investigator Magazine's Approach to Social Networking
Great Editor's update by Scott Harrell at Pursuit Magazine concerning Social Networking with PIs.
I think that it is great that they are embracing the whole media vertical thing rather than being a one dimensional print-based magazine.
I would also point out that I just saw a list of types of private investigator services as well on the Be A Private Eye Blog and thought that also was really good information; especially now that many people are either getting into the private investigation business as a new career or established PIs are branching out with new and improved service and product options.
They discuss various types of services under the categories of Surveillance, Insurance, Corporate Investigations, Civil and Domestic Cases, Skip Tracing and Locating Missing People, Forensic Computer Examination, Criminal Defense Investigations, and Political and Discovery Assignments. The list does a great job at enumerating all of the different choices a new private investigator has when trying to figure out what types of PI assignments in which he or she might want to specialize.
The options are endless and the subject really deserves its own entire article here. The blog lists the most obvious ones. I absolutely recommend that investigators find their niche and specialize in only a few types of investigations! There are several important reasons for this, but it can be summed up this way: when you are the most notable investigator in your region of the country for a specific type of investigation, you will find MANY additional opportunities to make a lot more money than if you advertise yourself as a “jack of all trades.” This has been proven across the country time and time again and was something I learned while working for CompassPoint Investigations.
I think that it is great that they are embracing the whole media vertical thing rather than being a one dimensional print-based magazine.
I would also point out that I just saw a list of types of private investigator services as well on the Be A Private Eye Blog and thought that also was really good information; especially now that many people are either getting into the private investigation business as a new career or established PIs are branching out with new and improved service and product options.
They discuss various types of services under the categories of Surveillance, Insurance, Corporate Investigations, Civil and Domestic Cases, Skip Tracing and Locating Missing People, Forensic Computer Examination, Criminal Defense Investigations, and Political and Discovery Assignments. The list does a great job at enumerating all of the different choices a new private investigator has when trying to figure out what types of PI assignments in which he or she might want to specialize.
The options are endless and the subject really deserves its own entire article here. The blog lists the most obvious ones. I absolutely recommend that investigators find their niche and specialize in only a few types of investigations! There are several important reasons for this, but it can be summed up this way: when you are the most notable investigator in your region of the country for a specific type of investigation, you will find MANY additional opportunities to make a lot more money than if you advertise yourself as a “jack of all trades.” This has been proven across the country time and time again and was something I learned while working for CompassPoint Investigations.
Friday, October 24, 2008
PI Magazine has a Real Competitor (Finally) and it's FREE!
I've written about Pursuit Magazine before but I just saw the new website layout and I was floored by the beautiful layout and all of the information available. Visiting PI Magazine online is a bit like attending the circus or Las Vegas- cluttered and the inability to focus on anything because of the blinking banners and the overload of advertising. I can focus on the content at Pursuit Magazine and enjoy the experience when I have some downtime to really learn something.
Who gives away that much free information anyway? Is Scott crazy?
I love the videos section- there is some seriously EXCELLENT material there. The Sitemap is an excellent resource and I have set up an RSS feed through the subscribe function so that I am notified every time a new post is made.
My understanding is that they are still going to send out the electronic copy of the actual Magazine every other month too, which is awesome.
Great work. I hope you all will visit them and tell them what a great job they are doing.
Who gives away that much free information anyway? Is Scott crazy?
I love the videos section- there is some seriously EXCELLENT material there. The Sitemap is an excellent resource and I have set up an RSS feed through the subscribe function so that I am notified every time a new post is made.
My understanding is that they are still going to send out the electronic copy of the actual Magazine every other month too, which is awesome.
Great work. I hope you all will visit them and tell them what a great job they are doing.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
A New Magazine for Private Investigators is FREE!
Check out Pursuit Magazine- a new private investigator magazine that absolutely blows the doors off of PI Magazine!
Not only is Pursuit FREE, it is an incredibile source for information too. They have past articles and issues posted so if you miss one they are all readily available.
The May Issue had articles about advertising and marketing my PI agency that I used and had immediate results. I like the sense of community they are building and the fact that Scott Harrell recognizes the need for coninuing education for all professional investigators which include bail enforcement and fugitive recovery agents, collateral repossession professionals and other skip tracers (to name just a few).
Great job to the staff, I can't wait for the July Issue!
.
Not only is Pursuit FREE, it is an incredibile source for information too. They have past articles and issues posted so if you miss one they are all readily available.
The May Issue had articles about advertising and marketing my PI agency that I used and had immediate results. I like the sense of community they are building and the fact that Scott Harrell recognizes the need for coninuing education for all professional investigators which include bail enforcement and fugitive recovery agents, collateral repossession professionals and other skip tracers (to name just a few).
Great job to the staff, I can't wait for the July Issue!
.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Ballistics Information and Data
Group we are working an attempted homicide / suicide pro bono. Is anyone aware of where we could gather ballistic data for a 25 calRaven Arms pistol? Specifically how close the weapon can be to thetarget and not leave tattooing and the average distance the casingis ejected from the weapon after firing. -MW
You may try contacting a company called HP White located in Street, Maryland. HP White conducts a variety of ballistic testing for numerous agencies and may have information available for you, if not at least they could probably send you in the right direction,
Hope this helps. -MD
Your question about Tattooing would relate more so to the specific ammunition that was used less to the weapon. The distance that the casing traveled would relate to both the weapon and the ammo. BUT not all of the casings (from the same ammo lot) fired from the same weapon will land in the same area. -WL
You may try contacting a company called HP White located in Street, Maryland. HP White conducts a variety of ballistic testing for numerous agencies and may have information available for you, if not at least they could probably send you in the right direction,
Hope this helps. -MD
Your question about Tattooing would relate more so to the specific ammunition that was used less to the weapon. The distance that the casing traveled would relate to both the weapon and the ammo. BUT not all of the casings (from the same ammo lot) fired from the same weapon will land in the same area. -WL
Conducting Surveillance in a Hotel
Going in cold on a surveillance at a hotel with interior room entrances -need to watch a particular room's door. Wont know which till I get thereand check the layout. Anyone got a tried'n'true excuse for requesting acertain room from the desk clerk on arrival (assuming the one i'll want isunoccupied)? Or at the very least, a good excuse for wanting a certainfloor and certain side of the hotel?Its a major chain - I assume their records would show I've never stayed, sosome "sentimental reasons" bit won't work.Any ideas would be appreciated... -BG
When you're booking a room, just ask the clerk "Is room xxx available?" Itdoesn't matter if you stayed there before, there's no way they're going tocheck anyway, and they won't care what your reasons are (because you're notgoing to give them a reason), nor will they ask you for one. They're alsonot going to notify the person in the room next to you (your subject) that BG specifically requested that room.If it's not available, just ask for a room on the floor you want.No need to make it complicated or try to be sneaky. Sometimes the simplestway to get what you want is just to ask for it. -JP
I agree with JP that the less said the better. However, if you areuncomfortable with that and feel compelled to give a reason for requesting roomnumber (- - -) just say it is your lucky number. -SC
How about using the pretext that it was the room where you spent your_____________ (Just fill in the blank,....honeymoon, anniversary, specialbirthday, where you stayed while on a business trip and found out you weregoing to be a Dad/Granddad for the first time, etc.) If the hotel has acasino, I like the idea of "Its your lucky number." -DR
I found that $50.00 and saying it's my lucky number, has worked everytime I have used it. -TA
I fail to see why there is any need whatsoever for a pretext here.
B: Hi, I'd like to book a room please; is room 256 available?
Clerk: Let me check... Yes, that room's available, sir.
B: Ok, I'll take that.
End of conversation.
Slipping $50 to the clerk is not only a waste of 50 bucks, but no one tips adesk clerk $50. All that does is make the clerk wonder why you're sodesperate to have that room. Next thing you know, the whole hotel staffknows you're an awesome tipper and everybody's talking about you. They'llbe cleaning your room 12 times a day and you won't be able to get into yourbed for all the mints on your pillow. -JP
One thing that I want to emphasize here is that the people in the room thatyou are surveilling have the right to the expectation of privacy. Youcannot legally use a snake cam, nor can you use anything that recordsvoices. what you can do is log their comings and goings (no pun intended)and you can take notes about what you hear with the naked ear (again no pun) through the walls.
Having been down this road of renting the room next to such and such I havefound that it works well if you keep it in perspective. One thing I ialsorecommend is to get by however means you can copies of the room serviceorders and bills. At some point your going to want a copy of theregistration. Not possible without subpoena unless you make a deal withsecurity which is increasingly difficult. Be prepared with considerableamounts of cash to talk to maids, bartenders and other service people. -EH
I haven't used it yet (haven't had the need), but according to a friend ofmine in Las Vegas, who gets a fair amount of domestic cases there, he asks"has my friend (subject) checked in yet I would like the closet room tohim/them.please." At least if the adjacent/opposite rooms are taken you havechance of getting on the same floor, which could be important if the roomkey is necessary to access that floor. Plus it solves the problem of tryingto determine their room number, which can be difficult. The clerk couldn'tcare less and is very unlikely to say anything to the subject. -BT
When you're booking a room, just ask the clerk "Is room xxx available?" Itdoesn't matter if you stayed there before, there's no way they're going tocheck anyway, and they won't care what your reasons are (because you're notgoing to give them a reason), nor will they ask you for one. They're alsonot going to notify the person in the room next to you (your subject) that BG specifically requested that room.If it's not available, just ask for a room on the floor you want.No need to make it complicated or try to be sneaky. Sometimes the simplestway to get what you want is just to ask for it. -JP
I agree with JP that the less said the better. However, if you areuncomfortable with that and feel compelled to give a reason for requesting roomnumber (- - -) just say it is your lucky number. -SC
How about using the pretext that it was the room where you spent your_____________ (Just fill in the blank,....honeymoon, anniversary, specialbirthday, where you stayed while on a business trip and found out you weregoing to be a Dad/Granddad for the first time, etc.) If the hotel has acasino, I like the idea of "Its your lucky number." -DR
I found that $50.00 and saying it's my lucky number, has worked everytime I have used it. -TA
I fail to see why there is any need whatsoever for a pretext here.
B: Hi, I'd like to book a room please; is room 256 available?
Clerk: Let me check... Yes, that room's available, sir.
B: Ok, I'll take that.
End of conversation.
Slipping $50 to the clerk is not only a waste of 50 bucks, but no one tips adesk clerk $50. All that does is make the clerk wonder why you're sodesperate to have that room. Next thing you know, the whole hotel staffknows you're an awesome tipper and everybody's talking about you. They'llbe cleaning your room 12 times a day and you won't be able to get into yourbed for all the mints on your pillow. -JP
One thing that I want to emphasize here is that the people in the room thatyou are surveilling have the right to the expectation of privacy. Youcannot legally use a snake cam, nor can you use anything that recordsvoices. what you can do is log their comings and goings (no pun intended)and you can take notes about what you hear with the naked ear (again no pun) through the walls.
Having been down this road of renting the room next to such and such I havefound that it works well if you keep it in perspective. One thing I ialsorecommend is to get by however means you can copies of the room serviceorders and bills. At some point your going to want a copy of theregistration. Not possible without subpoena unless you make a deal withsecurity which is increasingly difficult. Be prepared with considerableamounts of cash to talk to maids, bartenders and other service people. -EH
I haven't used it yet (haven't had the need), but according to a friend ofmine in Las Vegas, who gets a fair amount of domestic cases there, he asks"has my friend (subject) checked in yet I would like the closet room tohim/them.please." At least if the adjacent/opposite rooms are taken you havechance of getting on the same floor, which could be important if the roomkey is necessary to access that floor. Plus it solves the problem of tryingto determine their room number, which can be difficult. The clerk couldn'tcare less and is very unlikely to say anything to the subject. -BT
Friday, January 12, 2007
Workers Compensation Claims Question
"Bill" submits this question:
I am doing a sub contract job for a Private Investigator who has a client who is a business owner and has hired this P.I. to investigate some of his employee's workers compensation claims that the insurance company will not do. The goal is to get enough evidence for a criminal filing for insurance fraud if enough evidence can be found. The Private eye has been asked to act as a safety consultant" in order to have a pretext to talk to these employees about their cases. This PI has asked me for advice.
Although I told him I didn't feel this sounded either legal or ethical I've been in the business only a couple of years and there may be some information out there I'm not aware of. I'm not asking for legal advice but was hoping someone out there may have had a similar situation and could pass on some information.
Any advice or past experiences would be appreciated.
Here are some answers which were provided:
I don't know the legalities of it; but ethically it is the employer that gets the hit on his disability premium when the employees go out. It seems to me he has the right to get them checked out himself. If all else fails as "Safety Consultant", if your friend finds some blatant safety problems for the owner of the business and it helps him reduce the hazards all the better. -D.H.
You may want to have your friend read what the California Labor Code says about this. Insurance companies have an obligation to investigate fraudulent claims. The problem is that when an examiner has 800 open cases (that's not an exaggeration) sitting on his desk, the only way he learns of the fraud many times is when he gets a tip from the employer. Each insurance company is different. Some may take the information obtained from the employer and run with it. Others will not touch it because the chain of custody may be tainted. The insurance company is supposed to be looking out for the employer but everyone knows that in the end,....they're looking out for themselves and their exposure. Evidence obtained by the employer (or employer's PI) and given to a good worker's comp defense attorney will go a long way in getting the insurance carrier to step up to the plate and do the right thing. When looking at a large exposure, this may be well worth the effort. A few years ago a study was conducted that found for every $1.00 spent on investigations, $38.00 was saved on fraudulent/exaggerated workers' compensation insurance benefits. -B. V.
There wouldn't be a problem, unless the Claimants are represented by legal counsel. Your friend would also have to follow the insurance laws in your state; I would suggest he talk to a couple of local adjustors and risk managers. -S.H.
I am doing a sub contract job for a Private Investigator who has a client who is a business owner and has hired this P.I. to investigate some of his employee's workers compensation claims that the insurance company will not do. The goal is to get enough evidence for a criminal filing for insurance fraud if enough evidence can be found. The Private eye has been asked to act as a safety consultant" in order to have a pretext to talk to these employees about their cases. This PI has asked me for advice.
Although I told him I didn't feel this sounded either legal or ethical I've been in the business only a couple of years and there may be some information out there I'm not aware of. I'm not asking for legal advice but was hoping someone out there may have had a similar situation and could pass on some information.
Any advice or past experiences would be appreciated.
Here are some answers which were provided:
I don't know the legalities of it; but ethically it is the employer that gets the hit on his disability premium when the employees go out. It seems to me he has the right to get them checked out himself. If all else fails as "Safety Consultant", if your friend finds some blatant safety problems for the owner of the business and it helps him reduce the hazards all the better. -D.H.
You may want to have your friend read what the California Labor Code says about this. Insurance companies have an obligation to investigate fraudulent claims. The problem is that when an examiner has 800 open cases (that's not an exaggeration) sitting on his desk, the only way he learns of the fraud many times is when he gets a tip from the employer. Each insurance company is different. Some may take the information obtained from the employer and run with it. Others will not touch it because the chain of custody may be tainted. The insurance company is supposed to be looking out for the employer but everyone knows that in the end,....they're looking out for themselves and their exposure. Evidence obtained by the employer (or employer's PI) and given to a good worker's comp defense attorney will go a long way in getting the insurance carrier to step up to the plate and do the right thing. When looking at a large exposure, this may be well worth the effort. A few years ago a study was conducted that found for every $1.00 spent on investigations, $38.00 was saved on fraudulent/exaggerated workers' compensation insurance benefits. -B. V.
There wouldn't be a problem, unless the Claimants are represented by legal counsel. Your friend would also have to follow the insurance laws in your state; I would suggest he talk to a couple of local adjustors and risk managers. -S.H.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
I'm gonna get into some trouble here...
I am quite sure that when this blog starts making the rounds, I am going to get into some trouble. With that said, I have to tell you- I really don't care. I have long detested the secrecy of the private investigation business and its various specializations and subindustries; information should be shared and not horded.
How else are we to improve or update that information?
Information and technology are changing so quickly that to remain stagnant and stale in our own thinking will ultimately be our own demise. So I plan to lay bare here many of the secrets of PIs that I think are silly or upon which can be improved by those who are new to the private investigation business.
Am I going to damage the profession? Most certainly not but I will piss off the old guard along the way. I hope you enjoy what there is to offer here.
PS... A word about the links on the right side of this blog; they are reperesentative examples of what I am talking about- a ton of information and great training products. Scott Harrell was my mentor and has given much to the investigation and bail enforcement communities despite the fact that he often "upset the apple cart" along the way. It was he who inspired me to also give information to those who are seeking a new career path as I once was and not worry too much about what those who were control of the paradigm at that time may have thought. The links to his sites are out of my respect for him. Thanks, Scott.
How else are we to improve or update that information?
Information and technology are changing so quickly that to remain stagnant and stale in our own thinking will ultimately be our own demise. So I plan to lay bare here many of the secrets of PIs that I think are silly or upon which can be improved by those who are new to the private investigation business.
Am I going to damage the profession? Most certainly not but I will piss off the old guard along the way. I hope you enjoy what there is to offer here.
PS... A word about the links on the right side of this blog; they are reperesentative examples of what I am talking about- a ton of information and great training products. Scott Harrell was my mentor and has given much to the investigation and bail enforcement communities despite the fact that he often "upset the apple cart" along the way. It was he who inspired me to also give information to those who are seeking a new career path as I once was and not worry too much about what those who were control of the paradigm at that time may have thought. The links to his sites are out of my respect for him. Thanks, Scott.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)