2017 March

How to Avoid Becoming A Cyberstalking Victim

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How to Avoid Becoming A Cyberstalking Victim

Thanks to modern technology, it has become easier for thieves to capture private information about those they victimize. Fortunately, the private investigators in Boise have seen this far too often and offer this list of tips to protect yourself from becoming a victim of cyberstalking:

1 – Beef Up Those Passwords

Believe it or not, your best defense in many cases is the password you use on any of your online accounts. The best password is one that contains random letters, numbers and symbols. Mixing upper and lower case letters is also a good idea. Strong passwords that are hard to break do not contain your dog’s name, your wedding anniversary or best friend’s nickname. By making your passwords difficult to guess gives you a great wall of protection. The private investigators in Boise also advise that you should change your passwords each year and use a different one for each account or social media platform.

2 – Keep Personal Information Personal

One way to keep cyberstalkers at bay is to not post personal information in social media sites. This is particularly important in the profiles you post online about yourself. If you must have any information posted avoid including your home phone number, street address and use different e-mail addresses if you can. Plus, do not post your real birth date online and monitor these details regularly and change frequently.

3 – Be Suspicious of E-mails and Phone Calls

When you respond to online or phone surveys, red flags should appear any time you are asked to verify personal information. While there are several legitimate surveys being conducted on a regular basis gathering consumer information, you have the right to refuse participating if you do not feel right about the questions being asked. It is always best to be a bit wary than completely trusting and accidently giving away information that can be used against you in some other way.

4 – Google Yourself Often

Just in case, it is always a good idea to conduct a search of your name online. The private investigators in Boise suggest doing this once a year to see if anyone has posted a photo or information about you without your knowledge. If you find something, contact the website owner or server administrator and request that the information be removed.

Contact Custer Agency For Information

If you suspect you have become the victim of cyberstalking, or are experiencing an online issue where someone is using your personal information against you, contact Custer Agency. The private investigators in Boise will be able to advise you on what action to tak

How The Private Investigation Industry Has Evolved

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Resourceful is a word used to describe the private investigators in Boise. However, it is also an accurate description of the early detectives who paved the way to today’s tech savvy investigators. Historically, a private investigator was someone who would be hired to provide services that either existing law enforcement agencies were unable or incapable of providing.

Going back to 19th century France detectives were using resourceful means of solving crimes and gathering information utilizing techniques that are still in use today. The only real difference is that thanks to computers, the methods have been updated. Regardless, the purpose of using a detective remains the same – to discover information that is not readily available.

Roles Have Also Evolved

The private investigators in Boise come from a long line of great detectives. As they were originally used to assist in law enforcement matters, the kinds of information that was uncovered in these investigations saw a major expansion in the role played by a detective. In today’s world the private investigator is used for much more than assisting lawmen.

A detective can be called on to assist with a wide range of investigative tasks thanks to their resourcefulness. Locating a long-lost family member, gathering data on fraud cases involving individuals or companies and tracking criminals are some of the ways a detective is used in the present day. Their value has increased as much as their role over the centuries.

Data Collection Is Still The Goal

Because a private detective has access to resources that the average person does not, they are the logical choice in settling disputes or matters that require evidence to be resolved in court. It is a slight shift away from the original role they played centuries ago, but still focuses on the ability a detective has in searching for the information required by a client to solve an issue.

Data collection techniques may have evolved somewhat but the private investigators in Boise still use the methods that have always worked over time. This can range for surveillance of suspects to asking questions and interviewing people who may have details of information that can assist in a case. This is the same kind of resourcefulness used by 19th century detectives.

There is no denying the expertise in having a professional assigned to any task. If anything has not changed over centuries as the private investigating industry has is that even today a detective is considered a professional in the field of information gathering. That is why they were pulled into action centuries ago and that is why people and corporations hire them today.

Contact The Private Investigators In Boise Today

When the solution you are looking for concerning a matter requires further evidence to support, turn to the resourceful professionals at Custer Agency. These private investigators in Boise come from a long history of intelligent detectives known for their expertise as much as they were known for their resourcefulness. Call Custer Agency today for more information.

All About Surveillance Investigations

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The private investigators in Boise are called upon for various types of investigative work. One of the most challenging of these involves surveillance. If you have ever watched a detective movie or television show you have very likely heard the term ‘tail’ being used as in someone being ‘tailed’ or having a ‘tail’ put on them. This is a layman’s term for surveillance.

The point of a surveillance investigation is to monitor or observe certain activities and behaviors of an individual, group of individuals or company. The information gathered through this kind of investigation is then used in a court room setting as evidence to support or prove a claim that has been made. The private investigators in Boise conduct surveillance in many different ways.

What Tools Are Used In Surveillance Investigations

Much like the ‘cop shows’ show, a detective will conduct a surveillance investigation by tracking a subject and their movements. This can be done by following the subject in a vehicle that cannot be immediately identified as such or with GPS technology. The most valuable tool in this kind of investigation is a video camera which is used to record evidence.

The private investigators in Boise rely on video recordings as they capture details that may not be readily recognizable in still photos. Plus, video evidence is considered one of the strongest pieces of investigative information in court. Other data is collected through the use of field agents who can conduct interviews with acquaintances of the subject under surveillance.

After Surveillance Information Is Gathered

Once a detective has determined sufficient data and evidence has been collected through the surveillance investigation, a report is prepared. The report will document what findings were uncovered and how they satisfy the purpose of the investigation. This will become the foundation of information used in court testimony.

Contact Custer Agency Today

Private investigators are the professional detectives required to conduct any kind of surveillance. They have not just the technical knowhow, they also have access to tools and use methods that will provide the necessary information for your court case. Detectives are efficient and capable when a surveillance investigation is required for a client.

The private investigators in Boise have a great deal of experience in handling various surveillance investigations. They can also uncover evidence that would not be possible if you were to attempt to track someone yourself. For more information on whether or not a surveillance investigation is needed in your case, contact Custer Agency today.

What is a Fraud Investigation?

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Fraud is far more common than you may realize and the private investigators in Boise have seen their share of these kinds of cases. In simple terms, when someone or something is misrepresented with deception as the prime objective, fraud has been committed. A fine example is if a product or service is advertised as one thing but does not meet the specifications promoted. In other words, the manufacturer is guilty of using fraudulent means to increase business.

A fraud investigation is where evidence is gathered in order to determine whether or not a scam or some kind had taken place. The goal of the private investigators in Boise in this type of investigation is to protect those victimized by the act of fraud. If that evidence supports the fraud claim, then a guilty verdict results in some form of restitution to those who were deceived. Information gathering is conducted in order to prove or disprove the fraud claim.

How Is A Fraud Investigation Conducted?

Following an interview with the claimant where detectives collect the details related to the fraud claim, more evidence it collected. This may come from investigations within the business that has the claim against it or employees involved. This can be done through interviews, background checks and surveillance. Once enough data is collected, the investigators build the case to support the claim.

What Are Different Types of Fraud?

The most common types of fraud the private investigators in Boise deal with are insurance fraud. This occurs when either an individual has made a false claim for insurance benefits or where a legitimate claim is not honored by an insurance company. Financial fraud includes such things as terrorist financing, health care/telemarketing fraud and tax evasion.

Internet fraud is becoming more common with people being taken advantage of on the internet. Usually it involves financial transactions that are fraudulent or theft of personal information. Identity theft is another type of fraud that is becoming more common as is mechanical repair fraud where vehicle owners are deceived over vehicle servicing and pricing.

Other types of fraud come from misrepresenting amounts required for business expense accounts, inventory theft, and corporate fraud where customer information is compromised. There is even transit fraud where staged accidents are created to benefit individuals riding on public transit and ticket fraud where non-existent event tickets are sold.

Contact Custer Agency Today

Have you been the victim of some kind of deception that could be considered fraud? The private investigators in Boise can help you deal with this situation by launching an investigation. To find out how the detectives at Custer Agency can be of service, call their office today for more information on fraud investigations.

Text Message Investigations

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How a Private Investigator in Boise Approaches Text Message Investigations

Text Message Investigations

Private investigators in Boise have found that many smart phone users believe that once a text message is deleted – it is gone forever. The same goes for erasing any other files that were once accessed by the handheld device. As it turns out, none of that data is actually removed. This turns any cell phone into a valuable tool used in different investigations because of the information it continues to have stored deep inside it. However, it takes an expert with the right tools to extract that information.

Why Would You Want To Access These Files?

Typically recovery of this data is essential in several different kinds of private investigations. While accessing cell phone text messages may be a regular source of information during an infidelity investigation, information stored on such a device can be used in other ways as well. A failing in a business partnership or family dispute may require this kind of research. Even alibis during investigations where timelines are being established can be assisted by text message time and date stamp information.

What Can A Detective Uncover From A Cell Phone?

The private investigators in Boise use proprietary computer software to extract data from handheld devices, even if they have been locked or damaged. The kinds of data that can be recovered includes deleted text messages, deleted photos, and deleted video, call logs and even GPS information. All of this can come direct for the internal phone memory. All of this data is kept confidential outside of the framework of the investigation it is being used for and is gathered discreetly in an office setting.

Why Go To A Private Investigator For This Information?

Phone carriers cannot release this kind of information without a court order (in most cases). The guy you bought the phone from may be able to hack into some data but will not be able to pull out the ‘lost’ data. The private investigators in Boise are called on to examine phone data for various reasons and as a result have the correct software to do this legally and efficiently. In fact, the software used by detectives is not shareware or anything you would be able to access online or find available to the public.

Contact Custer Agency Today

The private investigators in Boise are the best at what they do. They have the skills to uncover the evidence required for your court appearance – even from a smart phone. Let the professional detectives at Custer Agency help you by pulling out only the data that is relevant to the investigation. For more information on how they can assist your situation, call Custer Agency today.