Recently, a lawyer representing the family of a woman who was killed by a hit-and-run driver came to us, unsatisfied by the investigation being conducted by the local police.
The woman was struck at 2:30AM while crossing a street in a not-too-distant municipality. The vehicle and its driver were unknown.

Based on my twenty-one years of experience with the New York Police Department, including seven years as a detective in the Robbery-Homicide Unit, I was able to use suitable techniques and resources to identify the van and its driver, whose friendly relationship with members of the local police force may explain their slow response in trying to solve this tragic incident.

The lawyer who requested our aid has told us that he now has enough evidence to proceed with the civil litigation associated with this case, even as the criminal investigation continues through police channels.
Sometimes, a second investigation, a “second opinion,” is highly valuable.

*****

Don’t be nearly sure. Let Gold Shield investigate. Be certain.

This is not a question you want to have to ask your spouse or lover. The web site ashleymadison.com is for married people who want to cheat on their spouses. The site motto is, “Life is short. Have an affair.”

A year ago, an Internet article appeared entitled, “Writer Goes Undercover on Ashleymadison.com.” It described a report by a woman who posed as a “swinger” who was bored with her marriage and wanted, at least, a change of companionship. She met several married men that way.

The married men using the site, and it is predominantly used by men, were usually looking for married women with whom to have a “relationship” of one kind or another, sometimes just notes and talk, sometimes more.  If you run across this name, on a note, on a list of sites visited by your home computer, become alert. Your spouse may just be curious, or this may be serious.

When Gold Shield Elite Investigations, LLC, is contacted by individuals who suspect spousal cheating, we review with them the signs of cheating that we have listed elsewhere on this site.  We recommend that they check their home phone records for telephone numbers that are unfamiliar. Some of that can be done easily. Not all.

Our Private Investigator license and our professional contacts give us access to sources of information not available to the general public. If employed to do so, for example, we use “reverse directories” to find the owners of telephone numbers, even “unlisted” numbers.. If a relatively inexpensive investigation reveals information that warrants one of several modes of surveillance, we can perform such as well, if asked..

Our activities for our clients are handled in strictest confidence.

If what we find out is reassuring, you will fell relieved. If it is alarming, you are better off knowing sooner rather than later.  Ignorance is not bliss. Knowledge is power.

Let’s hope this is the last time you hear of “Ashley Madison.”

****

Don’t be nearly sure. Have us investigate. Be certain.

“Mickey Rooney Claims Elder Abuse: Actor’s testimony to Congress helps spur bill for new crackdown” — reported the AARP Bulletin of March 2, 2011. Ninety-year-old Rooney, veteran of over 300 films, sought protection from his step-son and his step-son’s wife, claiming they denied him necessities while ruining him financially. This AARP report also cited the American Psychological Association’s estimate that “more than 2 million older adults suffer from physical, financial or other forms of abuse, often at the hands of family members,” and other experts estimate the number to be much higher, because many such events go unreported.

Crimes against the elderly in their homes by those entrusted with their safety occur daily, rarely making headlines, unless the victims have celebrity status or connections.Those you hire to care for your loved ones need to be carefully checked before you give them the run of the household and allow daily contact with patients who may not dare or may not be able to complain. This is where Gold Shield Elite Investigations can be of help, with initial screening and periodic checks.

These two examples involving famous people remind us that even family members are not above abusing seniors, and even long-term employees cannot be fully trusted.Those you are trusting with your elders and your possessions need to be checked on beforehand and regularly thereafter. See our GSEI site for the kinds of investigations available and the signs to pay attention to in order to detect elder abuse — physical,psychological, or financial.

Don’t be nearly sure. Have us investigate. Be certain.

Acoustic

The most primitive is without the use of electronics, such as, placing a glass or rubber tube into an area directly intercepting the communication with the naked ear. This also applies to soft spots, such as around windows, vents, power outlets, all where sounds leak through.

Ultrasonic

A technique used to convert the sound into an audio signal above the human range of hearing. The signal is intercepted and converted back to audio.

RF (Radio Frequency)

Most commonly used and known device. It’s a radio transmitter placed in a device or in an area. This is what you typically think of when thinking about bug sweeping.

Optical Bug

This type of bug is rarely used and expensive. It converts sound or data into an optical beam of light, such as a passive laser listening device.

Hybrid

Any of the above mentioned devices can be combined to make a hybrid listening/eavesdropping device.

It takes a person trained in TSCM (technical surveillance counter-measures) to know what to look for and identify the different bugs. As a private investigation company, Gold Shield Elite Investigations regularly sweeps for listening
devices in NYC.

Find our article useful? Share it on Facebook and Twitter – it may be exactly what someone needs to see.

Eavesdropping Device Warning Signs To Look For

1. Others know your confidential business.

When others know things that are usually private, then it is reasonable to suspect technical eavesdropping or bugging. Often the loss of your secrets is very subtle.

2. You have noticed strange sounds on your phone line.

This can be simply experiencing a flaw on the line, but it should be checked out.  Amateur eavesdropper can commonly cause this when they attach a wiretap, or activate a listening device. Professional eavesdroppers use equipment that usually does not make such noises.

3. You have noticed static or scratching sounds on your phone.

This occurs when there are two conductors on a line, such as a bug and a wiretap.
Usually a poorly trained amateur is playing on your phone line. It could also mean trouble on your phone line or equipment. It should be evaluated.

4. Your car radio suddenly gets interference.

There are different ways in which bugs are hidden in vehicles. Bear in mind that the antenna your car uses can be compromised by an eavesdropper and may interfere with radio reception.

5. You have been the victim of a burglary and nothing was taken.

Eavesdroppers often break into a targets home or office and in most cases leave little or no evidence that a break in has occurred. But you get that sense that something isn’t right, such as furniture that was slightly moved, dry-wall dust or debris on floor next to a wall, electrical wall plates slightly jarred. These are all signs that Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) may be necessary to evaluate your privacy.

6. A dime-sized discoloration has suddenly appeared on the wall.

This is a tell tale sign that a pinhole microphone or small covert camera might have been installed.

7. Utility workers show up at your home or office unannounced.

A ruse used to fake a utility problem and while working on the “problem”, they install eavesdropping devices.

8. A small bump or deformation has appeared on a vinyl baseboard.

An indicator that someone may have concealed wiring behind the baseboard.

In the end…

Wiretaps, “bugs”, eavesdropping devices, etc. aren’t just in the movies. Nor are they used solely by authorized government agencies that have explicit permission. These devices are used by unscrupulous parties in homes, cars, offices, research facilities, and more.

How common are they? That’s an interesting question, you see. The problem is that it’s unknown how many bugs go undetected for every device that is actually found.

Take a look at our own Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM).

Find our article useful? Share it on Facebook and Twitter – it may be exactly what someone needs to see.

You can Google your nanny’s name or names on the Internet and hope to come up with critical information, or you can ask a professional todo a background check. That’s where we come in. After twenty-one years with the New York Police Department, having risen to the level of homicide detective, I retired and started Gold Shield Elite Investigations. One of our earliest clients was a husband and wife team, he a surgeon, she a psychologist. They were hiring a nanny, and the husband asked the wife about the nanny’s identity and history. After all, their children, possessions, personal identity information, checkbooks, jewelry, keys, etc., would all be vulnerable while the nanny was taking care of the kids. The wife thought the woman would be fine for the position, but she agreed it was prudent to let us do some nanny-hiring due diligence.

We ran a background check on the nanny for this couple. We checked not only her, but her close relatives. We looked not only for crimes but for other tell-tale signs of possible problems, such as bankruptcies, close relatives convicted of crimes, and more. We know how to “read between the lines.” We gave them our report. They wdfere surprised by what we found and decided to hire someone else.

When you are pretty sure, have us dig deeper. You want to be very sure.

Check out our NYC background check services. You can contact us or call us at 1-888-213-8881.

NYC Nanny Background Checks

Know who is really taking care of your child while protecting against the possibility of falling victim to identity theft from within at the same time.

You may not think it, but nannies in NYC, the big apple, can be rotten apples underneath there smiling exterior. This has nothing to do with the nature of nannies, absolutely not. However, a nanny is a form that a scam artist will take – it is their disguise to get your guard down.

Most BAD nannies fall into the same category: Opportunists

It is important to protect against the very real possibility of that bad nanny, a lot of ID theft comes from someone you know or from someone within. Bare in mind that a nanny has access to to your personal information. Or in the least, they can gather information piece by piece.

Over  time  clients become comfortable with their nannies and leave their checkbooks out, bank statements, unopened credit card offers etc.  That bad nanny slowly picks up bits of the pieces of the puzzle to formulate their puzzle … YOUR IDENTITY. With your name date of birth possibly social security number, bank accounts etc.  Before you even realize it or when you go apply for  credit, you find out you’re DENIED due to a ruined credit score.

Conducting a background check is not foolproof, but usually there are enough red flags present for an experienced investigator to detect.

Curious as to what the red flags can be or what a background check entails? Visit our NYC background checks page, or call us toll-free at: 1-888-213-8881

WARNING SIGNS

Many warning signs of fraud are becoming more and more well known. We must constantly be alert of what to look for in our daily lives, particularly when browsing the internet.

• Sounds too good to be true.
  No, there isn’t really a wealthy man looking for you to cash his check, and keep a large portion for yourself… but we can dream.
• Pressures to act “right away”.
  “But wait if you act now!” (We’ll only scam your for 80% of your worth!)
• Guarantees success.
  We’ve all seen them, and all been tempted by one an offer that relates to our own needs and wants. There is no guaranteed money making, weight loss, or sex appeal increasing pill, book, or recipe. All of the above either come natural or  take hard work.
• Doesn’t have the look or sound of a real business.
  Yes, there are new start ups every day. However, (most Internet) start ups invest the capital to make sure they look legitimate.
• Something just doesn’t seem or feel right.
  Back away while you’re still OK. Your gut is often right, even when you don’t want it to be. Online fraud offers are strategically designed to make you overlook the fact that they don’t look legitimate, and make you feel emotionally connected instead of doubting them.

PLAY IT SAFE

• Never clink on a link inside an e-mail to visit a website. Rather type in the address in your browser instead.
  Just because it says cnn.com/story, doesn’t mean it is headed in that direction. Instead, type the actual address in your browser window. Also, watch for fraudulent links that come in the form of yourbank.anysite.com – if anything comes between the known websites name “yourbank” and the “.com” then odds are you need to stay far away.
• Only 2% of Identity theft occurs through the mail. Report online fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.
  Which is why we’re here to educate you.
• Always retain receipts , statements and review monthly for accuracy.
  While it may take an extra hour or two at the end of the month, it is well worth it for the peace of mind and security.
• Shred confidential documents instead of simply discarding them in the trash, there are trash seekers out there.
  Believe it or not, this is more common than you think. Business Owners: Pay special attention to this, dumpster diving thieves know that businesses deal with multiple people’s information all day long.

FRAUD FACTS

• Your bank will never e-mail or call you asking for you account numbers or pass codes.
  This also includes other sites such as “PayPal” that deal with sensitive or financial information.
• Order a copy of your credit report from each of the three national credit bureaus once a year from annualcreditreport.com.
• Check your bank statements monthly for unrecognized charges.
  
• Foreign lotteries are illegal in the U.S. you can’t win no matter what they say.

If you suspect you might be a victim of fraud call GOLD SHIELD ELITE for a free in depth consultation and analysis.

An issue that is sadly common for our elders is caregiver abuse. The most unfortunate part of this issue is that it may very likely be happening right under your nose to an elderly or disabled person that is close to you. However, knowledge is key, and hopefully this article will help you or someone you know avoid or bring to light a bad situation.

What is Caregiver Abuse?

First and foremost, caregiver abuse is typically defined as physical, or even mental, abuse by someone providing care for the elderly or a person with a disability. The term “caregiver” refers to anyone who routinely helps others who are limited by chronic conditions.

The Alarming Facts:

• According to the best available estimates, between one and two million Americans aged 65 or older have been injured, exploited or otherwise mistreated by someone in their care.
• Yet, elder abuse in all forms has remained an underreported crime because of how hard it can be to spot.
• It is estimated that for every one case of elder abuse reported to authorities about 5 go unreported and unrealized.

As our population ages, caregiver abuse will only get worse. The United States is an aging society with more people living longer.

The Investigation Work

We find that often times families need, what most consider, a wellness check… simply checking in on the health, safety, and general welfare of a loved one.

Caregiver abuse investigations can be comprised of:

• Full Background checks
• Asset checks
• Reviewing medical reports
• Conducting alleged victim and offender interviews
• Taking witness statements
• Both overt and covert surveillance.

The investigator must also assess not only the victim, but the home or nursing facility environment to uncover caregiver abuse. Often the environment will tell more than the victim ever will. Be aware of the following conditions:

• Is the home clean and kept up?
• How is their personal appearance?
• Is their food and heat?
• Are the bills paid up to date?
• Does the victim receive the medical care and right dosage of medications at the right time.

It is important to be sure that the situation is handled correctly by an experienced investigator to ensure that any wronged parties see justice. If you reasonably suspect caregiver abuse you can call Gold Shield Elite Investigations, toll free at 888-213-8881 for a free in-depth confidential consultation.

Find more information about caregiver abuse:

National Center on Elder Abuse

Mandated Reporter laws