Another social media cautionary tale

Social media can be a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. It also has become a space for criminals of all sorts to steal identities or engage in illicit activities. Past blogs have noted ways to protect your identity and personal information in a digital and online world (Example: http://tinyurl.com/3eoocnh; http://tinyurl.com/42za7qz). The media recently reported another worry of social media. It is a bizarre story, but not surprising to professional private detectives.

It appears that Angela Voelkert created a fake account for 17-year-old “Jessica Studebaker,” complete with an attractive photo, and friended her ex-husband. Suspecting all along that it was his wife, David obtained a notarized affidavit: “I am lying to this person to gain positive proof that it is indeed my ex-wife trying to again tamper in my life… In no way do I have plans to leave with my children or do any harm to Angela Dawn Voelkert or anyone else.” He then proceeded to tell the person he had illegally installed a GPS unit on his ex-wife’s car and was seeking to hire someone to kill her. Angela turned this over to the FBI, who, in turn, arrested David. Having produced the notarized affidavit, however, David was able to turn the tables on Angela.

See stories in Time and HuffingtonPost.

  

This twisted tale is unsurprising to the professional investigator because domestic cases, especially those involving custody of children, often are fraught with high emotions. David’s decision to obtain a sworn affidavit was a good idea, but unlikely something most individuals would think of doing. It is not clear whether David was acting under the guidance of a private investigator, but most would have suggested doing exactly what David did. What is more, they could have given David additional security by recording and witnessing his social media interactions with “Jessica Studebaker.”

This story is just another reason private investigators are becoming more necessary in today’s world. Private investigators can assist clients in a variety of personal matters, including those in the still legally uncertain domain of social media. A quality private investigator would have dissuaded Angela from trying to entrap her husband. Instead, she or he would have suggested more civil procedures. For example, Angela should have considered having David’s everyday activities surveilled for some time to insure he was living a life that was proper for their children. In the end, of course, it is possible the investigator would have discovered that David was, in fact, a good father. This evidence could have been reassuring to Angela. Private detectives are not “hired guns” that seek to prove a client’s case for them. Ethical investigators act as collectors of information and third-party witnesses and mediators. Retaining their services is no guarantee of getting what you want, but it certainly would have been prudent for Angela.  

If In previous posts, we have provided advice that will assist you in finding a quality private investigator and making a good decision regarding the fit of a particular investigator with your case.

Happy 4th of July: Recognizing the importance of the PI in US society

It’s just about the 4^th of July, which means that many US-Americans will reflect on U.S. history and think about its future. Though the private investigator may conjure thoughts of shady surveillances of cheating spouses, the profession has been, and will continue to be, an important to citizens and businesses. For example, before there were county sheriffs, city police departments, and even the Secret Service, everyday citizens, politicians, and entrepreneurs could only rely on the help of private investigators to resolve criminal or civil issues. (In today’s climate of budget cuts, many police cannot investigate petty crimes so again private investigations is on the rise, see OOH.) Allan Pinkerton, for example, the founder of one the first formal (and most famous) private detective agencies in the United States, Pinkerton National Detective Agency (est. 1850), provided security detail for Abraham Lincoln, and even foiled an assassination plot against Lincoln. Pinkertons created many procedures and protocol that were used to set up and train early FBI agents (source: Wikipedia). 

Though private investigators may not enjoy the same status and image in the United States that they once did, or get to enjoy adventures on par with Allan Pinkerton, they are still retained by the public, business owners, government agencies, and attorneys to assist in a variety of cases that matter to well-being of citizens and the security of the nation. Below is a list of a few cases in the past few months that are particularly noteworthy. In celebration of Independence Day, let’s salute these professionals for a job well done, and remember that all civil, criminal, and personal matters, big or small, can often benefit from the dedicated work of a professional investigator:

1. Missing Farrah Fawcett Portrait, worth millions, found by a private investigator. [link]
2. Undercover sting, coordinated by a private investigator, proves blackmail and protects bank assets. [link]
3. Missing Loyola University student found in hotel room by professional investigator. [link]
4. Private eye locates homeless man and informs him of a significant inheritance. [link]

 Remember that a private investigator can be your advocate. If you currently have a financial, legal, business, or personal issue that you think could be resolved by a private investigator, please do not hesitate to call United International Investigations. We have been retained by clients nationwide.