by Carie McMichael | Jun 1, 2022 | Criminal Investigation
Picture this—you’ve entered the world of online dating. Maybe you’re using websites or matchmaking apps in order to find love forever or just for a little while. You connect with a new person who wants to move off-app to have a more personal conversation. They send you an intimate photo of themselves to escalate the conversation and ask that you return the gesture in kind. Not wanting to be rude, you oblige, and reply with an intimate photo of yourself. That’s when the trap snaps shut. All at once, the tone of the conversation turns completely over, and the person on the other end of the connection is suddenly demanding money in exchange for not publicizing your intimate photo. You’ve just become the victim of a sextortion scam. It’s a growing phenomenon that many private citizens may not be aware of. From our private investigators, here is the full run-down of sextortion scams and how a private investigator may be able to help.
People who fell in love with their long-term partner prior to the age of the internet will likely have difficulty understanding how ordinary individuals can fall victim to sextortion scams and other scams of a similar ilk. The truth is that anyone can fall victim to a scam like this, and that’s why it’s so important to know the signs of a scam like this and what users can do to protect themselves.
Sextortion scams typically are designed like the hypothetical one mentioned above in which victims are targeted via some sort of online dating site or social media platform, groomed by the perpetrator, then manipulated into trading intimate photos with the perpetrator—only to be extorted for money in exchange for those photos not being sent to their friends, family, or being published on the internet. According to the FBI, there were over 18,000 sextortion complaints in 2021 alone, with financial losses of over $13 million—not just with intimate photos of adults, but also with the use of child exploitation materials in order to make the target pay up.
It’s not just adults in relationships who are vulnerable to sextortion scams, but teenagers as well—particularly adolescent boys. Even though the latest generation has grown up with digital literacy as a part of their education, they can still fall victim to the same sort of scams as adults in their sixties and beyond. Because their brains are still developing at this age, many teenagers are unable to see beyond the horizon of such a horrific event and give themselves the comfort that this too shall pass. With this limited perspective, it’s not uncommon for the circumstances of the case to become tragic. A 17-year-old boy named Ryan Last came into the public eye this past February after he became the target of a sextortion scam in which he believed he was corresponding with a girl his age. Just hours after the first message was exchanged between Ryan and the scammer, Ryan was extorted for $150 that he was forced to draw from his college fund. After the first payment was made, the scammer demanded additional funds. Believing that he had nowhere to turn, Ryan made the tragic decision to take his own life to spare himself and his family the embarrassment of the situation.
All forms of sextortion scams are popular amongst cyber criminals because the internal and external pressure on the victims almost always leads to a payout for the perpetrator(s). In order to minimize the threat of exposure, victims are almost always willing to part with whatever amount they believe will initially satisfy the scammer, whether it be the full amount demanded, or a negotiated amount within the victim’s ability to pay. However, another hallmark of these sextortion scams is that once the first payment has cleared, the scammers will almost always come back asking for more. With the victim’s intimate photo in their possession, they are free to make whatever demands they believe they can extract. They threaten to publish the photos if the victim attempts to block or sever all connection to the scammer, placing the victim in a never-ending hamster wheel of extortion until the scammer stops contact or the photos are made public.
What is disturbing about the 18,000 cases of sextortion reported to the FBI in 2021 is that it may not be an accurate representation of how pervasive the problem is in the United States. The FBI has reported that the majority of sextortion scams originate in Africa or Southeast Asia, but the data is, due to its nature, incomplete. While every investigation presents its own series of unique problems, sextortion scams are particularly tricky because they often go unreported. Its very common for victims of sextortion scams to be far too embarrassed to report the crime to law enforcement, especially since many local law enforcement agencies will be unequipped to handle the circumstances or even search for the perpetrator.
Sextortion scams are typically “all-business,” as to say that they are simply cyber-criminals targeting strangers across the globe for financial gain. However, sextortion scams can also be perpetrated for more personal reasons, sometimes between intimate partners, or sometimes even between casual acquaintances. There may be a financial demand, but more commonly, the demands are of a more interpersonal nature. Intimate pictures may be used as leverage between friends who are feuding over a third-party, in divorce proceedings, or between former intimate partners who feel entitled to some sort of catharsis for their heartache.
When victims of sextortion scams do make the decision to report the scam to their local law enforcement, it’s not uncommon for authorities to abstain from involvement, either because they don’t believe they have the jurisdiction, or because they don’t believe they have legal cause to investigate. This leaves the victims feeling isolated and beyond help, but that is not always the case. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the sextortion scam, a private investigator may be the ideal professional to unravel the scheme one text at a time.
Not all private investigation firms will be equipped to deal with the scale of international sextortion scams. In cases where the perpetrator is on another continent, very serious cyber intelligence technology will be necessary for locating the scammer and creating leverage to stop the extortion. However, when the sextortion occurs between two people in the same jurisdiction, there are private investigators who will have the tools to get to the bottom of the matter for victims.
Private investigators are like law enforcement in the sense that they have similar skillsets, experience, and bodies of knowledge that can lead to solutions. However, there are a few factors that set private investigators apart from law enforcement and make them better suited to investigate sextortion scams.
Private investigators are typically autonomous in their work, meaning that they can follow leads anywhere without running into a wall of bureaucratic red tape in their investigation.
Private investigators generally have a much smaller caseload than that of local and federal law enforcement. While a local police investigator may be carrying a caseload of 20-30 cases, private investigators usually handle between 4-10 cases at a time. This means each case gets the attention it deserves.
Private investigators do not have powers of arrest, therefore witnesses or suspects in any given crime may be more likely to engage with them if they know they cannot be legally detained for any reason.
Should the results of the investigation lead to any legal action, the evidence and testimony of private investigators can stand up to a higher degree of scrutiny in a court of law or civil court, as they are independent third parties with no stake in the outcome of the proceedings.
Even if they do not have the particular tools to investigate sextortion scams, private investigators can also partner with cyber experts who may have the software necessary to track communications between scammers and their victims to develop strategies for pursuing action against the scammer(s).
If you or someone you love has become the target of a sextortion scam, it is in your best interest to report it to your nearest law enforcement agency, who can then advise you on what the next steps are in ending the harassment. While the act of reporting can be inherently embarrassing, it may go a long way to stopping the scammer from targeting another innocent person or family.
If you are in need of the due-diligence and fact-finding that come with the services of a licensed private investigator to unravel a sextortion scam in your own life, please reach out to Lauth Investigations International to find out how we can help you end the cycle of harassment and extortion. We carry a glowing A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, regularly receive 5-star testimonials from our clients, and were recently named one of the top three private investigators in the greater Indianapolis area. Call 317-951-1100 for a free quote, or visit us online at www.lauthinveststg.wpengine.com for more information.
by Carie McMichael | May 26, 2022 | Private Investigations News
Lauth Investigations International is honored to announce that we have been voted among the top three best private investigators in the greater Indianapolis area by threebestrated.com. Threebestrated.com is an independent online directory of local businesses all across the United States that utilizes a rigorous 50-point inspection criteria in the process of selecting the top three businesses in any given area. Some of the metrics that threebestrated.com use are a business’s history, reputation, and customer feedback.
Lauth Investigations International joins All In Investigations and Jordan & Associates as the cream of the crop in intelligence gathering services. With this new recognition, Lauth Investigations International is hoping to reach even more members of the Indianapolis community and bring our clients the clarified intelligence they require in uncertain times. After years of consistently receiving glowing reviews from satisfied clients and maintaining a strong A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, we’re thrilled to add one more accolade to the list of reasons why both corporations and private citizens can benefit from our suite of private intelligence services.
Lauth Investigations International is a family-owned and operated private detective firm that specializes in complicated corporate, financial, and individual inquiries. Our team of analysts and foreign-sourced investigators is comprised of veterans and specialists of various backgrounds. Our private investigators are trained to approach every case with objectivity & diversified methodology. If you are in need of one of the top three best private investigators in Indianapolis, feel free to give us a call for a free quote at 317-951-1100, or for more information, please visit us online at www.lauthinveststg.wpengine.com.
by Carie McMichael | May 24, 2022 | Tips & Facts
As we plow full-steam-ahead into the summer months, many people will be planning some much-deserved time off. Unfortunately, this is also a popular and lucrative time for would-be thieves who target unsuspecting tourists and steal their credit cards and identities. If your summer plans include traveling, there are a number of things that you can do ahead of time to proactively protect your identity while traveling.
Password protect all electronic devices. Whether it’s your iPhone or laptop, make it harder for would-be thieves to access your personal info by password protecting everything. It may take an extra step when using these devices yourself, but keeping your identity safe is well worth the hassle.
Install tracking apps on your mobile devices. Your smartphone or tablet is probably loaded with personal information, so increase the level of protection by installing a “find me” type app. There are also apps that can be activated remotely to essentially lock down your device if it’s stolen.
Log out of public computers. If you didn’t bring your own laptop, you may need to use a hotel computer to do things like check your email while you’re away. Remember to always completely log out of any website you access prior to leaving to avoid inadvertently giving access to the next person who uses the device.
Use only secure WiFi. If you’re going to access the internet via WiFi, make sure the only connections you use are password protected. Most hotels offer this, as do public places, like cafes. If it’s not secure, unauthorized people could access the network and your personal data could become compromised.
Take advantage of your hotel’s in-room safe. Whenever you leave your hotel room, any and all valuables – especially anything containing personal information – in your room safe. This provides an added level of protection in your absence.
Monitor financial accounts daily. Pickpockets are typically pretty quick to use whatever they’ve stolen from you, so stay on top of things by checking your financial statements on a daily basis. This way should you discover a problem, you can have it taken care of right away, before too much damage can be done.
Don’t broadcast your plans on social media. Not only do you need to be diligent about protecting your identity wherever you happen to be traveling, but it’s equally important that you’re careful about everything you’ve left behind. Make sure all privacy settings are intact on your social media accounts and be careful what information you share.
These simple tips can help you protect your identity while traveling so your dream vacation doesn’t have to end with the nightmare of identity theft. If you’ve already become a victim and you need assistance locating the person or persons responsible, feel free to call Lauth Investigations International at 317-951-1100 or visit us online at www.lauthinveststg.wpengine.com.
by Carie McMichael | May 18, 2022 | Corporate Culture
When running a business, there are a number of threats, both internal and external, that could quickly unravel the entire corporate structure, and some in leadership may be uncertain of how to proceed. Whether it’s fraud, employee misconduct, or IP theft, without the proper background in oversight of these challenges, the solution may not be obvious. That’s why many businesses choose to invest in themselves by virtue of retaining a private investigator. Hiring a private investigator for different types of corporate threats is the best way to ensure that leadership is getting the full picture when it comes to making decisions for their businesses.
Private investigators are uniquely suited to investigating corporate threats—both internal and external—because of their autonomy, experience, and their objectivity as a third-party. Different types of corporate threats demand investigators with specific backgrounds, but the base skills needed to neutralize a corporate threat are within a private investigator’s toolchest. Private investigators can have different specialties, like child custody or infidelity, so when vetting candidates for retainer, it’s important to inquire about their specific experience. Types of corporate threats that private investigators can neutralize typically fall into one of two categories: Internal or external threats.
External threats:
- Theft – Businesses with physical locations and material capital to steal can find themselves vulnerable to thieves if they do not have the appropriate security measures in place.
- IP Theft – When your copyrighted intellectual property is at risk from outside entities, documenting the evidence is crucial and uniquely suited to a private investigator’s skillset.
- Security risks – Security risk do not only constitute property, but also the physical safety of all staff working in an office or worksite. Whether the risk is a disgruntled employee or an active shooter, private investigators can survey weak points in business security.
- Cyber attacks – Threats to security can also come in through the network. Working together with experts, private investigators can cover those holes in security.
Internal threats:
- Internal theft – When capital is disappearing within an unbroken sphere of security, a private investigator can get to the bottom of disappearing property or money within any business or organization.
- FMLA and Workman’s Compensation Investigations – Sometimes a staff member’s integrity may be called into question when it comes to FMLA or worker’s compensation claims, but with surveillance operations, private investigators can uncover the fine details of those comprehensive investigations.
- Non-compete violations – If there is a reasonable suspicion that a non-compete agreement being violated, private investigators can document that perpetrator’s actions for any impending court action.
- Executive misconduct – The more power an employee has, the more damage they’re able to do within their organization, so it’s crucial that due-diligence is performed in investigating claims of executive misconduct.
- Harassment and discrimination – Harassment and discrimination are two of the most powerful malignancies in any workplace, and must be dealt with swiftly. In these circumstances, to have an independent third-party like a private investigator to determine who is responsible for the incident.
by Carie McMichael | May 13, 2022 | Background Checks
Is a background check for construction workers really necessary? We all like to move through life with faith that the people we encounter are honest and decent Americans. However, we only need cross paths with one bad egg to get burned in a big way, and few professionals gain greater access to our personal or professional lives than those hired to undertake construction.
In the case of renovations, fundamentally, we give strangers free access to our inner sanctums—we trust them to give accurate quotes and use up-front deposits in the way that they promise. While the majority of construction companies may conduct themselves with integrity, what you don’t know, you simply don’t know. When all is said and done, skimping on a background check for construction worker candidates might leave you with a nasty hole in your wall, and an even bigger one in your bank balance.
Aren’t References Enough?
Checking the references of a contractor bidding for your next renovation project is a great place to start, but it isn’t the be-all-and-end-all. Sadly, references can be faked and contact details manipulated. Of course, the more readily any vying candidate offers up their credentials the better, but there’s more to consider than references alone. Especially when we consider that as many as one in three American homeowners will fall prey to a renovation scam in their lifetime.
For anyone operating outside the construction industry, navigating the task of verifying the validity of references and confirming that contractors are appropriately licensed, bonded, and insured can be a daunting task. Even if you can draw this body of information together, unless the construction worker or company in question has hit the headlines in a catastrophic way, you’re unlikely to be able to check their operational safety record. You don’t want to place your renovations in the hands of someone with a trail of destruction in their wake. The only solution is to reach out to a corporate investigations firm who can vet your candidate for you, with a cost-effective and bespoke background check for construction.
Requesting a Background Check for Construction Workers
Whether you aim to recruit a freelance construction worker for a home renovation or a large construction company to give your corporate offices a major overhaul, a specialized background check for construction from Lauth Investigations International will give you total peace on mind. Don’t leave your contractor’s credentials up to chance. Instead, turn to a corporate investigator who can quickly and diligently check that their financial track record is gold standard; that they are as equipped, qualified, and capable as they say they are; and that the individuals in question don’t have any nasty skeletons in their closet.
When renovations go wrong, individuals and companies alike can find themselves victim to bodged work, theft, financial fraud, and worse. Getting scammed means becoming an unhappy statistic, but a background check for construction workers can ensure that the scammer is the one who loses out, rather than you. Discover more about our comprehensive background check service, or contact our team today for obligation-free guidance on how we can best meet your needs.
