"The Invisible Shield: How Faraday Bags Empower Private Investigators to Safeguard Evidence"6/12/2023 The investigators of EXCALIBUR Private Investigation are often called on to gather and take into custody a variety of electronic evidence during an investigation. Knowing how to handle such evidence is crucial and the use of a Faraday bag is a must. Read on to learn how our professional private investigators handle electronic evidence.
A Faraday bag, also known as a Faraday cage or Faraday shield, is a specialized device designed to block electromagnetic fields. It is named after the renowned scientist Michael Faraday, who discovered the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. A Faraday bag provides protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can be caused by various sources such as cell phones, RFID scanners, GPS trackers, and other electronic devices. The primary purpose of a Faraday bag is to shield sensitive electronic devices from external electromagnetic signals. These signals can potentially interfere with the operation of the devices or compromise their security. Faraday bags are commonly used in a variety of contexts, including law enforcement, cybersecurity, personal privacy, and information security. The design of a Faraday bag is based on the principles of electromagnetism. It consists of a conductive material, typically a metal mesh or foil, that forms a continuous barrier around the contents of the bag. This conductive layer acts as a shield, preventing electromagnetic waves from passing through and reaching the devices inside. When a device is placed inside a Faraday bag and the bag is sealed, it effectively creates a "closed box" where electromagnetic signals cannot penetrate. One of the main applications of Faraday bags is in the field of digital forensics. Law enforcement agencies, private investigators and cybersecurity professionals use Faraday bags to securely store and transport electronic devices that may contain valuable evidence or sensitive data. By placing devices such as smartphones, laptops, or tablets inside a Faraday bag, investigators can ensure that the devices remain isolated from external signals, preventing remote access, data theft, or tampering. This is particularly crucial during investigations involving confiscated devices or digital evidence. In addition to private investigators, Faraday bags have gained popularity among individuals concerned about their privacy and data security. With the proliferation of wireless technologies and the increasing reliance on electronic devices, it has become easier for malicious actors to track, monitor, or hack into personal devices. Faraday bags offer a practical solution for protecting sensitive information, such as credit card data, personal identification numbers (PINs), or location data, from being intercepted or exploited. Faraday bags also play a role in mitigating the risks associated with electromagnetic pulse (EMP) events. EMPs can be caused by natural phenomena, such as solar flares, or by human-made devices, like nuclear weapons. These powerful bursts of electromagnetic energy can potentially damage or disrupt electronic systems, including communication networks, power grids, and electronic devices. By storing critical electronic equipment in Faraday bags, organizations can minimize the risk of EMP-induced damage and ensure the availability of essential services during and after such events. It's worth noting that while Faraday bags provide an effective shield against external electromagnetic signals, they also block outgoing signals. This means that devices placed inside a Faraday bag will not be able to send or receive wireless communications, including calls, messages, or internet connectivity. As a result, Faraday bags are typically used for temporary isolation or secure storage purposes and not for continuous device usage. In conclusion, a Faraday bag is a specialized enclosure designed to block electromagnetic fields and protect electronic devices from external interference or unauthorized access. It offers a practical solution for safeguarding sensitive data, ensuring privacy, and mitigating the risks associated with electromagnetic events. As technology continues to advance and our reliance on electronic devices grows, the importance of Faraday bags in maintaining information security and personal privacy is likely to increase. If you're working with a private investigator who can't tell you what a Faraday bag is, and does, you need to find a new investigator. The professional private investigators of EXCALIBUR Private Investigation regularly use Faraday bags so that evidence can't be remotely erased or destroyed. If you think your case has technology that needs to be preserved. call us today, fill out our contact form or contact us via the Chat Box to speak to one of our investigators. Don't let a lack of experience, we have over 30+ years, cause your case to be lost due to technological evidence that should have been preserved. Lee Walters President - Lead Investigator 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. Senior citizens, unfortunately, are the most targeted segment of society by criminals/fraudsters. During my 24+ years in federal law enforcement, I had many cases where senior citizens contacted us with information regarding this scam or that one. Unfortunately, often by the time I got involved their money or property was long gone along with the criminal who fleeced them. Not only do the dregs of society target senior’s wallets, but they also target their homes. Grandma & grandpa have a high rate of fear of being victimized, and rightfully so, and can easily fall into isolating themselves as a means of protection.
Why are seniors more vulnerable to being taken advantage of? There are many reasons including the fact that many of them live in isolated conditions and may not get the kind of communication with others that they can run things by. Senior citizens also have, naturally, a decline in their cognitive and physical abilities to varying degrees and may not know about the latest technological advancements, such as residential security systems which could make them safer and less prone to being taken advantage of. The FBI lists the following schemes that senior citizens should be aware of: Health Care Fraud or Health Insurance Fraud Medical Equipment Fraud Equipment manufacturers offer “free” products to individuals. Insurers are then charged for products that were not needed and/or may not have been delivered. “Rolling Lab” Schemes Unnecessary and sometimes fake tests are given to individuals at health clubs, retirement homes, or shopping malls and billed to insurance companies or Medicare. Services Not Performed Customers or providers bill insurers for services never rendered by changing bills or submitting fake ones. Medicare Fraud Medicare fraud can take the form of any of the health insurance frauds described above. Senior citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers and distributors who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers. Because a physician has to sign a form certifying that equipment or testing is needed before Medicare pays for it, con artists fake signatures or bribe corrupt doctors to sign the forms. Once a signature is in place, the manufacturers bill Medicare for merchandise or service that was not needed or was not ordered. Tips for Avoiding Health Care Fraud or Health Insurance Fraud: • Never sign blank insurance claim forms. • Never give blanket authorization to a medical provider to bill for services rendered. • Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket. • Carefully review your insurer’s explanation of the benefits statement. Call your insurer and provider if you have questions. • Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free. • Give your insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services. • Keep accurate records of all health care appointments. • Know if your physician ordered equipment for you Counterfeit Prescription Drugs Tips for Avoiding Counterfeit Prescription Drugs: • Be mindful of appearance. Closely examine the packaging and lot numbers of prescription drugs and be alert to any changes from one prescription to the next. • Consult your pharmacist or physician if your prescription drug looks suspicious. • Alert your pharmacist and physician immediately if your medication causes adverse side effects or if your condition does not improve. • Use caution when purchasing drugs on the Internet. Do not purchase medications from unlicensed online distributors or those who sell medications without a prescription. Reputable online pharmacies will have a seal of approval called the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS), provided by the Association of Boards of Pharmacy in the United States. • Be aware that product promotions or cost reductions and other “special deals” may be associated with counterfeit product promotion. Funeral and Cemetery Fraud Tips for Avoiding Funeral and Cemetery Fraud: ▪ Be an informed consumer. Take time to call and shop around before making a purchase. Take a friend with you who may offer some perspective to help make difficult decisions. Funeral homes are required to provide detailed general price lists over the telephone or in writing. ▪ Educate yourself fully about caskets before you buy one, and understand that caskets are not required for direct cremations. ▪ Understand the difference between funeral home basic fees for professional services and any fees for additional services. ▪ Know that embalming rules are governed by state law and that embalming is not legally required for direct cremations. ▪ Carefully read all contracts and purchasing agreements before signing and make certain that all of your requirements have been put in writing. ▪ Make sure you understand all contract cancellation and refund terms, as well as your portability options for transferring your contract to other funeral homes. ▪ Before you consider prepaying, make sure you are well informed. When you do make a plan for yourself, share your specific wishes with those close to you. ▪ As a general rule governing all of your interactions as a consumer, do not allow yourself to be pressured into making purchases, signing contracts, or committing funds. These decisions are yours and yours alone. Fraudulent “Anti-Aging” Products Tips for Avoiding Fraudulent “Anti-Aging” Products: ▪ If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for “Secret Formulas” or “Breakthroughs.” ▪ Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the product. Find out exactly what it should and should not do for you. ▪ Research a product thoroughly before buying it. Call the Better Business Bureau to find out if other people have complained about the product. ▪ Be wary of products that claim to cure a wide variety of illnesses—particularly serious ones—that don’t appear to be related. ▪ Be aware that testimonials and/or celebrity endorsements are often misleading. ▪ Be very careful of products that are marketed as having no side effects. ▪ Question products that are advertised as making visits to a physician unnecessary. ▪ Always consult your doctor before taking any dietary or nutritional supplement. Telemarketing Fraud If you are age 60 or older—and especially if you are an older woman living alone—you may be a special target of people who sell bogus products and services by telephone. Telemarketing scams often involve offers of free prizes, low-cost vitamins and health care products, and inexpensive vacations. There are warning signs to these scams. If you hear these—or similar—“lines” from a telephone salesperson, just say “no thank you,” and hang up the telephone: ▪ “You must act now, or the offer won’t be good.” ▪ “You’ve won a free gift, vacation, or prize.” But you have to pay for “postage and handling” or other charges. ▪ “You must send money, give a credit card or bank account number, or have a check picked up by courier.” You may hear this before you have had a chance to consider the offer carefully. ▪ “You don’t need to check out the company with anyone.” The callers say you do not need to speak to anyone, including your family, lawyer, accountant, local Better Business Bureau, or consumer protection agency. ▪ “You don’t need any written information about the company or its references.” ▪ “You can’t afford to miss this high-profit, no-risk offer.” Tips for Avoiding Telemarketing Fraud: It’s very difficult to get your money back if you’ve been cheated over the telephone. Before you buy anything by telephone, remember: ▪ Don’t buy from an unfamiliar company. Legitimate businesses understand that you want more information about their company and are happy to comply. ▪ Always ask for and wait until you receive written material about any offer or charity. If you get brochures about costly investments, ask someone whose financial advice you trust to review them. But, unfortunately, beware—not everything written down is true. ▪ Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups. Unfortunately, not all bad businesses can be identified through these organizations. ▪ Obtain a salesperson’s name, business identity, telephone number, street address, mailing address, and business license number before you transact business. Some con artists give out false names, telephone numbers, addresses, and business license numbers. Verify the accuracy of these items. ▪ Before you give money to a charity or make an investment, find out what percentage of the money is paid in commissions and what percentage actually goes to the charity or investment. ▪ Before you send money, ask yourself a simple question. “What guarantee do I really have that this solicitor will use my money in the manner we agreed upon?” ▪ Don’t pay in advance for services. Pay services only after they are delivered. ▪ Be wary of companies that want to send a messenger to your home to pick up money, claiming it is part of their service to you. In reality, they are taking your money without leaving any trace of who they are or where they can be reached. ▪ Always take your time making a decision. Legitimate companies won’t pressure you to make a snap decision. ▪ Don’t pay for a “free prize.” If a caller tells you the payment is for taxes, he or she is violating federal law. ▪ Before you receive your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are—the kinds of financial information you will and won’t give out on the telephone. ▪ Be sure to talk over big investments offered by telephone salespeople with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor. It’s never rude to wait and think about an offer. ▪ Never respond to an offer you don’t understand thoroughly. ▪ Never send money or give out personal information such as credit card numbers and expiration dates, bank account numbers, dates of birth, or social security numbers to unfamiliar companies or unknown persons. ▪ Be aware that your personal information is often brokered to telemarketers through third parties. ▪ If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses for a fee paid in advance. ▪ If you have information about a fraud, report it to state, local, or federal law enforcement agencies. Internet Fraud As web use among senior citizens increases, so does their chances to fall victim to Internet fraud. Internet Fraud includes non-delivery of items ordered online and credit and debit card scams. Investment Schemes As they plan for retirement, senior citizens may fall victim to investment schemes. These may include advance fee schemes, prime bank note schemes, pyramid schemes, and Nigerian letter fraud schemes. Reverse Mortgage Scams The FBI and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) urge consumers, especially senior citizens, to be vigilant when seeking reverse mortgage products. Reverse mortgages, also known as home equity conversion mortgages (HECM), have increased more than 1,300 percent between 1999 and 2008, creating significant opportunities for fraud perpetrators. Reverse mortgage scams are engineered by unscrupulous professionals in a multitude of real estate, financial services, and related companies to steal the equity from the property of unsuspecting senior citizens or to use these seniors to unwittingly aid the fraudsters in stealing equity from a flipped property. In many of the reported scams, victim seniors are offered free homes, investment opportunities, and foreclosure or refinance assistance. They are also used as straw buyers in property flipping scams. Seniors are frequently targeted through local churches and investment seminars, as well as television, radio, billboard, and mailer advertisements. A legitimate HECM loan product is insured by the Federal Housing Authority. It enables eligible homeowners to access the equity in their homes by providing funds without incurring a monthly payment. Eligible borrowers must be 62 years or older who occupy their property as their primary residence and who own their property or have a small mortgage balance. Tips for Avoiding Reverse Mortgage Scams: ▪ Do not respond to unsolicited advertisements. ▪ Be suspicious of anyone claiming that you can own a home with no down payment. ▪ Do not sign anything that you do not fully understand. ▪ Do not accept payment from individuals for a home you did not purchase. ▪ Seek out your own reverse mortgage counselor. Many seniors grew up in a time when their families left their doors unlocked and never had to worry about someone breaking in but, unfortunately, those days are long gone. No matter how safe the neighborhood they live in is, even a gated community, there are certain precautions grandmas and grandpas should take: • Make sure all doors and windows remained locked at all times. • Make sure every externally facing door has some type of peephole. I also recommend the Ring video doorbell for seniors as they can see who is at the door and be notified before someone actually reaches the door. • Make sure all exterior doors are made of solid materials such as metal or wood. As part of those, make sure that extra long screws are used in the strike plate and that security door pins are also in place. • Make sure windows that could be potentially breached, have security film on them, which makes it much harder to break. I’m seeing this used more and more and not just on senior citizen’s residences. • Make sure any gates leading to fenced in areas are always locked and secure. I recommend using a good padlock with a key. Combination locks will also work, but a senior citizen will have to remember the code and who needs another number to remember? • Make sure that grandma/grandpa always answers a door with a telephone in hand. If they absolutely must open the door they can tell whoever is on the doorstep that they are on a call. This will give any burglar or other creep pause and will usually be enough to make them move on to another target. • Remember the good old days when you could leave a key outside under the rug or under a flowerpot? Forget them! Those days are over. Never leave a key outside. They are far too easy to find and you’re just providing a key to your castle. It’s much better to leave one with a trusted neighbor. • Make sure grandma and/or grandpa have a home security system. This, alone, will provide peace of mind and really is a must in my opinion. Home security systems can also be tied in with medical alert systems that a senior citizen can activate should they have an accident or fall in their home. • Make sure that all of your exterior lighting has motion detection capabilities. I recently wrote an article, here, about how motion sensors work if interested. Motion detector exterior lighting is a great way to keep burglars from operating in the dark. I also recommend making sure any entry pathway is covered by these types of lighting. They are readily available and can be purchased and installed for less than $100 in most cases . • Whenever leaving your residence, make sure you do two things. Arm your security system! You’d be surprised how many people don’t arm them and thieves know this. And leave a television or radio on to give the appearance that someone may be home. I hope these security tips will make grandma and grandpa just a little more secure as they go through their daily lives. If your a senior who would like advise on any of the topics listed, or just have a question about anything, please give us a call. We offer security assessments of residences/businesses and can work with you to make things more secure. We also offer presentations to senior citizen groups on a regular basis and would love to present to your group. At your service. Lee Walters President/Lead Investigator EXCALIBUR Private Investigation 719.208.4088; 505.208.6400; 803.806.7800 Today’s article is going to go over some tips for trying to keep your children safe in a world that is becoming more unsafe with each passing day. Not to be an alarmist, but these common sense ideas can make the difference between tranquility and disaster.
Let me know if me, or any of the investigators here at EXCALIBUR Private Investigation, can ever be of assistance to you. Lee Walters President 719.208.4088; 505.208.6400; 803.806.7800 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:
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 professional private investigators a call for a free, no-obligation consultation. Lee Walters President EXCALIBUR - Private Investigation As this is the first product we've recommended on any of our blog posts, we just want to point out that any product, such as the Reolink system pictured above, that we write about is a product we have used for some period of time and can honestly recommend. In the case of the Reolink security camera systems, we've used them in our office and home for almost 2 years now and have nothing but great things to say about these security camera systems. They are just packed with so many features. What features you ask? Well these to name a few:
SMOOTH 4K ULTRA HD resolution with real-time 25fps recording. ALL-NIGHT COLOR NIGHT VISION which features 4pcs spotlights that provide full-color all night long which is unheard of for a security camera at this price point. SMART HUMAN/VEHICLE DETECTION that can be set to alert you via email, text, FTP or siren. TWO-WAY TALK where you can talk from wherever you are through any of the cameras set up in the system. See someone lurking around your garage or back door, you can now yell at them or tell them the police are on the way directly through the camera. DEDICATED APP where you can log in and view your cameras while also listening to crystal clear sound. We eavesdrop on our office on occasion, don't tell staff, and it's interesting to listen to the interaction between staff and customers. 2-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY: Reolink provides a two-year warranty and lifetime technical support for their customers and we've found that customer support is excellent. Having used security cameras for many years, some good and some not so good, I'm truly impressed with how reliable these cameras are. In the two years we've had the two systems in place, we've yet to have any downtime due to system malfunction. In today's society I truly believe that a camera system is a must for any business or residence. Not only do they act as a deterrent, but they can also capture evidence that can be used to help solve crime. Criminals are still not the brightest bulbs in the box, that's why they're criminals, and often forget about the potential of a security camera catching them in the act. The Reolink systems, they offer numerous models, do a great job of doing what they're supposed to do and we can't recommend them enough for that extra peace of mind they provide. 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. Today's Security tip involves those of you who are on the various dating apps. It's an area we written about before, but we're revisiting it because there are so many victims of dating app scams that we want to make sure you don't have to contact one of our professional private investigators after you've lost money. Statistics show that hundreds of people have recently lost $32 million in romance scams with 200 of those living in Colorado and Wyoming. The people most victimized are women over 40, the elderly, widowed, divorced or disabled people due to perceived, and real, vulnerabilities.
Some of the things you should look out for when getting involved with anyone you meet on a dating app: 1. The individual presses you to leave the dating app and turn solely to message or email and somewhat soon. 2. The individual uses a photo that appears to be a glamour shot or looks like it has been professionally done. We've seen scammers download photos of unknown professionals, usually men, that have been professionally done. At EXCALIBUR Legal Support - Private Investigation we use proprietary software to scan the internet and dark web to find if a photo has ever been used before. In one case we were able to show our client that the photos of a guy claiming to live in northern California and working on an oil rig, were actually photos of the CEO of Coca-Cola Europe. 3. The individual professes love quickly, much more quickly than if you met in person somewhere. 4. The individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family. These scammers don't want any other party to be able to point out inconsistencies in their stories. 5. The individual claims to live or work far away. We've seen numerous scammers claim to be working on oil rigs or in the Middle East in the oil or gold business. Not sure why these two professions are chosen by scammers, but they are. 6. The individual makes plans to meet in person, but always cancels because of some emergency. Along with this, the scammer will always have an excuse why they can't get on a Skype or other video call. If you want to test early on if a person is who they claim they are, demand they get on a video call. A scammer will never agree to that. Or if they provide an excuse why they can't get on a video call, their computer doesn't have a camera, etc., etc., then have them take a photo of themselves holding a sign with your name and current date handwritten on it. A scammer will also never agree to this as you'd then see the photos on their profile are fake. 7. The individual asks you for money. That's all of these scammer's ultimate goal. To separate you from your money. Sometimes they will wait 6 to 8 months before asking to "borrow" money or they will claim their account is frozen and they can't pay for the ticket to come and see you in person. Believe me, we've heard it all. Think you're talking with someone legitimate on ____________ fill-in-the-blank dating app, but your spidey senses are tingling? Contact us and let us vet the person you're in contact with. You've got nothing to lose and will gain peace of mind knowing if they are who they say they are. Lee Walters President EXCALIBUR Private Investigation Serving all of Colorado, New Mexico and South Carolina Today's security tip involves "smishing". Smishing you say? What's that? Although it may seem like a strange word it's used to describe something very serious. Where "phishing" involves a bad guy sending an email with a malicious link, "smishing" involves send a malicious link via a Short Message Service (SMS) text that we all get numerous times a day. In our case sometimes a hundred or more!
It all begins when the person receiving the text clicks on the link. According to Aaron Rouse, SAC, Las Vegas FBI, “You'll have a loss of access to your device, sometimes. You'll have afforded somebody access to your device, and you'll possibly lose personally identifiable information. So it's something that we just like we say with email. If you didn't ask for it, don't click on it." Rouse also described a couple of ways "smishing" is being used at this very moment. Individuals receive a text claiming to be from AT&T saying their bill has been paid, followed by a link to claim a prize, or a text claiming to be Netflix telling the target they need to click on the attached link if they want to "keep watching." Both of these give the bad guy control over your phone in most instances. Lisa Mesa, a smartphone user who has received numerous "smishing" texts says, “I get pre-approved for certain things, or really weird texts. They actually get kind of personal. They make it sound like they're a friend reaching out to you sometimes too. It says your appointment is ready - click on this link.” SAC Rouse further states, “They can be anywhere. It really does depend on the scheme that's being perpetrated, and the amount of effort behind it. Sometimes we see very widespread scams. It'll go out and we quickly become aware of it because people will do the right thing, they report it to IC3.gov.” Reporting to IC3.gov is definitely the first step if you receive one of these "smishing" texts. And it should become a habit to never click on a link you receive in an unexpected text, even if it seems to be legitimate. If you have any doubts at all contact the person who supposedly sent it and see if they actually did. If not, delete it immediately. If you think you may have become a victim of "smishing" contact one of our professional private investigators in Colorado, New Mexico or South Carolina who can discuss different options you can pursue. In a continuing effort to get useful information out to our clients, potential clients and the general public at large, today we're starting our series of Security Tips that everyone should be aware of.
REBOOT YOUR PHONE EVERY WEEK According to the National Security Agency's (NSA) "best practices" guide for mobile device security, everyone should reboot (totally shut down your phone and restart it) their phones at least once a week. Neil Ziring, technical director of the NSA's cybersecurity directorate, was quoted in the AP as saying, "This is all about imposing cost on these malicious hackers." While it won't stop a sophisticated hacker, it will make them work harder to maintain access and steal data from your phone. The reason is that the latest malicious software typically targets your phone's root file system. But the newest phones can detect and block such malware during a reboot. Make it a weekly habit, maybe even set a calendar reminder to do so, to turn your phone off and on. |
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