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There are approximately 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States – local, state, tribal, and federal— generally working independently,  each gathering clues, conducting interviews, solving crimes, and generating reports and information. Within their jurisdictions.

So the 2011 question is: in an age supporting a very mobile and transient number of people, obviously crime will cross many jurisdictions, how can we get these 18,000+ agencies connected rapidly and in an automated environment to share their information…not only to catch criminals and terrorists but also to spot crime trends and patterns and help prevent attacks?

After all, beyond a few national criminal justice systems like the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) , most information-sharing between police agencies today is still done on a case-by-case basis or through local and regional information systems.

In a three-year project (from 2008 – 2010), the FBI has been working on just such a system that incorporates all of the information maintained by all of these American law enforcement agencies and compiled this data into a single registry – the Law Enforcement  National Data Index, N-DEx.  N-DEx includes all of the traditional “hard” data: criminal backgrounds, parolee statuses, wants/warrants and can deliver highly effective reports connecting people, places and events by various methods such as MO comparisons, crime trends and familial DNA comparisons, to name several techniques.

It is the literal equivalent of each law enforcement agency, regardless of size, having its own CSI lab, forensics psychiatrist, anti-terrorism expert and other crime solving capabilities generally affordable only by large cities and the national l.e. organizations. N-DEx brings this  broader scope, more tightly focused physical and psychological database to a one sheriff town and to the Homeland Security Administration. The final implementation of N-DEx occurred quietly at the end of 2010. It is this tireless work by our security and law enforcement expert that allows the FBI (and now many others in the field)  to track and more often than not, stop terrorists, cult members and violent criminals before they commit additional heinous crimes.

It is expected that the N-DEx will become available to state and local district attorneys, (all need to know requests are recorded) and may be accessed via FOIL, albeit, for attorneys and private investigators, probably with highly redacted/limited information and very specific rules monitoring the N-DEx’s use.

That this crime information and trend data has finally all come together in one registry is a good thing.  Too often, too many criminals have slipped through the cracks, knowing how to work the “systems” and normal time delays.  Now, we’ll have the ability to access relevant aggregated information to solve cases quickly and effectively and aggressively deter potential threats.

BNI Operatives: A step ahead.

As always, be safe.

Related articles

• FBI Data Exchange System Now Fully Operational (informationweek.com)

After initial trepidation and a general principles discourse with our staff, I decided to print a basically uncensored version of an identity theft exercise BNI conducted recently in a Midtown client’s offices. It is my opinion that, at times, stark reality, rather than nuanced language, better conveys the urgency of potential injury that a crime may have on one.

The very real and live in-house demonstration illustrated the relative ease with which identity thieves can operate today. The objective was to obtain a credit card in the client-volunteered control “victim’s” name within two weeks – without the victim’s (even passive) participation or awareness. The audience present during this exercise followed its progress to its conclusion.

The general population’s perception is that an identity thief’s M.O. is to simply obtain a victim’s information, apply and receive credit cards in the victim’s name. Today’s i.d. thieves are much more subtlety proactive. They understand that if the credit card offers come to them, that, in a sense, they have been pre-qualified and the process is exponentially easier and quicker than the conventional apply and wait approach.

The first step in our live exercise was to obtain a bill or invoice in the victim’s name. We opted to go for new cell phone service.

The subject provided BNI operatives with no information. (Well, we knew his name.) While I obviously will not go into exact detail, we were able to easily obtain his driver’s license and Social Security numbers (outlined in previous Bulletins). Heads-Up Tips: 1. The DMV only truncates the final digit of a driver’s license number and a “1″ is not used. 2. By law, information providers must truncate the last 4 SSN digits – on the primary subject. A background check report will generally yield the subject’s relatives and their full SSNs. 3. Many information brokers are based out of country and are not subject (nor do they lend themselves) to US federal privacy and communications rules and regulations.

Armed with the victim’s personal information, our next step was to locate a cell phone service provider online.

The majority of identity theft criminals are very astute observers of human nature. They realize that a popular consumer offer will drive site and caller traffic and potentially overwhelm sales staff. While as state, next step would have been to locate a current offer on cell service provider sites, even that became unnecessary as, upon sign-on, we were greeted by a pop-up ad for cell service and a free phone!

We called the advertising cell service provider.

The sales agent was friendly but as anticipated, quite busy, clipping through the application process.

We provided the subject’s name, driver’s license and Social Security numbers and home address home but directed a different billing address. All information provided was verified, cross-referenced and given the green light by the agent. She only questioned our female investigator re: her gender as the Social Security number related to a male. Advised that it was for a relative with a language barrier issue, the sales agent stated she needed to speak with the “customer” just to get a “yes” from him. She advised that that was the sole requirement. The agent directed our investigator, still under guise of course, to initiate a three-way call (a standard cell phone feature today) and all that would literally be necessary was the word “yes” from the “customer”. Our investigator placed the sales agent on hold, called her partner across the room and connected the calls.

Agent: “Mr. X, do you authorize ABC Co. to provide you with a free Razr phone with a two-year commitment to our service?”

“New Customer”: “Yes”.

A cell phone number was issued within the hour; the Razr phone received and put into use the next day and the following week, credit card offers began pouring in – to the billing address. In most instances, a successful transaction was merely a matter of remitting a 60-second online acceptance form.

So the bottom line is, everyone and anyone can become an identity theft victim. Current federal regulation requires the three major consumer agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion to provide only one free annual credit report per person, upon consumer request. Perhaps providing real time instant online access to one’s credit report is a concept whose time has arrived.

In the meantime, we need to maintain personal vigilance of our credit standing. BNI provides the below contact information regarding identity theft prevention, maintenance and resolution:

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; www.equifax.com; P.O. Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30374- 0241

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742); http://www.experian.com/; P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289; http://www.transunion.com/; Fraud Victim Assistance Division, P.O. Box 6790, Fullerton, CA 92834-6790

BNI Operatives: A step ahead.

As always, be safe.

Related articles

• FTC finds child ID theft a growing problem (news.consumerreports.org)

FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III today announces the FBI’s commemoration of its famous “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” program, created 60 years ago.

In 1949, a reporter for the International News Service (the predecessor to United Press International) approached the FBI and asked about writing a story about the “toughest guys” being sought by the FBI at the time. The Bureau provided the names and descriptions of 10 fugitives to the reporter. The resulting feature became a major story and gained national attention. As a consequence of overwhelming public interest, on March 14, 1950, then-Director J. Edgar Hoover inaugurated the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives program.

“Fun” FAQs About The List:

Are the Top Ten actually ranked? No.

Who selects the Most Wanted fugitives? All 56 FBI field offices submit their candidates for the list and eventually the FBI Director signs off on his selections.

How many women have been on the Most Wanted List? 8, beginning with Ruth Eisemann-Schier in 1968.

How many fugitives have been on the list?  494,  of  which, 463 have been captured. (As of October 21, 2009.)

Are there rewards offered for the capture of  a Most Wanted fugitive?  At a minimum, a reward of up to $100,000 is offered by the FBI for information which leads directly to the arrest of an individual on the  ”Top Ten” list.

Obvious Warning: If you know or have reason to believe you may know the whereabouts of any dangerous fugitives, please immediately contact the police at 911 or the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324).

The most current Top Ten Most Wanted fugitives, courtesy of the FBI:

Is that Ben Stiller to the right of the word “fugitives” in the poster?  Not opining on the quality of his films; just asking… 

Semi-spoiler: We may do a live polygraph next week.  Stay tuned.

BNI Operatives: Street smart: Web savvy.

As always, stay safe.

A. Tickets purchased.
B. Valid (unexpired) passport and International Driver’s Permit in hand.
C. Overseas Crime Victim checklist reviewed.

No Plan C? Millions of Americans travel overseas each year. Relatively minor inconveniences (lost luggage,  boarding delays, hotel accommodation screw-ups…) are generally viewed as part and parcel of the travel experience; becoming a victim of a crime in an unfamiliar environment is not.  As we become a more mobile and global society, we need to familiarize ourselves with all facets of overseas travel, including the unpleasant possibility of falling victim to criminality.

Have a “Plan C” checklist (preferably written, among your important documents) prepared:

1. Know the contact information for the nearest U.S. embassies or consular agencies along your travel route. (Ensure the information is current.)   Report the crime to the U.S. embassy or consulate.  (Check with the State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs,  for U.S. embassy listings worldwide. )

NOTE: U.S. embassy officials may help to replace a lost or stolen passport, facilitate communication with your family, liaison with local law enforcement agencies…, but consular officials cannot investigate crimes, provide legal advice or represent you in court, serve as official interpreters or translators, or pay legal or medical fees for you.

2. Report the incident to local police. Obtain a police report if possible.

3. Familiarize yourself with available victim assistance and compensation programs. All U.S. states have victim compensation assistance (from counseling, group therapy and sheltering aid) and compensation programs in operation, and nearly half of them offer benefits to victims of overseas crimes. Contact the National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards for online information and and assistance/compensation application forms.

We’re optimists on the whole; information has prepared us to be such.

BNI Operatives: Street smart; web savvy.

As always, be safe.

Remember to read the email Bulletin version in your inbox.  We distribute investigative or informational tips we won’t publicly post for misguided civilians, tire kickers and assorted “off the rails” types.  To receive an email copy of the Bulletin, you must be a licensed attorney in good standing, corporate/governmental entity or law enforcement. Email your name, email address, firm/agency/co. name to guardian@beaconbulletin.com.

03/19/2009

Twins Suspected in Spectacular Jewelry Heist Set Free

Saved by their indistinguishable DNA, identical twins suspected in a massive jewelry heist have been set free. Neither could be exclusively linked to the DNA evidence.

German police say at least one of the identical twin brothers Hassan and Abbas O. may have perpetrated a recent multimillion euro jewelry heist in Berlin. But because of their indistinguishable DNA, neither can be individually linked to the crime. Both were set free on Wednesday.

Using a relative’s DNA to catch criminals

US News  03/06/09

By Scott Michels

When a woman was brutally raped in Denver in 2003, DNA found at the crime scene was similar to that of a felon whose genetic profile was kept in Oregon’s DNA database–so similar that the man in Oregon was probably a close relative of the suspect, says Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey. But FBI rules on interstate cases prevented Oregon’s crime lab from sharing the man’s name with out-of-state police, effectively stalling the investigation.

“This may be the father or son of the rapist I’m looking for,” says Morrissey. “At least give us the chance to look.”

He may soon get his chance. Prompted by cases like Morrissey’s, the FBI is making it easier for police to use DNA databases to investigate the relatives of the 3.3 million known criminals whose genetic profiles are being kept by the government. In limited situations, crime labs may now release the name of a person in the database who is not actually a suspect but whose DNA is similar to DNA recovered from a crime scene–leading police to then investigate that person’s family. And some prosecutors are pushing states,which set their own policies for in-state cases, to even more aggressively use so-called family searching–a potentially powerful crime-fighting tool whose effect on civil liberties alarms privacy advocates.

It’s getting scary out there!

BNI Operatives: Street smart, web savvy.

Stay safe.