Deadbeat dad fakes own death to avoid paying child support

From last year, here is a great story about a Deadbeat Dad who faked his own death to avoid paying child support:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10924038/

The Art of Surveillance - Part 1

I would not advise a lay person to conduct a surveillance. One should use a licensed, bonded and well insured private detective for the job. In some states, a private individual might be arrested for stalking if they started to follow any person.

Frankly, as a licensed private detective it breaks me up to watch Private Eye type shows on TV. Their idea on how one is followed is so "out of whack" that the investigator would get “whacked” in real life. Following people is a nerve racking and dangerous business.

The first problem is that one has to be parked someplace near the “tail” to begin. And that is usually in front of a person’s house. So that person sees a vehicle at their home for what 5 hours, a day, a week…

Now we usually know whom we are following but do not know the background of the neighbor(s). Could they be drug dealers? A person who is just plain paranoid? A home where “gray market” goods are delivered and re-distributed? Many possibilities arise. It is possible that a neighbor will spot the tail parked in front of their home. Some come out with inquisitive questions. Others with baseball bats and or guns. None have good intentions in mind of the private detective. This is just one scene that makes investigation a dangerous business.

Forgetting the above, I will get back to that. But lets us begin the actual surveillance. First do not have a clean car. Do not let your car be detailed and look spiffy. That attracts attention and this is not what you want. Blending in is the nature of the game.

If the surveillance begins in the morning or late afternoon try and pick a parking spot with the sun at your back. That means if a person is down the street and looks toward you they are looking into the sun. Do not leave candy wrappers, cigarettes, cigars on the dash board. Anything that reflects the sun, such as the silver lining on a candy wrapper directs attention to your car. Do not throw discarded cigarettes or gum wrappers on the street. This will irritate those living there.

Park so that you can maneuver your vehicle out of the space with one swing of the wheel. More than two swings will take too long and the subject will get always get away.

Lay down in your car below the dash level. Adjust one outside mirror so that when you are in that position you can see behind you. When the subject leaves, you duck down as he is coming toward you. Now you have a view of which way he is going at the end of the street.

A neighbor may come up and ask what the hell you are doing there. There are a myriad of responses. The first is do not misrepresent yourself as an employee of an actual company, as someone with the state or federal government or someone in law enforcement (redundant, I know, but you get the point).

Option #1: You are on a survey for a company wanting to build a hardware store in the area and idea is to get a feel for the local residents.

Option #2: You are there to repossess a car (although this might anger some people).

Option #3: You are on a traffic count survey.

Legitimate private detectives check in with the local police prior to the surveillance giving their name, company name, make and registration of vehicle and general area where they will park. Most police when called about the stranger (you) will not reveal your true identity. Most state laws prohibit the PI from divulging to the police the real nature of their case including names and or clients.

The really intereesting part stars when the subject leaves…

Check back soon for the next installment of this series!

809 Area Code Phone Scam

Area code scams are nothing new. Here is the latest as detailed on the FCC web site:

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/809.html