Identifying and Reporting Cyber Harassment

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Lina Maini

(We’re wrapped up in several serious cyber harassment cases at the moment and are sharing several tips on how to handle cyber/internet harassment that crosses the line to true criminality. All too frequently, we feel our hands are tied in trying to protect ourselves, our businesses and families from this type of harassment but in reality, the reporting protocol for these situations already exists. Below is information on how to report cyber harassment.)

Cyber harassment refers to the malicious use of technology to willfully and deliberately harass or harm another individual or entity. Cyber harassment is a federal crime and can be an incredibly scary experience for victims. There are steps to report Internet harassment. If you are in imminent fear of your life or for the safety of others, call 911 to report the harassment immediately.

Instructions

1. Determine whether you are the victim of cyber harassment. The lines between genuine cyber harassment and general nuisance are blurry, so it can be difficult to substantiate a claim of Internet harassment. If someone is threatening you with violence and you genuinely fear for your safety and well-being, you might meet the criteria of being a victim. It is important to note that hacking, cyber spying and cyber stalking are not forms of Internet harassment. The first two are not necessarily criminal activities, depending on the nature of the offender’s behavior, and the latter is a separate crime, which should be reported and addressed differently than cyber harassment, defined by the Federal Anti-Cyber-Stalking Act.

2. Do what you can to reduce or prevent further Internet harassment from occurring. This includes changing your email address, screen names and member names for instant messaging programs and social networking websites; privatizing profiles and websites that currently are public; and ceasing all contact with the person who is harassing you. You must demonstrate that you have taken steps to stop the person from harassing you. If you converse with the individual who is harassing you, your chances of reporting and stopping Internet harassment will significantly drop.

3. Gather as much information as you can about the individual harassing you. This can prove to be quite difficult given the anonymous nature of the Internet, but technology allows law enforcement to track down anonymous harassers by using multiple methods. Develop a log that includes email addresses, screen names, and website and social networking profile URLs that belong to the person/people harassing you. Save and print emails and conversations, create “screen grabs” or screenshots of websites or profiles with threatening or malicious content, and keep track of the offender’s every attempt to contact you. A detailed log containing dates, times and places will help you immensely when you report cyber harassment. If possible, also try to locate and write down the offender’s Internet Protocol (IP) address.

4. Contact your local law enforcement agency and ask to report cyber harassment. Use the police department’s nonemergency (administrative) telephone number or visit in person to make your report. Be prepared to provide information you have detailed in your log; if you make the report in person, bring along two copies of every document you have to leave with the police. If you know the offender’s location, you can contact his local police department or file a report with both precincts. Be sure to get a copy of any police report you file.

5. Contact your local FBI field office if your local police department is unable to or uninterested in pursuing your report. You can locate your local office using the FBI’s field office locator online, or ask you local police department for the information. Always attempt to make a report with your local police department before contacting the FBI, unless you have reason to believe the harassment is terroristic (for example, the offender is threatening to plant a bomb or commit a school shooting) in nature.

6. Contact a cyber harassment watch group for more assistance. While your matter is under investigation, you can contact an organization such as WiredSafety for further assistance and general support. Note that this type organization is not a governmental or law enforcement agency and you should not rely on these private groups as an alternative to law enforcement authorities.

As always, stay safe.

Filed under: cyber crime, cyber investigations, cyber law | Tagged: crime, Cyber-bullying, Cyberstalking, facebook, law, Law enforcement agency, Online harassment, police, police report, WiredSafety | Leave a Comment »

This Week In: Field Investigation Observations

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Lina Maini

This week in Field Investigation Observations:

Women can even run in heels. Flats cause accidents.

1. Flat shoes are always the cause of a trip/slip and fall. (Tangential note: Sip and fall = dram shop case.)

2. The yellow traffic light simultaneously extends in all directions.

3. Witness descriptions are related to the witness’ frame of reference. (“It was the old dude’s fault. He can’t see”, stated the 19 y.o. who’d just blown the red, slamming into a 41 y.o. dude’s car.)

4. Cops automatically tune out the vehicle’s operator when asked for a driver’s license and the response begins with, “See, what happened was…”

5. All witnesses are true psychics and the victims economically-challenged. “I just knew he was gonna hit that poor woman!”

6. Be prepared to treat for severe shock when parents are told that their 11 y.o. was out at 1:00 a.m.

7. In any vehicle (excluding passenger vans, buses and trains) containing 7+ occupants, at least 5 will have seen nothing, 6 will claim injury and all will dispute who was driving.

8. If a 35 y.o. turns to ask his Mommy if it is okay to talk to the investigator/lawyer/police, s/he will not do well on the stand.

9. Jewelry stores are located next to skyscrapers for a reason. Invariably, survivors of multi-story free falls down elevator shafts due to a non- or malfunctioning elevators need to display their recent spiritual realignment with their Maker by wearing hubcap sized gold religious medallions. (99.9% are not rappers.)

10.”How much do you think I will get for this?” is most often asked in anticipation of future incidents involving the other (as of yet, unaffected) appendage.

That will be all.

BNI Operatives: A step ahead. (In low heels, of course…)

As always, be safe.

How do you handle a guest who has had too much to drink and wants to purchase more (wiki.answers.com)

Filed under: Field Investigation Observations | Tagged: car accident, Driver's license, Elevator, elevator accidents, police, Traffic light, witness | Leave a Comment »

Witness Statements Done Right

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Lina Maini

Image via Wikipedia

Witness statements; seem simple enough. The attorney needs the incident/accident details; recorded in an accurate and concise manner. Often, however, it is the experience of both the seasoned field investigator and the harried trial lawyer to have obtained a witness statement only to realize later that it is not as comprehensive as he or she would have liked.

BNI’s founders sought to alleviate this concern for attorneys and conducted an in-depth review of witness statements obtained over the course of its decade in the private investigation field. After a careful study, we’ve created incident-appropriate Witness Statement Checklists for the investigative and trial law professional. This week, we’ve attached a Witness Statement Checklist relating to motor vehicle accidents.

WITNESS STATEMENT CHECKLIST (MVA)
This checklist contains items that must be addressed for a witness statement to be considered complete. One checklist per involved vehicle.

1. WITNESS PEDIGREE (to include name, address, phone #, DOB, SSN,employment/scholastic and licensed driver info)

2. WEATHER CONDITIONS (including possible glare)

3. LIGHTING CONDITIONS

4. SURFACE CONDITIONS (roadways, shoulders…)

5. DEBRIS/CONSTRUCTION PRESENT

6. DESCRIPTION OF ROADWAY (# of lanes, travel direction, divider present…)

7. SIGN DEVICES/PRESENCE OF TRAFFIC AGENT

8. DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF PARTICIPANTS (drivers/pedestrians…)

9. DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT (detailed)

10. ALCOHOL/DRUG INVOLVEMENT

11. WHERE WAS THE DRIVER GOING?

12. RATE OF SPEED

13. FORCE OF IMPACT

14. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE (detailed)

15. POSITION OF OCCUPANTS

16. OBSERVABLE INJURIES SUSTAINED (detailed)

17. MEDICAL ATTENTION RECEIVED AT SCENE

18. EMERGENCY/OFFICIAL VEHICLE AND PERSONNEL RESPONSE

19. POSITION OF VEHICLE AFTER IMPACT

20. SUMMONSES ISSUED

21. STATEMENT(S) MADE AT SCENE

22. ADDITIONAL WITNESSES

23. WAS THE VEHICLE TOWED?

Filed under: mva | Tagged: Driver's license, insurance, lawyer, police, Road, Traffic collision, Vehicle, witness | Leave a Comment »

Towed Vehicle Recovery, NYC.

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Lina Maini

Image via Wikipedia

Who Towed My Vehicle?
If your vehicle has been towed, it is important for you to know whether it was a Violation Tow or Judgment Tow:

Violation Tow by NYPD
If your vehicle has been booted or towed because it was illegally parked and you owe no unpaid parking tickets in judgment, get your vehicle back directly from the NYC Police Department.If, however, your vehicle was illegally parked AND you owe more than $101.00 in outstanding tickets that have gone into judgment, your parking tickets must be paid to the Department of Finance before you can get your vehicle back.

The fastest payment method is to go to a Finance Business Center and pay your judgment debt (the fines and penalties on parking tickets that are 100 days old or older). When you have done this, you must ask for a Vehicle Release Form. Take this to the NYPD impound lot to get your vehicle back. You will also have to pay the Police Department’s towing fees at the impound lot. The Police Department Pounds accept major credit cards, cash, certified checks, and money orders.

Judgment Tow by Sheriff
A judgment tow is when a vehicle’s owner has unpaid parking tickets of at least $350, on one or more vehicles registered to his/her name. If the Sheriff towed your vehicle, you should come in and pay your parking fines immediately, or the Sheriff will begin the process of preparing your vehicle for auction after 72 hours. If you do not pick up your vehicle within seventy two (72) hours of taking it from you, the Sheriff will begin the process of notifying you your vehicle is being prepared for auction unless you do the following: (1) pay for and pick up the vehicle, (2) request a ”Sale Hold” by going to any Finance Business Center. The vehicle is generally auctioned anytime after 10 days.The Sheriff’s payment may be made in cash, money order, or certified or cashier’s check, made payable to the “NYC Department of Finance.” You may also use Discover, MasterCard or American Express card (if the card is in the registered owner’s name). You will also need a Vehicle Release form which you can get from any Finance Business Center to prove you have paid. You must take the Vehicle Release form to the impound lot when you go to get your vehicle back.

The total amount that you will be required to pay can be determined by using the following chart:

a. Amount due for Parking Debt on tickets 100 days old or older	$ ______
b. Execution Fee	$ 70.00
c. Tow Fee *	$ 185.00
d. Sheriff’s Storage Fee* @ $10-15/day (see note below) or Marshal’s Storage Fee @ $10/day(After the Tow Date)	$ ______
e. Subtotal (add lines [a] through [d])	$ ______
f. Multiply line [e] by 5% (Line [e] x .05)	$ ______
g. Total Amount Due (Line [e] + Line [f])	$ ______
Notes: Sheriff Storage Fee = $10/day on Days 1 and 2. Fee increases to $15 a day on the third day. * Tow Fee and Storage Fee subject to 8.875% sales tax.

Judgment Tow by the City Marshal
A judgment tow is when a vehicle’s owner has unpaid parking tickets of $350, on one or more vehicles registered to his/her name. If a City Marshal towed your vehicle, you have 10 business days to pay your parking fines. Contact the City Marshal who towed your vehicle immediately. If a City Marshal seized your vehicle in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan or Queens, the registered owner/representative should contact the Marshal’s office for that borough. If your vehicle was towed by the Sheriff in Staten Island, please follow the instructions above to get your vehicle back from the Sheriff.The City Marshal’s office will tell you the total amount owed (which includes the judgment amount and any fees) as well as where the vehicle is located. You will also be told if the Marshal will accept your payment at their office or if payment will be accepted at the towing yard.

You should ask the Marshal’s office how much you owe in full. The City Marshals accept cash, certified check, money orders, as well as MasterCard, American Express or Discover card payment. If you cannot get your vehicle immediately, you should ask for instructions and/or your options. If you do not get your vehicle within seventy two (72) hours of towing, the Marshal will begin the process of notifying you that your vehicle is being prepared for auction unless you do the following: (1) pay for and pick up the vehicle, (2) request a ”Sale Hold” by going to any Finance Business Center. In all cases make sure you get the Marshal’s office telephone number.

New Red Light Camera Rules To Make It Easier To Tow (888redlight.wordpress.com)

BNI Operatives: Street smart, web savvy.

As always, stay safe.

Filed under: tow truck, vehicle | Tagged: Business, law, marshal, MasterCard, New York City Police Department, Parking violation, police, Tow | Leave a Comment »

Involuntary Human Chip Implants, Including Ones With Cyanide

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Lina Maini

It does not come as a surprise given the micro technology now available to the medical and law enforcement fields, that humans, from birth to death, will be implanted with bio chips . The purpose of the implanted chip varies from containing such things as your complete medical history, your identification, and for those convicted of serious crimes, his/her criminal record combined with a gps tracking system. Under the new healthcare bill, microchipping of all people thereunder shall commence in 36 months. http://bit.ly/attuTd The Saudis took the gps chip they place on criminals (for now) one step further by introducing a model with a second chamber possessing cyanide. (See below.)

Medical record chip:

Approved in May, 2004 by the FDA, a tiny computer patient’s arm can speed vital information about a patient’s medical history to doctors and hospitals.

The Food and Drug Administration said that Applied Digital Solutions of Delray Beach, Fla., could market the VeriChip, an implantable computer chip about the size of a grain of rice, for medical purposes.

With the pinch of a syringe, the microchip is inserted under the skin in a procedure that takes less than 20 minutes and leaves no stitches. Silently and invisibly, the dormant chip stores a code that releases patient-specific information when a scanner passes over it.

RFID Chip: The VeriChip is a glass encapsulated Radio Frequency Identification tag that is injected into the flesh to uniquely number and identify people. The tag can be read silently and invisibly by radio waves from up to a foot or more away, right through clothing. The highly controversial device is also being marketed as a way to access secure areas, monitor those here on VISAs and serve as a payment device when associated with a credit card.

Although the company emphasizes that its chip is strictly voluntary, recent statements suggest this could easily change. VeriChip Chairman of the Board Scott Silverman has been promoting the VeriChip as a partial solution to immigration concerns, proposing it as a way to register guest workers, verify their identities as they cross the border, and “be used for enforcement purposes at the employer level.” He told interviewers on the Fox News Channel that the company has “talked to many people in Washington about using it.”

The company has also confirmed that the Pentagon has approved replacing military dog tags with VeriChip implants.

Criminal Records and GPS Chip:

A “normal” gps chip in a parolee will simply divulge location on a released serious crimes offender, allowing police to quickly apprehend him should he recommit a crime.. The Saudis had taken this ability to the extreme. From Tech News:

GPS chip for crims adds in a dose of cyanide

By Julia Sagar

May 22nd 2009

A Saudi inventor has filed a patent for a GPS-enabled “killer chip”, which, once implanted under the skin, would help authorities track “undesirables”.

The killer hook? It would also contain a dose of cyanide to remotely kill the wearer without fuss, should authorities deem they had become a public threat.

The chip would consist of a tiny GPS transceiver placed inside a capsule, and inserted under the person’s skin, plus a handy remote-controlled cyanide dispenser. According to the inventor, it “could be used to track terrorists, criminals, fugitives, illegal immigrants, political dissidents, domestic servants and foreigners overstaying their visas”. Nice.

BNI Street smart: Web savvy.

As always, stay safe.

Filed under: Tech Tips, technologies | Tagged: applied digital solutions, criminals, cyanide, fda, gps, micro chip, police, security, tracking, verichip | Leave a Comment »

NYPD Stop N Search Database Struck Down; Crime Fighting Familial DNA Use

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Lina Maini

This week, stop and search records maintenance by police is back in the news. NY Governor David Paterson struck down a search and record procedure used by the NYPD wherein anyone stopped for any reason, would have their info (including DNA if warranted) entered into a crime fighting database shared by multiple local, state and federal agencies.

It seems we’d just written about a similar process just a few months ago:

from The Beacon Bulletin, September, 2009:

We’ve been monitoring the development of a relatively new investigation tool in law enforcement and litigation closely; that of prosecutors, the FBI and other investigative/authorized agencies using the DNA samplings of relatives to locate potential criminals/defendants.

In the majority of familial DNA usage cases, the jurisdictional agency will run a suspect’s genetic material through the FBI’s 6 million+ DNA samples database. States are scrambling to legislate procedure for this investigative tool. The ABA cites California as having already set up familial DNA usage protocol.

In unusual cases, (see: NPR reports of matching familial DNA in capturing the BTK (Bind, Torture and Kill) murderer) normal, routine medical samples (in the BTK killer case, his daughter’s pap smear test) are being subpoenaed for testing within the FBI’s DNA database.

Furthering compounding the issue are potential situations of identical DNA, such as has occurred in the German case involving identical twins, ultimately released without being charged, as it could not be determined which brother had perpetrated a massive jewelry heist.

Strap in tight. It’s going to be a bumpy road, folks.

BNI Operatives: Street smart; Web Savvy.

As always, be safe.

SITE OF THE WEEK: http://www.blockyourex.com No further explanation necessary!

Filed under: DNA, police | Tagged: DNA, familial, fbi, frisk, governor paterson, m searh, nypd, police, stop | Leave a Comment »

The FBI’s Most Wanted List: History and “Fun” Facts

Posted on March 14, 2010 by Lina Maini

March 14, 2010 marked the 60th anniversary of the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted List. From an official FBI press release:

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.

Filed under: General Information, police | Tagged: 911, crime, criminals, fbi, fugitive, police, polygraph, top ten | Leave a Comment »

Celebrity v. Average Joe/Jane Offenders and Police 10 codes

Posted on November 30, 2009 by Lina Maini

The recent Tiger Woods’ driving “incident” at his Florida estate has sparked quite the discourse among friends in the law enforcement, investigative and legal professions, focusing on:

Are celebrity offenders treated differently from the “average Jane/Joe” offenders? If so, how and why?

There was a general consensus (Congress: take note) amongst us that celebrity offenders are treated differently. Weaving this agreement, with the how and why, is no more a perfect example than the past Friday Tiger Woods incident. The facts, as we know them to be at this time, are:

1. Tiger Woods was driving his Lincoln Escalade SUV on his property at approx. 2:35 a.m. Friday and somehow hit a fire hydrant and his neighbor’s tree. His wife, swinging a handy golf club, smashed out the vehicle’s window(s) to, purportedly, rescue her husband.

2. Although police arrived on the scene shortly after the incident, as reported by the Associated Press, Florida State Troopers have been denied follow-up access to Mr. Woods three times, thus far.

3. At 2:00 p.m. today, via Twitter and his Web site, Mr. Woods, vaguely commented that he had embarrassed his family and “it” would never happen again.

4. His privately retained attorney, Mark NeJame, stated that Mr. Woods had complied with Florida requirements for this type of incident, which calls only for the presentation for review by police of the driver’s license, vehicle’s registration and proof of insurance.

Points 1, 2 and 3, while curious indulgences, don’t raise the questions that Point 4 smacks one over the head with. I.e. a) The tree was not on Mr. Woods’ property; the damage, thusly, was to another’s property. Did the neighbor simply accept the loss? b) The on scene police investigation yielded that Mr. Woods was in serious condition and at times unconscious. An RMA was obviously accepted by police, then why has the follow-up investigation by FSP not been allowed? (We may do things a bit differently here in NY but even as a CYA measure, a detective would have gotten a sign off on that issue.) and c) Can a private citizen own a fire hydrant in Florida? If not, can Mr. Woods simply blow off the Florida State Police when municipal property is involved?

The voyeuristic appeal of the Tiger Woods case aside, it comes down to a call for fairness. Had you or your neighbor or your son’s teacher, presumably all “average Joes and Janes”, crashed a vehicle into someone else’s property and taken out a fire hydrant, on the busiest news day, a local field reporter, shivering in her network provided strappy heels, would be busy earning a day’s salary hunting down an articulate neighbor to interview on camera. On a really slow, uneventful day, she might even be on the scene with police still present, pointedly ignoring her questions. The camera guy would have, at least once, panned over the offender’s mailbox or front door; wherever the (alleged) defendant’s address is posted.

So why the difference in treatment? I don’t think we, and certainly not the Florida State Police, will be satisfied until a complete investigation has resolved the matter.

Perhaps Mr. NeJame is preparing Mrs. Woods with the Bullwinkle defense. That would certainly explain the club-wielding glass party. Judge me guilty now, but I would have done the same under similar circumstances.

In the meanwhile, we’re sure the local crime reporters will continue to listen in to police radios, especially in celebrity enclaves. Well, we, along with celebrity news reporter, TMZ, might as well all understand what is being transmitted. Below are commonly used (generally) nationwide police 10 codes:

* 10-1 poor reception
* 10-2 good reception
* 10-3 stop transmitting
* 10-4 message received, affirmative, ok
* 10-5 relay this information to ___.
* 10-6 busy
* 10-7 out of service
* 10-8 in service
* 10-9 please repeat your message
* 10-10 negative
* 10-12 standby
* 10-13 civilians present and listening
* 10-15 en route to station with suspect
* 10-18 urgent
* 10-19 return to station
* 10-20 specify location/my location is ___.
* 10-21 place a phone call to ___.
* 10-22 disregard
* 10-23 stand by on this frequency (also “On scene” in some areas)
* 10-27 vehicle registration request
* 10-28 arrests/warrants on driver’s license
* 10-29 arrests/ warrants on the vehicle
* 10-32 gun
* 10-33 emergency traffic follows, hold routine messages
* 10-34 frequency open (cancels 10-33)
* 10-36 what is the correct time of day?
* 10-39 false alarm, premises was occupied
* 10-40 false alarm, no activity, premises appears secure
* 10-41 begin watch
* 10-42 end watch
* 10-45 fueling vehicle
* 10-49 en route to assignment
* 10-50 accident
* 10-51 tow truck needed
* 10-52 ambulance needed
* 10-53 road blocked at ___.
* 10-54 animals on highway
* 10-55 security check
* 10-57 hit-and-run accident
* 10-58 direct traffic
* 10-59 escort
* 10-60 squad in vicinity, lock-out
* 10-61 personnel in area
* 10-62 reply to message
* 10-63 clear to copy info?
* 10-64 message for delivery
* 10-65 net message assignment
* 10-66 net message cancellation
* 10-67 person calling for help
* 10-68 dispatch message
* 10-69 message received
* 10-70 prowler, fire alarm
* 10-71 gun involved, advise nature of fire
* 10-72 shooting, fire progress report
* 10-73 smoke report
* 10-74 negative
* 10-75 in contact with ___.
* 10-76 en route
* 10-77 ETA ___.
* 10-78 need assistance
* 10-79 bomb threat, coroner’s case
* 10-80 bomb has exploded
* 10-81 breathalyzer report
* 10-82 reserve lodging
* 10-83 work school crossing at ___.
* 10-84 if meeting ___, advise ETA
* 10-85 delay due to ___.
* 10-86 officer on-duty
* 10-87 pickup
* 10-88 present phone number of ___.
* 10-89 bomb threat
* 10-90 bank alarm at ___.
* 10-91 pick up prisoner
* 10-92 improperly parked vehicle
* 10-93 blockage
* 10-94 drag racing
* 10-95 prisoner/subject in custody
* 10-96 psych patient
* 10-97 check signal (“On Scene” in CA and other areas)
* 10-98 prison/jail break
* 10-99 wanted/stolen record
* 10-100 dead body
* 10-200 alarm

Bulletin’s site of the week: gizmodo.com. Best tech site online.

BNI Investigators: Street smart; Web savvy.

As always, stay safe.

Filed under: 10-codes, accident, investigation, police | Tagged: 10-codes, 911, accident, attorney, bullwinkle, defense, fire hydrant, Florida State Police, gizmodo, insurance, investigation, lawyer, license, Mark NeJame, police, property damage, registration, ten-codes, tiger woods, TMZ, troopers, twitter | Leave a Comment »

U.S. Embassies To American Overseas Crime Victims: No To Representation; Yes To Compensation

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Lina Maini

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.

Filed under: General Information | Tagged: assistance, compensation, consulate, crime, crime victim, embassy, overseas, police, reporting, u.s. embassy, vacation, victim | Leave a Comment »

911 Transcripts Decoded – What Is a 10-86 or 10-100??

Posted on June 9, 2008 by Lina Maini

Occasionally a trial lawyer will have the need to read 911 transcripts. Certain information, such as caller’s identity, addresss and reason for the emergency call, may come across clearly but other embedded code correspondence may not. This week, we provide you with a list of ten codes – cop lingo for their field activity.

A brief history of ten codes: Ten-codes, properly known as ten signals, are code words used to represent common phrases in voice communication, particularly by law enforcement and in Citizen’s Band (CB) radio transmissions. Ten-codes were developed in the 1940s at a time when police radio channels were limited, to reduce use of speech on the radio. Credit to the originator goes to Charles “Charlie” Hopper. He was the Communications Director at the Illinois State Police, District 10, located in Urbana, Illinois. Hopper was involved in radio for many years and saw a need to abbreviate radio transmissions on State Police bands. The codes were expanded in 1974by the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO. They have historically been widely used by law enforcement officers in North America.(www.wikipedia.com)

10-Codes:

Bulletin’s site of the week: gizmodo.com. Best tech site online.

BNI Investigators: Street smart; Web savvy.

Stay safe,

Lina

Filed under: 10-codes, 911, call, cop talk, copier, emergency code, lingo, ten-codes, transcript, trial lawyer | Tagged: 10-5, gizmodo, lawyer, police, radio calls, ten-codes, transcript, unvestigatons | Leave a Comment »

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Identifying and Reporting Cyber Harassment

This Week In: Field Investigation Observations

Witness Statements Done Right

Towed Vehicle Recovery, NYC.

Involuntary Human Chip Implants, Including Ones With Cyanide

GPS chip for crims adds in a dose of cyanide

NYPD Stop N Search Database Struck Down; Crime Fighting Familial DNA Use

The FBI’s Most Wanted List: History and “Fun” Facts

Celebrity v. Average Joe/Jane Offenders and Police 10 codes

U.S. Embassies To American Overseas Crime Victims: No To Representation; Yes To Compensation

911 Transcripts Decoded – What Is a 10-86 or 10-100??

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GPS chip for crims adds in a dose of cyanide

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