electronic information sources for fraud investigators

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Electronic Information Electronic Information Resources for Fraud Resources for Fraud

ExaminersExaminers

Presented to the

Spokane Chapter

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

2008 Annual Fraud Conference

Jim Cronin, CFESeattle Insurance and Legal Investigations

11/15/20091

2008 Annual Fraud Conference

November 14, 2009

By

Jim Cronin, CFE, MPA

Seattle Insurance and Legal Investigations

Objective:

Provide attendees of all experience levels useful knowledge of public and proprietary information sources that will assist

th i d ti f d


them in conducting fraud investigations

Housekeeping• All handouts (and more) are on my

SkyDrive• My business cards are available up front.• Send me an email!!

• I will respond with link to the Skydrive

• Call me with questions – I’m always happy


to help.• If you see something interesting … Call or

email me!

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OverviewOverview• Legal & Ethical

Considerations• What

information is available?

• Public vs

• Uses of Information in Fraud Investigation

• Sources of Information


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• Public vs. Proprietary Sources

• Investigative Tools

• Search Techniques

• Questions and Discussion

Legal & Ethical ConsiderationsLegal & Ethical Considerations

• FCRA• GLB• DPPA• Privacy Act• NCIC Information

Invasion of Privacy


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• Invasion of Privacy• Public Disclosure

Laws• FOIA• State Laws

Ethical ConsiderationsEthical Considerations• Professional Responsibilities as CFE’s• Advances in Law vs. Technology• Future Trends


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GLB Permissible Purposes


DPPA Permissible Purposes


Uses of Information in Fraud Uses of Information in Fraud InvestigationsInvestigations

• Confirming Identities• Alias identification• Locating People• Address Histories• Reveal Business

Affiliations• Criminal Histories

• Background Investigations

• Asset & Encumbrance Investigations

• Expert Witness Location & Evaluation


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• Litigation Histories• Financial Profiles• Claims Histories

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Alias IdentificationAlias IdentificationIf you’re not who you say you are, everything else is


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MOOT!

Address HistoriesAddress HistoriesYou need to know

what addresses your subject has used in order to know where to look for records.


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Address Histories cont’d…Address Histories cont’d…• Remember…..

Nobody lives in a Post Office Box!

• Everybody has a physical location.

• Most of us have physical addresses!


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physical addresses!

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Financial ProfilesFinancial Profiles


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For SubrogationFor Subrogationand Debt Recovery/and Debt Recovery/

Judgment EnforcementJudgment Enforcement


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Background ChecksBackground Checks


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Criminal Histories may reveal: Criminal Histories may reveal:

• Additional aliases

• Relevant moral turpitude issues


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Witness LocatesWitness Locates


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Medical HistoriesMedical Histories


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PrePre--Existing Injuries? Existing Injuries?


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Litigation HistoriesLitigation Histories


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Uses of Litigation Histories:Uses of Litigation Histories:

• Confirm identities

• Identify aliases• Address

History

• Persons knowledgeable of subject

• Prior injuries• Many

personal


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• Financial Profile

• Character & credibility

• Earnings Potential

• Assets

personal injury suits are not found in the ISO claims database

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Investigative ToolsInvestigative Tools

•Publications•Hardware•SoftwareW b Sit


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•Web Sites

BRBPUB.COMBRBPUB.COM


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Adobe Acrobat Professional


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Adobe Acrobat ProfessionalAdobe Acrobat Professional• Ability to scan large quantities of documents to a single file

• Can print from any program to PDF file

• Can combine multiple PDF’s to single file.

• Automatic Bates Stamping


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Automatic Bates Stamping• OCR large documents• Allows for text searching• Text highlighting, add note features • Redaction• Stamps

Fujitsu ScanSnapFujitsu ScanSnap


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• $475• Includes Adobe Acrobat Standard Edition• B&W and Color• One or Two Sided Scanning• One Button Scanning• Scans to PDF Only• Automatic deskew• 15 pages per minute

Dymo LabelwriterDymo Labelwriter• Fast• Great for

single labels• Autoformats

text


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Complex Loss AnalysisComplex Loss Analysis


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CaseMapCaseMap

•CaseSoft• Integrated Suite

•Casemap•TimeMap

• Text Searching• Produces

reports• Multi-User

Capable


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• Can handle million page files

• Sorting by date/source

• Filtering

• Export to TimeMap

• Links to individual documents

CaseMap CaseMap Facts ScreenFacts Screen


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• Date & Time• Fact Text

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CaseMap CaseMap Facts ScreenFacts Screen


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Time MapTime Map• User friendly• Stand Alone or Export from

CaseMap• Unlimited Number of Events• Customizeable


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Time MapTime Map• TimeLine Generator• Stand-Alone or integrated with CaseMap• Horizontal or Vertical Timelines• Specific Dates or Date Ranges• Great for spotting inconsistencies in

testimony and document trails


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testimony and document trails• Simple and intuitive

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Handout – Theft Timeline


ABC Flowcharter


Flow ChartingFlow Charting• Shows relationships between:

• People• Events• Places

• Key Features:• Flexible


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• Graphic – Easy for Reader to Quickly Understand Complex Relationships

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Microsoft Streets & TripsMicrosoft Streets & Trips


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Microsoft Streets & TripsMicrosoft Streets & TripsCont’dCont’d

• GPS Compatible• Map out field work in

office• Save to memory stick• Open file in vehicle• Prepare Route, using

GPS


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• Use for billing travel time and distance

• Predictible• Always in client favor• Verifiable

• Great time & Stress Saver!

Dictation EquipmentDictation Equipment• Differs from simple

recorders• Ability to rewind, play,

record with one hand• Allows capturing

complex thoughts while they’re fresh in your mind


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• Great for Brainstorming

• Requires Playback equipment/software

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Individual Information Individual Information FormForm


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Leveraging InformationLeveraging Information• Every data source is a tool in our toolbox.• Leverage that information into additional

informatiion• Accurint + Criminal Filing Database =

Identity Confirmation


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Leveraging Information

• Data searching is a lot like rock climbing.• Often cannot go directly from point “A” to “B”• Often necessary to move laterally first


•Start with a “toehold”

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Planning the InvestigationPlanning the Investigation

Consider the issues which needto be addressed, what informationis already known, and the toolsavailable to find needed info.


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Each “tool” in our toolbox is different. Know what tools areavailable, how to use them, andwhich ones to use when.

“Logic Path”“Logic Path”• What do I know about this

case?• What do I suspect? • What issue(s) am I trying to

resolve?


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resolve?• What information would help

resolve the issue(s) in question?

• Where can I get this information?

Favorite Search TechniquesFavorite Search Techniques• Leveraging Information• Cross-referencing• Outlining Cases• Timelines• Flow Charting

Shotgun Searches


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• Shotgun Searches• Text String Searches in large PDF files

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“Shotgun Searching” “Shotgun Searching” • Methods:

• By telephone• By mail• By Posted Sign

• Characteristics:• Labor Intensive


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• Hit and Miss• Must be Focused

• Can be very effective

“Shotgun Searching”“Shotgun Searching”by telephoneby telephone

• Run searches by:• Name• Address Range• Other Limiters

• Download results to Excel Spreadsheet in Accurint


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• Autoformat• Hide unneeded columns• Insert Column for annotating contact

attempts made• Export to Word, insert in Report of

Investigation

CrossCross--ReferencingReferencing• Cross-Referencing is the Key to

Successful Fraud Investigation!• Tools:

• Search Matrixes• Timelines• Spreadsheets

S i li d S ft


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• Specialized Software• Text String Searches within large PDF

documents

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Matrix Forms


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Nationwide Proprietary Nationwide Proprietary Online SourcesOnline Sources

• Accurint/IRB• Merlin• OpenOnline• CourtLink

• NewsBank• Proquest• iOffice• LocatePlus


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• CourtTrax

Search Engines

• Google• Cheat Sheet – Handout• Google Alerts• Google News Archive

• Wayback Machine• Yahoo Site Explorer


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Nationwide Public Nationwide Public Online Data SourcesOnline Data Sources

• PACER• EDGAR


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Regional Proprietary Regional Proprietary Database SourcesDatabase Sources

• DCS – Texas• OpenOnline –

• Washington• Oregon• Ohio

• Motznik – Alaska• Merlin – California

• Court Trax• Washington• Oregon• Alaska • Utah• Arizona• Virginia


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• Courtlink –• Washington• Oregon• New York• Ohio• Federal Courts

• Clark County Nevada• Hawaii• New Mexico• Federal Courts

Nationwide

Statewide WashingtonPublic Databases

• JIS/SCOMIS• WA Courts – Free site

• WA DOL – IVIPS• WA DOL –

Professional Licensing• WA Department of

Revenue

• WA UCC Filings • WA Charities• Domestic Partnerships• Medical Provider

Lookup• Contractor Licensing• Insurance Licensing


• WA Secretary of State-Corporations

• WA State Digital Archives

• WSP Watch

g• CPA Licensing• Hunting & Fishing

Licenses• Inmate Locator

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Washington Statewide Non-Government Databases

• Washington State Bar Association

• Washington Voters• Sound Politics


Washington County Public Databases

• Recorder• Assessor• Jail Register• Employee Directory

• Nationwide link to all county governments


Washington City Databases• Seattle Business Licenses• Seattle Fire Dispatches• Seattle Municipal Courts


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Social Networking Sites• ZoomInfo• MySpace• LinkedIn• Classmates.com• Reunion.com


Communications Sources• Phone Disk• ReadNotify• Slydial - (267) 759-3425• SkipTracy


SkipTracy.ComSkipTracy.Com


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• Opening Screen• Calling Cards:

• Captures numbers on both ends of call• Sends email• Sent with “glossy” promo letterr• Rechargeable/Variable Minutes

• Outbound Calls with Altered Caller Identification

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Online DemosOnline Demos


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Questions & Questions & DiscussionDiscussion


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Jim Cronin, CFE

Seattle Insurance & Legal

Investigations


11/15/200963

(206) 992-1555

[email protected]