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12 SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

6/20/2022

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Today's article is one I wish we never had to discuss, much less write about, but based on the increase in case work we've seen the last several months I just felt like it needed to be written. I'm not sure what's caused the uptick in Domestic Violence (DV) cases recently, and I'm definitely not one who looks to make excuses for any of societies ills. The list of excuses is long and there are plenty of people out here who are more than happy to make excuses for someone's behavior other than they are just a miserable human being who brings nothing to society. Here's a list of what I've seen working DV cases over the past years. If you recognize any of these in your relationship you need to strongly consider exiting the situation. 

1. Controlling Behavior

I've seen this in almost 100% of DV cases I've worked. When one partner in a relationship absolutely controls the other, something's not right. "Where are you going?", "Where have you been?", "Why didn't you answer my call/text?" are not questions that are regularly asked in a healthy relationship. If your partner exhibits controlling behavior it's time to find a way out.

2. Extreme Jealousy 

This goes along with the previously mentioned Controlling Behavior. If your spouse/significant other sees flirting where there is none, affairs when there are none, thinks you're on the prowl when nothing could be further than the truth, it is not healthy. I've often found when that when one partner exhibits extreme jealousy it's usually a sign that they have something going on the side and assume you do as well.

3. Forced Sex

If your partner forces you to have sex whenever you don't want it, you very well could be a victim of Domestic Violence. No partner, and it's usually males, should ever force another to participate in sex when the other partner doesn't want to. This is just another way to control a person and establish dominance. If you've ever been forced to have sex, particularly through physical aggression, you need to get out of this relationship. Give us a call and we can help you gather evidence to be used in any legal proceeding.

4. Verbal Abuse

Does your partner or significant other call you every name in the book with none of them being nice? In another form of controlling behavior, a person who verbally abuses another, especially one who's supposed to be their partner, only does it as a form of control and to make the person on the receiving end feel like they are worthless. I've seen verbal abuse used by cheating spouses to deflect away from their infidelity.

5. History of Battery

When you started to first get serious about the person you're in a relationship with, did you think about having a background investigation done on them? I strongly recommend that any one who is moving forward in a relationship with another person, hire a private investigator to conduct a background investigation on them. We can find out if they have a history of battery, have been named in Restraining Orders, have a history of arrests for domestic violence, etc. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. An individual with a history of abuse/battery is more than likely to continue that abuse in every relationship they enter into. 

6. Relationship Fast Forward

This is one sign we caution clients we work for to be especially weary of. Any time a person tries to fast forward a relationship it should be cause for concern. Fast forwarding a relationship means, in the simplest of terms, wanting to spend every waking moment with a new partner that a person just met, saying "I Love You" much sooner than one would expect, wanting to cohabitate much sooner than is normal, and many other fast forwarding signs. 

7. Isolation

Does one partner try to keep the other from spending time with friends, family or work associates? This is a technique used by abusers to separate their victim from anyone who might offer support or could point out that someone is an abuser. It's been my experience that isolation is a main tool a domestic abuser will use.

8. Cruelty to Animals and/or Kids

This one is a major RED FLAG!!! If you're with someone who is cruel to animals and/or kids, especially if they are yours, grab your stuff and run away as quickly as you can. So many studies have shown that some of the most prolific serial killers showed signs of being cruel to animals and/or kids in their past. If you see or experience this call local law enforcement and report it. If they aren't helping you, and oftentimes they can't until they have proof, call us and we'll help you gather evidence of this to put these POS's in jail!!! Nothing I hate more than someone who's cruel to animals and/or kids.

9. Violent Behavior or Threats of Violence

It should go without saying that violent behavior or threats of violence is one of the 12 indicators of an abusive relationship, but I'll point it out any way. If your spouse/significant other is violent, towards you or anyone else, or constantly levels threats of violence towards you, you're in an abusive relationship.

10. It's Not My Fault

Another trait I've seen over the years in abusive relationships is what I refer to as the "It's Not My Fault" excuse that all abusers fall back on. It's never their fault that they slapped you in the face, punched you in the mouth, pulled your hair, etc. It's always the victim's fault that "caused" the abuser to act out. If you're being blamed for the abuse you're suffering, you need to get out.

11. Hyper Sensitive

Many domestic abusers exhibit signs of hyper sensitivity. The abused partner will end up feeling like they are always walking on eggshells as the abuser has a hair trigger and gets set off by the slightest perceived injustice. 

12. Perfection Complex

Our final sign of an abusive relationship is when the abuser suffers from a perfection complex. Not that they have to be perfect, oh no, you, the abused partner, must be perfect. If you're not living up to the perfection they demand, there's usually a price to be paid. Don't put up with it as you'll never be able to live up to what's expected and there will punishment delved out when perfection isn't achieved.

Hopefully this article well help someone out there who's in an abusive relationship and maybe didn't realize they were. Don't know how to get out of abusive relationship? Contact our firm and we can discuss various ways to gather evidence of the abuse and work with law enforcement to put the abuser where they belong. Under the jail.

Lee Walters
President
EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
Colorado Springs, Colorado
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COLORADO PASSES UPDATED FALSE CLAIMS ACT

6/10/2022

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False Claims Act in Colorado
As a firm that's worked with many whistleblowers and been responsible for developing numerous False Claims Act/Qui tam cases, we were happy to learn that the State of Colorado has finally updated the state's False Claims Act. Prior to this new law being passed, whistleblowers could only file a Qui tam if it involved stated Medicaid funds. It never made sense to us that whistleblowers who knew about other potential False Claims cases, couldn't file in Colorado unless it involved fraudulent use of Medicaid funds and now that's been corrected.

Many of you may be wondering what a False Claims Act/Qui tam case is. It's actually been around since the Civil War and was originally known as the Lincoln Law. During the Civil War President Abraham Lincoln spearheaded a law, which became the False Claims Act, that said anyone who had information that the U.S. Government was being defrauded could bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States. If the government clawed back any amount of monies from the fraudster, the whistleblower, also known as the Relator, would get a percentage of the recovery, normally 15 - 30%. Not a bad deal for doing the right thing and reporting fraud. This law was spurred on by unscrupulous business men selling lame horses and spoiled food to the Union army.

“The False Claims Act is the most successful anti-fraud law protecting taxpayers and preventing corruption in government programs,” said leading whistleblower attorney Stephen M. Kohn of Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto. “Colorado stands to generate billions in revenues by policing fraud in government sponsored programs, both by deterring violations and holding fraudsters accountable. The Colorado lawmakers who have made these improvements possible should be commended.”

The CFCA was cosponsored by Representative Matt Gray, Representative Mike Weissman, and Senator Faith Winter. The law enhances enforcement efforts against individuals and companies who fraudulently use taxpayer dollars. Types of frauds covered by the CFCA include the submission of false or fraudulent claims to state or local governments and the falsification of records material to false claims. The CFCA greatly expands the types of contracting frauds which whistleblowers may bring forth qui tam suits over.

The federal False Claims Act has been described as “the most powerful tool the American people have to protect the government from fraud.” Since the law was modernized in 1986, False Claims Act whistleblowers have allowed the government to recover over $70 billion. Correspondingly, False Claim Act whistleblowers have received over $8 billion.

If you have information of fraudulent activity involving state of Colorado funds, or U.S. funds for that matter, contact us and we can provide advice on what's the best way to handle your case. We have relationships with several top law firms in the country and can work with you to make sure your case is handled by a firm that has the best chance of getting the government to intervene in the case and take it to fruition.

Lee Walters
President
EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
Colorado Springs, Colorado
719.208.4088

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FAKE ART? FBI CRACKS DOWN ON PRETEND ART DEALER

6/9/2022

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Art Crime article and Colorado Springs Private Investigator
As a former member of the FBI's Art Crime Team, I'm always on the lookout for new cases being worked by the team. Recently a Florida gallery owner was arrested on federal charges for peddling fake art pieces, claiming the cheap reproductions were in fact originals by Andy Warhol, Banksy, Roy Lichtenstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat and others, federal prosecutors said.

A complaint filed in South Florida federal court Thursday accused the Palm Beach art dealer Daniel Elie Bouaziz of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering in his alleged scheme to sell forged copies of high-end art.

Bouaziz, a French citizen of Algerian descent, was ordered released on $500,000 bail after an initial hearing Friday. As of Friday he had not yet entered a plea to the charges, according to court records. He's looking at several years of federal prison time, but we'll see what he actually ends up getting. It was my experience that judges didn't see art crime as big of a deal as, say, bank robbery.

Bouaziz sold some of the forged art pieces for hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece, prosecutors said. An FBI criminal affidavit said undercover agents put $22 million down for several of the fake pieces which was a heck of a lot more than anything I've seen spent on an art crime case before. Glad to see there's plenty of money for investigations these days.

Claiming to be an art expert and an official appraiser, Bouaziz appraised the inauthentic artwork he sold to the victims at an increased rate, the FBI affidavit said. In one extreme example, the FBI says Bouaziz bought a Warhol reproduction print for $100 and sold it for $85,000.

He operated two art galleries on Palm Beach's famed Worth Avenue, one of the wealthiest places in the U.S. Con men understand that looking the part is a huge piece of the con if you want it to be successful. Of course he had to lay out funds to open galleries in those high-rent districts, but he knew it was a good investment if he could continue to get away with selling fake pieces of art.

The FBI did not observe a single transaction in his bank accounts in which Bouaziz, or his galleries, purchased high-value artwork, the affidavit says. Bouaziz purchased low-cost reproductions from online auction sites that he then resold to unsuspecting victims, as originals, at drastically increased prices. In an overheated art market there are victims literally lining up to be taken advantage of, all suffering from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).

For example, an original Andy Warhol painting would likely sell for millions of dollars. Bouaziz, according to the FBI, sold one of Warhol's works called Superman, of which there were several versions, for just $25,000.

"I buy about 200 paintings in auction every year and I guarantee my stuff. I mean I am behind my stuff," Bouaziz said in a conversation recorded by the FBI. "I'm not buying things that everybody has. That's why you don't see them in the other galleries."

The affidavit does not say how many people were victimized. Bouaziz will have a plea hearing on June 15 and no trial date has been set as of yet. Many times victims are too embarrassed to come forward so it will be interesting to see if the government ever gets a true accounting of how many fake pieces were sold.

Lee Walters
President
​EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
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The Private Side Of Missing Persons

5/12/2022

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REPRINT FROM THE MAVERICK OBSERVER

Private investigator, R. Lee Walters of Excalibur Private Investigation, is retained by families for his inquiring mind on missing persons. Walters shares his insight on searching for birth parents and siblings with mental illness.

Walters is based in Colorado Springs, but serves the state of Colorado. For Walters, locating the missing is like solving a puzzle, where pieces come from personal effects and/or professional access.

“Families should never pre-determine what is and what is not important. Leave that up to the investigator,” he advises. “If the family has a 10-year-old photograph, I want it.”

Digital Trail of Excalibur Investigation

For birth parents, Walters starts with the death records of the Social Security Administration, to ensure the parent is alive. “Even though SSA is three years behind in death announcements, it’s still a good tool.”

Through the police department, Walters can search the birth parent’s criminal history. When arrested, the person must give an address. The parent may live at a half-way house or live with another person. Sometimes Walters talks to the person at the parent’s last known address. Or he can set an alert in the database by inputting Jane Smith’s name. 

“Databases are scrapping other databases for information. If Smith receives an email on anything, I’ll know about.” With one exception—international databases. What happens abroad, doesn’t always stay abroad. Walters shares this investigative story.

“A young woman did a study abroad program in Germany. When she returned to the U.S., she discovered she was pregnant. When her daughter turned 2-years-old, she wanted the father to know about their daughter,” Walters says. “Without access to a German database, I have to reach out to a German investigator, with my information and the amount they charge. The investigator’s response could take a few hours or a couple days. To subcontract with an overseas P.I. and my services is costly.”

In Colorado Springs, the birth parents he’s found (with a positive outcome) occurred in 50% of his cases. In general investigations, Walters has 33 years of the experience. He is a fan of the ABC crime drama “Big Sky,” and private detective Cassie Dewell. He admits, “The episodes start off with a twist, and my job isn’t as exciting as they make it out to be.”

Like Dewell, Walters is a lead detective and founder of his own investigation business. P.I.’s aren’t shy about verbalizing human injustice or the public sectors that make their jobs hard. When the investigators’ workday ends, they can’t mentally detach themselves from their jobs. Of course, sipping time (a glass of wine for Walters and a beer for fictional Dewell) is one way they decompress. Even while drinking, they ponder the missing face, in a populated place.

Off-the-Grid

Walters says, the mentally ill are most often sought by their siblings. These investigated persons are usually biploar or schizophrenic and  have gone off their medications. They often reside among the homeless population. Living on the streets, their digital trail (email, cellphone, credit usage) stops. The digital information most helpful – medical records – Walters cannot access. “Medical charts have a lot of information in them, but HIPPA creates road blocks.” 

To remove the investigative road blocks, families must know the city the person resides in. Then Walters narrows it down to homeless areas and homeless services. He admits, these cases are hard. On a scale of 1 to 5, Walters rates his success a 3. His findings have shown him a  family reunion is possible. Walters’ offers his investigative services to a local mental health organization, in case families find their loved ones missing.

For families who find themselves in that predicament, Walters says, “ I see the void in my clients’ eyes when their brother/sister is not in their lives. Secondly, I lived in California before moving to Colorado, it’s an injustice to see the homeless with mental illness on the street in a cardboard box. It makes me angry.”

Entering the Homeless Community to Find a Loved One

When searching for the mentally ill in homeless territory, it requires street investigation and conversation. Walters know the homeless don’t trust people. In his approach he sticks to his abilities: “Speaking to people on their level and having the gift to gab. Once they realized I am not attempting to arrest the person, then I am able to show them a picture of the person. Then the person tells me, ‘They stay at this hotel, or reside under this bridge.’ 

Bridging the gap between lost and found can take years. As in the case of a man who privately searched for his twin brother for 7 years, before hiring Walters. He shares this client story.

“Being identical twin’s, various friends and co-workers, would tell him they spotted him in a certain place. But he appeared unshaved, wearing dirty clothes, and puffing on a cigarette. He told each person, ‘If you see me again, let me know.’ Then about his brother. People sighting his twin was the reason he didn’t hire an investigator. In those 7 years, he documented everything, which was of great help to me. Finding his twin brother took me another two years. As I remember them, I still smile like that Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.”

Besides missing persons, Walters other investigative works include financial fraud investigations, background due diligence investigations, surveillance, cheating spouse/infidelity, domestic violence, child custody, and social media/online dating investigations.

The Maverick Observer is an online free-thinking publication interest
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EQUIPMENT REVIEW: ROVE R2-4K Dash Cam

5/4/2022

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Colorado Springs Private Investigator Dash Cam Test
As promised here's our review on the Rove R2-4K Dash Cam that we mentioned in our last posting. This one is a little different than the last test camera as it offers a lot more options with only one difference than the Z-Edge Dash Cam. The Rove R2-4K doesn't have the back view camera while the Z-Edge does. As we mentioned in our last review, for our needs, mainly surveillance, we don't have a great need for the rear camera view so it's not a dealbreaker by any means. Listed on Amazon for $119.99 with 21,146 ratings and a 4.5 star overall average, this system seems to have a lot of fans out there and we've become one of them.

The Rove R2-4K dash cam system has a lot of features that we think make this one a winner:

4K ULTRA HD RECORDING – The Rove R2-4k dash camera can record videos up to a resolution of 2160p. This is much higher than any other camera we looked at online and it shows it the video we captured. It has night vision capabilities that we tested and found the video to be clear and definitely of the quality we could use as evidence. One slight drawback we noticed is when we were directly behind a car at a stop light, our headlights washed out the license plate which made it impossible for the camera to record that information.

BUILT-IN WiFi – The camera system is compatible with the ROVE App which you can use to view and manage dash cam recordings instantly on your iOS and/or Android devices. Using the app, you can download your recorded 4k videos directly to your smart phone and then easily share those with other surveillance units or an attorney wanting regular updates. One issue we noted with the WiFi is that you have to turn it on, via the back of the camera menu button, every time you power the camera up. It would be nice if WiFi On was the default setting on this as we will always use the app which requires the WiFi to be in the On position. 

DASH CAM WITH GPS – The built-in GPS accurately records your driving location and speed and you can view your driving route and tracker on google maps when you download the video to a desktop, which is what we normally do, and are connected to the internet. ROVE provides a downloadable GPS video player that allows the viewer to watch the captured video and follow along with the map that resides next to the viewing screen. GPS coordinates and a date/time stamp, a must when using this for private investigation surveillance, are imprinted on the video. This, and the ROVE logo, are settings in the camera you can turn on or off, depending on your needs. We enabled the GPS coordinates and date/time stamp, but took a pass on the logo.

FEATURES WITH STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY INCLUDED – The Rove R2-4K camera has f1.8 apertures, parking mode, motion detection, 150° A+ wide angle lens, G-sensor, loop cycle recording (1 minute to 10 minutes loops which is programmable), emergency video lock, time-lapse video, slow-mo video, and supports up to 512GB class 10 - U3 speed micro SD card. We tested ours with a 256GB class 10 SD card and it worked flawlessly.

100% USA-CHICAGO BASED CUSTOMER-CENTRIC COMPANY & CUSTOMER CARE – This dash camera is backed by full 1-YEAR WARRANTY and support is available via text or email. The first night we had this we were having an issue getting the Google maps to display and texted off a question to support. We heard back within 20 minutes and it was after 8:30 p.m. here in Colorado. We also tested support by sending an email the next day regarding a firmware update and received our answer within 10 minutes of sending the email. Very fast support that we don't normally see. 

Based on our usage of this camera the day after we received it, it's one we plan on keeping and will order more as needed. Set up straight from the box is very easy and there's an excellent user manual included that addresses any issue you can thank of. We'll be giving this one 4.5 stars on Amazon and would upgrade that to 5 stars if the WiFi setting was defaulted to always On upon power up. Maybe the company will read this and make that a change in their next firmware upgrade.

Lee Walters
EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
Colorado Springs, Colorado

EXCALIBUR Private Investigation is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program and may earn a small commission on products sold through links in this article.
All automobiles or other captured images were in the public domain and were not subject of any investigation being conducted by EXCALIBUR Private Investigation. This video captured only to show the capabilities of the ROVE R2-4K Dash Cam system.
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All automobiles or other captured images were in the public domain and were not subject of any investigation being conducted by EXCALIBUR Private Investigation. This photo captured only to show the capabilities of the ROVE R2-4K Dash Cam system.
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EQUIPMENT REVIEW: Z-EDGE DASH CAM

4/28/2022

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Colorado Springs Private Investigator Dash Cam
Two things everyone wants to know at a dinner party once they find out you're a professional private investigator. One, what kind of cases do we work, with most assuming we're following cheating spouses. Yes, that's part of what we do but a small part. And, two, what kind of equipment do we use? Without giving away all our trade secrets, I'd like to review one piece of equipment today we recently considered adding to our arsenal to replace some outdated equipment we have been using. The Z-Edge WiFi Dash Cam with front and rear cameras, night vision, parking mode, and loop recording. 

When we first started looking for new dash cams for our surveillance vehicles, we looked at several private investigator equipment sites and, as we often do, ended up right back on Amazon. With a listed price of $99.99 we were a little bit skeptical as to how good this camera could be. With over 1,159 reviews and an overall 4.5 star rating, as well as a free return policy, we figured we'd take a chance and if it was a piece of crap just send it back. We've had the first trial camera for a week and have used it on two cases so far with some success.

With full HD, 1080p @30FPS resolution, the video we've captured is of the quality that we could use it as evidence. License plates and people are clearly picked up and identifiable which is crucial in the investigation business. Not only does this camera take continuous video, but say you're sitting at a light behind a target and just want to capture the license plate in a photo that you can then quickly attach to an email to other surveillance units or the office so the plate can be run if you're in the middle of a mobile operation and can't run it yourself. This is easily accomplished by pushing a button on the back of the camera which takes the photo and then goes right back to capturing video. Another benefit of this system is the smartphone app you can download from the Apple or Google app stores. It allows you to connect to the camera via WiFi and monitor what the camera is capturing. We tend to camouflage the placement of our dash cams so they appear like they are part of the rearview mirror and when doing so the back of the camera viewfinder is covered up. By connecting to the smartphone app we can see exactly what the camera is picking up, as well as capture still photos from the app with a press of the button accessible on the app. 

Set up out of the box is very simple and straightforward and the Z-Edge Dash Cam comes with an easily understandable instruction manual. We were up and running within 10 minutes of receiving it from Amazon. 

A few items to note that may be an issue to some users and one issue which was a dealbreaker to us as professional investigators. The dash cam takes video in 5 minute increments and saves them to an onboard SD card. We sprung for the 256GB card which, purportedly, will hold up to 40 hours of video. We don't see the 5 minute videos as an issue as we easily stitched them together in the video software program we use. Video can be recorded with, or without, audio and a date/time stamp can be saved to the video as well which is a must for evidentiary purposes. Just be sure to set the camera to display the date/time stamp instead of the Z-Edge logo which is the default. We noticed that the setting reverted back to the logo display after the first use, but seems to have stayed on the date/time stamp mode since. The camera does start recording the minute you plug in to your vehicle's power supply. This can be a little annoying, but we just delete those video files or don't plug in until we're actually ready to start recording. One major issue that we discovered, which caused our review to go from 5 stars to 3 stars, as well as prompted our return of the camera, is the lack of a working map on the app. Reading the reviews in the app store this has been an issue for quite some time, yet the company hasn't fixed it. For our purposes a recorded map is crucial for evidentiary purposes. If you don't have a need for a recorded map, this dash cam system works fine in all other aspects of operation. 

The camera, as delivered, comes with the front camera with mounting suction cup, which works extremely well and allows for a stable recording, the rear view camera, a 12 ft. charging cable, a 26 ft. cable to connect to the rear camera, a 4 ft. data cable, a dual charger so you can plug the USB cable into your cigarette lighter power port, cable clips, and a cable tool so that you can hide the cables if you're mounting the system permanently. We don't have a need to use this every day so we passed on hiding the cable, and we haven't found a need to use the rear camera on surveillances so far.

I can recommend the Z-Edge WiFi Dash Cam for every day use, but until the map issue is fixed with their app, I can't recommend it for use by a professional investigator and, for that reason, can only give this one a 3-star review on Amazon. Please leave a comment if you have any questions and we'll respond asap.

Lee Walters
President
EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
​Colorado Springs, Colorado

P.S. We'll be reviewing the Rove R2-4K Dash Cam Built in WiFi GPS Car Dashboard Camera Recorder with UHD 2160P, 2.4" LCD, 150° Wide Angle, WDR, Night Vision next week once we have it in hand. It's a front camera system only, but for our purposes that's all we really need for surveillance.

EXCALIBUR Private Investigation is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program and may earn a small commission on products sold through links in this article.
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Single Image captured by the Z-Edge
All automobiles or other captured images were in the public domain and were not subject of any investigation being conducted by EXCALIBUR - Private Investigation. This photo captured only to show the capabilities of the Z-Edge WiFi Dash Cam.
Mobile video captured by the Z-Edge
All automobiles or other captured images were in the public domain and were not subject of any investigation being conducted by EXCALIBUR - Private Investigation. This video captured only to show the capabilities of the Z-Edge WiFi Dash Cam.
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Oh No, Not A Fake QR Code!! Be On The Lookout

4/25/2022

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This story recently released by the FBI and ABC7 News in Chicago caught our attention and we thought we'd pass it on so everyone can be on the lookout for it:
 
"QR codes are everywhere. You can quickly scan them with your phone to read a restaurant menu, get a new app, or go to a website. But there are QR con artists using the new tech to get your banking information or hold your smartphone hostage.

"They can get into every account you have if they have enough time," says FBI Special Agent Siobhan Johnson. 

The FBI issued a QR code warning that says criminals are putting stickers of fake QR codes over the real ones on restaurant tables or flyers. They're also sending them out via email claiming to offer deals or promotions.

"You might find this malicious QR code on a menu or on a flyer someone's put out for people to see," Johnson explained. "And once you use that QR code, it takes you to a malicious website that's been designed to mirror a real one."

That first QR code scam leads you to fake websites which phish for your personal and financial information. Some sites can be made to look like your bank or phony parking payment platforms.

"One of two things could happen - one is, you're just sending scammers your parking meter money, which that's actually the best case scenario," warns Mashable Technology Journalist Matt Binder. "The worst-case scenario is when you input your information to pay, and you're not actually paying, you're just sending over your credit card information or banking account information to the scammers."

The FBI says a second QR code scam can lead you to websites which can then download malicious malware to obtain information on your phone. That malware can also allow scammers to hold your device hostage and demand payment. If this happens, you should report it to the FBI and never pay the ransom.

"If your phone downloads that malware, you're at the mercy of the scammers, they could hold your information for ransom. Or they could just shut your phone down. They could steal photographs that are on that phone. You have a lot of vulnerabilities, our cell phones our lives right now," Binder said.

So what can you do to spot QR con? First, don't open codes sent from strangers.

"Treat QR codes like you treat suspicious phishing emails, or text messages from people you don't know," advises Binder.

Even if your friend sends you a QR code, confirm that it was really them sending it. If it's an e-mail with a code from a business, call the company or go to their website. And after you scan, inspect the web address before you click.

"Just double check the URL and where it's going to send you," Binder added. "If you don't know who they are, I would definitely not click it."

If printed out, look for any signs of the QR code being tampered with, or keep an eye out for a sticker over it.

"There have absolutely been reports of people being victimized with bad QR codes," Johnson said. "And the key thing here is that it doesn't have to happen."

The FBI also says to beware of phony QR code apps claiming to help read QR codes as they can also be a scam. If you download them before researching, they can be gateways for criminals to access your phone and information."

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HELP. SOMEONE STOLE MY IDENTITY!!!

4/12/2022

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Identity theft in Colorado
From 2018 - 2020 there were 1.66 million cases of identity fraud reported to authorities. Who knows how many went unreported because the victim was too ashamed or embarrassed to admit they had been a victim of identity fraud. What can the average person do to keep their identities from being stolen? Here's a couple of ideas that we recommend to clients as well as friends and family:
  • Initiate a freeze on your credit. It's very easy to do and makes it much more of a challenge for a cybercriminal to steal your identity. Each of the three main credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion have information on their main website page that explains how you can place a freeze on your credit. Make sure to place a freeze on your kid's accounts as well as cybercriminals know those accounts are very rarely reviewed by the owners or their parents.

  • Place fraud alerts on your credit accounts. Anyone can place a fraud alert with the three aforementioned credit bureaus. You only have to place the alert with one of the three and then that credit bureau will instruct the other two to do the same. This will require a business to verify your identity before opening a new line of credit in your name.

  • Enroll in two-factor authentication. We know this can be a pain, but it's something you should enable on all your accounts when it's presented as an option. With this option, you'll have to enter your credentials and then follow up with a code, usually, that's texted or emailed to your known telephone number or email address. 

  • Review your accounts closely. Even with all of the above in place, you should monitor your credit reports and account statements closely. Don't just throw those unopened statements in a drawer thinking everything is fine and be sure to review your credit reports at least once a year, I recommend quarterly, to make sure nothing is amiss.

With a little precaution you can help ensure that you don't become a victim of identity theft. If you feel like you may have become a victim of identify theft, please give one of our Colorado-based private investigators a call for a free, no-obligation consultation. 

Lee Walters
President
​EXCALIBUR - Private Investigation
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WHEN YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE BLING!

3/26/2022

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HP victim of embezzlement Colorado Springs Private Investigation
I often point out, in writings and speeches, that small businesses really need to be on the lookout for employee theft and/or embezzlement. A recent case proves that large companies can also be victims as well. A former Hewlett-Packard executive pled guilty Wednesday to stealing nearly $5 million from the tech giant. She admitted to using company credit cards to buy luxury cars, designer bags and expensive jewelry.

Shelbee Szeto pled guilty to wire fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns, and admitted in court that she used her position as an executive assistant and finance planning manager to defraud HP out of $4.8 million. Szeto was accused of using commercial credit cards to wire money to herself through various Square, Paypal and Stripe accounts.

As part of her position at HP, she was issued a variety of credit cards for business expenses and allegedly used an American Express card to transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars to false merchant accounts that she alone controlled. 

Some of the items she ended up forfeiting in her plea deal include things such as a 2020 Tesla, a 2021 Porsche, Dior, Gucci, Hermes and Chanel bags and purses, and almost 100 pieces of assorted jewelry. 

A bank employee with First Republic Bank actually questioned her about the source of all her stolen funds which she falsely represented to that employee that it was legitimate business income from her work as a "consultant". 

The subject is scheduled for sentencing on July 20 of this year.

I constantly caution our clients that they need to always be vigilant when it comes to who in their companies/organizations have financial control in whatever form that takes. We're happy to answer any questions any Colorado company, or from any state for that matter, may have about safeguards to put in place so you don't become a victim of employee/theft embezzlement. Our Colorado Springs-based private investigators cover the state of Colorado and are happy to discuss any potential case you may have.

Lee Walters
President
​EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
​Serving all of Colorado and beyond
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PART VI: REAL ESTATE SCAMS

3/11/2022

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Real estate scams investigated by Colorado Springs private investigator
In our newest post on scams, some sobering statistics from the FBI in regards to real estate fraud:

Total financial loss in 2020: $213,196,082

Total United States victims in 2020: 13,638

Yes, you're reading those numbers right. Over $213 million lost to real estate scams in 2020 alone with over 13,500 victims. What type of real estate scams are the most prevalent? 

Loan flipping: it's a predatory practice that happens when a lender
convinces a homeowner to repeatedly refinance their mortgage, accruing high
fees and points with each refinance.

Escrow wire fraud:  where scammers, many times in other countries, infiltrate a legitimate real estate transaction and cause monies to be wired to accounts they control as if they are the closing company when, in fact, they aren't. Victims have reported that everything looks real, has the right names, numbers, addresses, etc, yet the account number for the wire transfer has been changed. Most victims never receive the lost funds back so this is one everyone should be aware of.
Escrow wire fraud investigated by private investigators in Colorado Springs, Colorado

SerRental scams: in this scam the conman places a rental listing on various real estate rental websites and takes a deposit for either a vacation or long-term rental for housing. There's been many cases where the renter shows up thinking they have this nice place to stay, only to learn that the occupants/owners have no idea what they are talking about. 

Moving scams: moving scams are also classified as real estate scams and they take many forms. We've seen so-called moving companies hold a truckload of household goods hostage for additional payments over and above what their "estimate" was. Make sure you use a well-known, stable company with a track record whenever moving from point A to B, even if it may cost you a little more than the ad on Craiglist you saw.

Homebuyers and real estate agents should be especially diligent. Keep
personal information secure, use licensed lenders and realtors for all
transactions, never pay upfront fees for home services, and educate yourself
on how to spot a scam. Be aware of anyone pressuring you to make quick
decisions, and be wary of improper documentation and requests for wire
transfers of large sums of money.

Never resist the temptation to not follow up when you have a funny feeling about something or when any large sums of money are involved. Check and double-check and get on the phone to verify everything or, better yet, go in person to make sure you don't become the victim of one of these real estate scams.

Lee Walters
EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
​719.208.4088
​Serving all of Colorado and beyond
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