by Unknown
must also be cited and used by permission, although some material is so old or is not copyrighted as to enter the public domain. (For legal advice on this area, consult a competent legal counsel who is certified in intellectual property law.)
Internet and Database Open Sources
187
Other sources for fact checks and patent information are the following:
http:/ www.sunsite.unc.edu/patents/intropat.html (patent searches by
class, subclass, patent number, patent titles and abstracts, etc.; also
listed under competitive intel igence)
http:/ www.freepatentsonline.com/7669445.html (free patents online)
http://www.grammarly.com/?q=plagiarism&gclid=CLfPzpD7oakCFR
DPKgodAH_ktw (grammar and plagiarism check software)
http:/ www.dustbal .com/cs/plagiarism.checker/ (plagiarism check software) http:/ www.articlechecker.com/ (plagiarism check software)
http://searchenginereports.net/articlecheck.aspx (plagiarism check software) http:/ www.smallseotools.com/plagiarism-checker/ (plagiarism check
software)
http:/ www.duplichecker.com/ (plagiarism check software)
http://www.academicplagiarism.com/ (plagiarism check software;
membership)
http:/ www.plagiarismchecker.com/ (plagiarism check software)
https://www.writecheck.com/static/home.html?gclid=COD-6KuAoqk-
CFQbCKgodYVHWsw (plagiarism check software)
http:/ turnitin.com/static/index.php ( TurnItIn plagiarism check software; subscription software)
http://turnitinsafely.com/software_code_checker.html?gclid=CNa0hO-
AoqkCFUW8KgodJHkyvQ ( TurnItIn plagiarism check software;
subscription software)(plagiarism check software)
http:/ www.reference.com (dictionary, thesaurus, translator, etc . ) Social Security Numbers and Vital Records
Social security numbers are the most common identifiers and have been used as military serial numbers. Vital records include birth, marriage, divorce, and death records. Some common and useful sources for this information
include the following:
http://www.acronymfinder.com/Enumeration-Verification-System-
(EVS).html (the Social Security Administration’s guide for employ-
ers or Enumeration Verification System) (free)
http://www.infobases.com/ssdi/query01.htm (the Social Security
Administration’s death index; by searching by name, you can find SSN,
DOB, date of death, last known address, and where payments were made)
http:/ www.veris-ssn.com (desktop software for verification of SSNs)
http://www.familytreemaker.com/00000825.html (family tree maker
vital records)
http:/ www.medaccess.com/address/vital_toc.htm (medical records)
http:/ www.interment.net (international cemetery search site;
subscription)
188
Advanced Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Operations
Driver’s License and License Plate Information
http:/ www.docusearch.com/driver.html#plate (license plates, phones,
SSNs, etc.)
http:/ registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/ (FAA Aircraft Registration
Database; searchable by name and current within last 4 years)
http:/ www.worldlicenceplates.com/hp.html (plate histories)
https:/ www.nicb.org// (National Insurance Crime Bureau; database
to determine whether a vehicle has been declared an unrecovered,
stolen, or salvage vehicle)
http:/ www.claim.org/index.htm (life insurance claim information)
Criminal History Checks and Court Records
http:/ mycase.in.gov/default.aspx (Indiana Public Records inquiry)
http:/ www.pacer.psc.uscourts.gov (PACER: public access to federal
district, appellate, and bankruptcy court case and docket informa-
tion by party and case index)
http:/ www.theinmatelocator.com/Home_Page.html (inmate locator)
http:/ www.inmatesplus.com/ (inmate locator)
http:/ www.theinmatelocator.com/Indiana.html (Indiana inmate locator)
http:/ www.bop.gov/ (federal inmate locator)
http:/ www.criminal-check.com/?hop=cawnat (criminal checks)
http:/ www.searchsystems.net (SearchSystems: largest public record
database on the Internet, including criminal records, sex offender
lists, civil court actions, vital records, corporate and professional
licensing information, property records)
http:/ www.uscourts.gov/Home.aspx (automated information in U.S.
federal courts)
http://www.icrimewatch.net/indiana.php (Indiana Sheriff’s Association
Sex and Violent Offender Registry)
http:/ www.nationalsexoffenderregistry.net (National Sex Offender
Registry: lists sex offenders)
http:/ www.mostwanted.com (most wanted; private list)
http:/ www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten (FBI Ten Most Wanted)
http:/ www.usmarshals.gov/investigations/most_wanted/ (U.S. Marshal’s
15 Most Wanted)
http:/ www.usdoj.gov/dea/fugitives/fuglist.htm (DEA’s most wanted
fugitives)
http:/ www.ustreas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn/ (terrorist watch list)
Internet and Database Open Sources
189
Tracking Sources and Stolen Property
To track checks by bank routing numbers, use http:/ www.routingnumbers.org/.
To track packages, you can try typing in the air bill tracking number
for Federal Express at http:/ www.fedex.com/us/track/index.html or use the tracking number for UPS at http:/ www.ups.com/tracking/tracking.html.
The ARC can provide airline ticket information for past and future
domestic and international flights purchased by an individual (with an
administrative subpoena that includes the individual’s name and DOB;
no dates of travel are needed). The company keeps records for a few years (https:/ www.arccorp.com/index.jsp).
The following site provides car rental security contact information for
law enforcement, corporate security, and financial crime investigators: http:/
www.carrentalsecurity.com/.
SIRAS is a database that tracks the origin of products from the POS: http://
www.siras.com/. SIRAS is the pioneer in POS electronic product registration, which encompasses patented business methodologies, including the creation of a unique fingerprint, for tracking products, validating return and warranty eligibility, and creating dynamic product data analytics. The secure online database is provided at no cost to authorized law enforcement professionals and helps in determining whether products recovered in their investigations may have been stolen or purchased with fraudulent tender. Today, SIRAS P.I.
is used by more than 2000 law enforcement and government agencies nation-
wide and has aided in the arrest and successful prosecution of many criminals, including a multimillion dol ar credit card fraud ring.
LeadsOnline is a database for law enforcement to check for stolen property that is pawned anywhere in the United States, including eBay listings: https://
www.leadsonline.com/main/leads/login/ (Figure 11.1)
Figure 11.1 LeadsOnline logins.
190
Advanced Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Operations
Consumer Protection
Once again, most states regulate licensed professions and have regulatory and consumer protection law enforcement functions. There are also private consumer agencies. Here are some good sources:
http:/ www.fraud.org (daily reports on scams and rip-offs from the
National Fraud Information Center)
http:/ ckfraud.org/ (the National Check Fraud Center, provide
s nation-
wide, updated multisource information and intelligence to support
local law enforcement, federal agencies, and financial and retail
communities in the detection, investigation, and the prosecution of
known check fraud and white collar crimes)
http://www.bbb.org (the Better Business Bureau takes consumer
complaints and keeps tracks of consumer scams; you can search
complaints by business name and get links to local BBB offices)
http:/ www.consumerworld.org (links and tags to consumer advocate sites)
http:/ www.netcheck.com ( Netcheck Commerce Bureau database of
company histories)
Credit Records
You may request your free credit report online, request your report by phone, or request your report through the mail. Free credit reports requested online are viewable immediately upon authentication of identity. Free credit reports requested by phone or mail will be processed within 15 days of receiving
your request:
https:/ www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp (Annual Credit
Report.com)
http:/ www.equifax.com (credit bureau reports [Equifax])
http:/ www.experian.com/ (credit bureau reports [Experian])
http:/ www.transunion.com/ (credit bureau reports ([TransUnion])
Checking credit reports is much more highly regulated and strict than before.
(See section Fair Credit Reporting Act et al. in Appendix D) Basically, you can only check them if you have a legitimate business purpose and have the subject’s written permission. Most of the sources that I checked with recently suggest merely having the subject fill out a request for their own credit report and submit it, requesting where to have it sent. They can get at least one free report each year. But one web page to be aware of is www.napbs.com (National Association of Professional Background Screeners: pre-employment screening and Fair Credit Reporting Act information).
Internet and Database Open Sources
191
Military and Genealogical Sources
If you are looking for someone who has ever served in the military, birth parents, or just a genealogy search, there are several good sources. You can search libraries and county offices, but you can start with a few of these sources: http:/ www.archives.gov/veterans/ (national archives military records)
http:/ www.archives.gov/st-louis/ (National Personnel Records Center,
Saint Louis, MO)
http://www.military.com/benefits/resources/military-records/getting-
records-of-military-personnel-or-others (Military.com)
http://www.everton.com (genealogical data base)
http://www.archives.com/ (genealogical data base)
http:/ genealogy.org/NGS (genealogical data base)
Sources of Telephone Information: Names,
Addresses, and Phone Numbers
To find an area code anywhere in the United States or Canada, try 555-1212.
com at the following:
http:/ www.555-1212.com/ACLOOKUP.HTML or http:/ www.com-
puterhope.com/areacode.htm. For country calling codes, use http:/
www.countrycallingcodes.com/. Locate the Do Not Call List at
https:/ www.donotcall.gov/.
For an acronym and abbreviation database, try http:/ www.ucc.ie/info/
net/acronyms/index.html.
More information on names, addresses, and phone numbers can be found in a variety of Internet databases. First, try doing a word search for the American Business Information (ABI) Yellow Pages. This lists names, addresses, phone numbers, and credit ratings for businesses in the United States and Canada.
Other information includes annual reports and other SEC information and
postal and bankruptcy information. Try using the name or ABI in a keyword search. Then try these databases:
http:/ zip4.usps.com/zip4/ (USPS zip code locator by address, city, or
company)
http:/ www.bigbook.com (free)
http:/ www.s12.bigyellow.com (free)
http:/ www.switchboard.com (free)
192
Advanced Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Operations
http:/ www.yahoo.com/search/people (free) (search name, phone, or
e-mail address)
http:/ www.whowhere.com (reverse phone search for a fee)
http:/ www.four11.com (reverse phone searches for a fee)
Internet Address Information
There seem to be a lot of databases out there for finding e-mail addresses for Internet users. Here are some of them:
http:/ www.vpm.com/emailbook (free)
http:/ www.iaf.net (free)
http:/ www.nova.edu/Inter-Links/netfind.html (free)
https:/ www.arin.net/index.html (American Registry for Internet
Numbers)
http:/ www.archive.org/ (archived web pages)
http:/ www.iptools.com/ (search reverse by IP addresses to get name,
phone, address, etc.)
http:/ www.dnsstuff.com/?ptype=free (IP information. Perform
forensic analysis of name and e-mail servers and path analysis and
authenticate and locate domains. Perform forensic analysis on a wide
variety of domain and e-mail concerns—all in one comprehensive
report. Monitor, track, and authenticate.)
http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp (identify and locate
ISPs or user name info for Internet)
Maps, Aerial and Satellite Photos, and Weather
Having a good source for maps, aerial and satel ite photos, weather, and other imagery is a great tool to have available for investigators and intel igence officers.
(See Chapter 10.) MapQuest is one source for maps, directions, and related information. I use this pretty often myself and find it to be very helpful. Sometimes, you can even get aerial and even street-view photos: http:/ www.mapquest.com.
MapsOnUs and Map Blaster are two similar map databases that I have found helpful. Google Earth is another great site that has maps, aerial and street-level photos, topographical features, etc.:
http:/ www.mapsonus.com/mapsonus/ (MapsOnUs)
http://images.google.com/images?q=Map+Blaster&hl=en&lr=&sa=
N&tab=ii&oi=images (Map Blaster)
http:/ www.google.com/earth/index.html (Google Earth) or
http:/ www.google.com/intl/en/earth/download/thanks.html (Google
Earth)
Internet and Database Open Sources
193
Professional Licenses
Most states regulate licensed professions. You may need to search each state’s agency that licenses a profession. For example, the insurance industry is regulated in Indiana by the Indiana Department of Insurance. That agency
keeps records on licensed agents within that state and on companies admitted to do (or prohibited from doing) business in Indiana. (Most states also have a law enforcement or investigative unit within such departments which keep records of violations.) Some states have a licensing agency for many professions, such as the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, which regulates everything from acupuncturists to private investigators. Some professions have a self-regulating body. Here are some sources:
http:/ www.abanet.org (the American Bar Association—attorneys)
http:/ www.ama-assn.org (the American Medical Association)
http:/ www.medaccess.com/locator/hclocate.htm (board certification,
hospital accreditation, HMOs, etc.)
http:/ www.medaccess.com/address/disc_bds.htm (physician disci-
plinary boards)
http:/ www.medaccess.com/address/lic_bds.htm (physician licensing boards) https://secure.in.gov/apps/govboards/BoardDetails.aspx?BoardId=11123
(Indiana Boards and Commissions)
http://www.in.gov/pla/boards.htm (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency)
http:/ www.in.go
v/idoi/ (Indiana Department of Insurance: company,
agent, and bail bond licenses, financial examinations, investigations
and enforcement records, etc.)
http://www.in.gov/dfi/ (Indiana Department of Financial Institutions)
http:/ www.in.gov/sos/ (Indiana Secretary of State: securities and auto
dealers, corporations, investigations and enforcement records, etc.)
http:/ transition.fcc.gov/wcb/iatd/locator.html (Federal Communications
Commission)
Education and Degree Checks
An investigator can check the university, college, or other educational institution for transcripts and degrees (usually with signed consent from the target) or there are database services that can help with this type of information.
Here are some websites:
http:/ www.degreechk.com (Degree Check: educational verification
and attendance)
http://www.studentclearinghouse.org (National Student Clearing
house: educational verification and attendance)
194
Advanced Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Operations
Social Networks
http:/ www.facebook.com/places/ (Facebook)
https:/ foursquare.com/ (Foursquare)
http:/ gowalla.com/ (Gowalla)
http:/ www.scvngr.com/ (SCVNGR)
Background Investigations Online
Other background information (sometimes including credit reports and criminal histories) can be found from a variety of sources and information brokers: http:/ www.spokeo.com/ (Spokeo)
http:/ www.integctr.com/Glossary.html (elements of a background
investigation or BI)
http:/ www.state.in.us (access Indiana)
http:/ www.pdcny.com (public records in New York City)
http:/ www.locateplus.com (LocatePlus: database of people, property,
motor vehicle records, court records, corporations, etc.)
http:/ www.theworknumber.com (verifies employment and income
information)
http:/ www.softechinternational.com (Softech International: driver
license and motor vehicle records)
http:/ www.infoam.com (names, addresses, phone numbers, social
security numbers, financial abstracts, asset descriptions, bankruptcy
records, lawsuits filed, etc.)
http:/ www.brbpub.com (database resources and links for background
checks)
http://www.infocubic.net (pre-employment screening service)
http://www.irbsearch.com (database of information on people, addresses,
