SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON CITIZEN PRIVACY AND SECURITY,
HOW TO USE THE INTERNET TO GET INFO ON PEOPLE AND SPECIAL GOVERNMENT SECURITY INSTITUTIONS,
AND HOW TO PROTECT YOUR OWN INFORMATION AND WHAT YOU CAN DO, IN CASE OF...
This Page is ORGANIZED by the following categories: CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, BACKGROUND CHECKS, GEOGRAPHIC LOCATING, BLOCKING SOFTWARE, PRIVACY SOFTWARE, REMOVAL SERVICES, INFO/HELP SITES, & INTELLIGENCE/COUNTERINTELLIGENCE SITES.
For an overview of WHAT kind of information is contained on people in public-accessible databases and retrievable superdatabases, visit the Information on People site. For HOW to enter information to best use the search engines of retrievable databases, visit the Glastonbury Police Dept., a site a bit like this one. For an experience at the edge of paranoia, visit The Stalker Web Site to learn how to protect yourself or get even. To locate individuals if you've got a full or partial name, address, or phone number, use anyone of the find-anybody tools listed at Webgator, the Habitation of Justice, the Glastonbury PD, or down below. If all you have is a URL or E-mail address, then trace the owner using various finder tools.
OUTLINE OF MOST FREQUENTLY USED INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES:
I. FAMILY & FRIENDS - First stop of choice to establish person's routine, employment, reputation, hangouts, and/or present location. It's amazing how willing people are to tell all they know about someone, even if they implicate themselves. If done over a telephone, there's no need to administer Miranda warnings.
II. CRIMINAL RECORD - "In God we Trust, all others we run NCIC." NCIC pulls up anything greater than a class C misdemeanor. More extensive records, called "rap sheets" are obtained from State Police Criminal Records Divisions, sometimes referred to as LEADS. There is controversy over how useful Rap sheets really are, as some contain errors and may contain arcane codes signifying you were once under investigation but never cleared. Most states have procedures for viewing your rap sheet, but to clean it up requires a District Attorney's order for expungement, which is a privilege not a right, and even then, you are still bound to report the matter for employment purposes. Your FBI file can be obtained by exercising your rights under the Freedom of Information Act, but chances are they don't have anything on you unless you were suspected of subversive or immoral activities at the national level. Many places, like Infotel, charge a fee to obtain records.
III. DRIVING RECORD - Good source for signature comparisons, alternative addresses, vehicle history, run-ins with the law, and an indicator of alcohol abuse. Departments of Motor Vehicles are known for good record-keeping. DMV's also keep vehicle histories, so for every VIN number, there is extensive information on all previous owners of the vehicle. DMV's are used extensively as part of Skip Tracing Resources to track endorsers, borrowers, and comakers.
IV. BIRTH, DEATH, MARRIAGE & DIVORCE RECORDS - These Vital Records often provide info. on family & income useful in developing leads.
V. SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER ANALYSIS - Tells you where they most likely skipped to, based on theory criminals always return home or keep in touch. Visit the Social Security Number FAQ for an overview on privacy issues in this area.
VI. COUNTY CLERK RECORDS - voting, hunting, tax assessments, family histories, small claims, licenses & other information about you is easily accessible at any courthouse.
VII. EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS - normally you can't get transcripts, but all that was in phone books, yearbooks, and other school records are easily obtainable. Talking with former teachers, registrars, or looking up old roommates are often helpful sources of information.
VIII. MILITARY SERVICE - Locator service free, but the suspect will find out you inquired if you want copies of their records.
IX. CIVIL SERVICE - Office of Personnel Management service free, but again, they'll tell the suspect you inquired if you want personnel records.
X. POSTAL ADDRESS - If using P.O. box or other kind of mail drop scheme, the Post Office cooperates in giving out your street address and other information. Technically, this is allowed only if business purposes are involved, but information can be voluntarily given.
XI. CRIS-CROS DIRECTORY - R.L. Polk & Co's reverse phone books by street address. They're expensive, but one exists for every city in America. If you have a partial phone number, you can track it down this way. If you have an address, you can get the phone number. If you want all the phone numbers on a block, you can get it. The Online version of this is at Switchboard.com. Not to be confused with CRISxCROS, a mega-search engine.
XII. WORKER'S COMPENSATION BOARD RECORDS - if unrestricted under varying policies, you can find out about medical conditions, care regimens, etc. Also don't forget Hospital records and Insurance Company files.
XIII. BANKRUPTCY RECORDS - often part of public records that gives employment and financial histories as well as creditors and collection departments that keep track. Don't forget Bondsmen as these agencies work with professional criminals all the time.
XIV. IRS RECORDS - open if case involves child support or other matters subject to
federal regulation, an OCSE office is located in every region for this purpose.
XV. WELFARE RECORDS - depends upon varying policies, but local public assistance records
are generally accessible, with State and Federal assistance often willing to cooperate.
XVI. GENEALOGICAL RECORDS - National Archives (NARA), regional offices in every Presidential Library, includes records on all Native Americans, Immigrants, and Passport Applications.
XVII. EMBASSY & CONSULAR OFFICES - to see who has diplomatic immunity, also to see if your suspect has been overseas because they track all foreign travel.
XVIII. CREDIT HISTORY - By law, only available for credit, business, or employment purposes, but credit reporting agencies are often willing to cooperate with law enforcement. These records may contain errors, and are hard to clean up.
It is entirely possible to use today's Internet to do a background check, and replace the telephone for information you will need in investigation of a case, such as the weather conditions and other items that go in reports. This is only a partial list, and addresses of these sites are constantly changing for 'some reasons'.
| GEOGRAPHIC LOCATING Cartographic Resources: | BLOCKING SOFTWARE:
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PLACES TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM DIRECTORIES/MAILING LISTS:
INFORMATION BROKERAGE/SECURITY INFO SITES:
Last updated 06/12/99
Copyright 1999 All Rights Reserved
DISCLAIMER: This is not an official page of any 'Authority' or Government Agency, and is designed solely for the educational use of the AULC. Reference to any tools or techniques used by law enforcement does NOT advocate similar use by the general public. Use and abuse of any of the tools on this page for any criminal purpose is a violation of State,Federal or International Laws.
