Private Investigator Blog - Public Records, Internet Search - PI Buzz » International

Private Investigator Research Links – Jan 2012

Tamara Thompson — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:27:58 +0000

The rest of my favorite links are here.

Mexico Court Record Index Online

Tamara Thompson — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:41:44 +0000

Wouldn’t it be convenient and a boon to cross-border investigations to be able to search an online index of Mexico court records? An Internet search for a source for these directs you to Westlaw, a collection of legal research and fact-finding databases, costly and beyond the financial reach of most investigators. Searchsystems.net now includes Mexico civil and criminal index filings from Mexican federal and state courts in its collection of premium (fee-based) databases. Anyone can access the service, but Searchsystems subscribers get a discount. A free name search will return the number of records found in the index, but no other details. Once you enter the subject’s name and pay the fee you’ll be able to view all matching records. The detailed results provide party names, jurisdiction, date, court, docket number and, in criminal filings, the charges. A limitation of the Mexico criminal record indexes, unlike most US ones, is that they don’t contain a defendant’s date of birth. Here’s a image from a search result, or view a sample report at Searchsystems.

Do you know of any other Mexico civil or criminal index databases online?

[2011 Update: This database is no longer at Search Systems because the vendor isn't making it available.]

Global Economy Opens Many Doors to International Investigations

Jimmie Mesis — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:09:59 +0000

An article by CFO.com reports that a recent Ernst & Young survey of more than 300 corporate-development officers and other finance professionals found that many companies use forensic techniques, including hiring private investigators, to learn more about local market dynamics and the people involved in a potential deal.

This is a great opportunity for investigators to locally market their investigative skills and international contacts to conduct international investigations.

Many private investigators who belong to international PI associations such as WAD – World Association of Detectives, WAPI – World Association of Professional Investigators, CII – Council of International Investigators, WIN – World Investigators Network, and many more. Their members already know the financial benefits of international networking.

Our world has gotten much smaller with the Internet and ease of international travel and trade regulations.

You can learn more about international investigative marketing from Jimmie Mesis at PI Magazine.

Public Records Databases Roundup

Tamara Thompson — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 23:15:52 +0000

The New York Attorney General site, Project Sunlight, makes many New York State public records accessible in one search. Conduct a name search simultaneously through corporation, charities, lobbyist, financial contributions and state contracts databases.

U.S. Passport Applications 1795-1925 have been collected together into one database that can be searched by name or date and other criteria. Ancestry.com has assembled this from U.S. government sources The images of original applications may include photographs, physical descriptions, country of origin, place of residence, travel companions, marriage status and affidavits of relatives.

Search the FamilySearch.org index of international birth, death and marriage records collected by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ProGenealogists collect links to international vital records that are searchable in online databases.

Insurance companies, fraud and consumer resources

Tamara Thompson — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:32:06 +0000

The International Association of Insurance Fraud Agencies links to state government insurance agencies, insurance fraud associations and international organizations. In the U.S., the same government agency can be responsible for investigating individuals who defraud insurance companies as well as dishonest insurance representatives who steal from or otherwise defraud the consumer. This site covers both types of resources.

The Coalition Against Insurance Fraud delivers consumer fraud alerts and research papers to journalists. The Coalition also has brief summaries of various insurance scams.

The Fraud Prevention Checklist is an interactive guide to assessing a company’s vulnerability to fraud, provided by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Get insurance company financial profiles and data on the types of policies they issue, from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Consumer education and tips on email scams, mortgage costs, tainted drugs and identity theft prevention are at the federal government Federal Citizen Information Center, Consumer Action Web site. The site also has a complaint form letter and a list of all the federal agencies to which you direct your complaints, with topical indicators (i.e. “Airline Accessibility or Discrimination” or “Telephone Service”)

Some states list enforcement actions at their Web site. The Maryland Insurance Administration regulates Maryland insurance companies and agents. It issues public orders of actions it takes against agents, agencies and brokers, cataloged to 2003. Search all enforcement actions by keyword from the Google search engine using this query but replacing “keyword” with your terms.

keyword site:www.mdinsurance.state.md.us/

Malaysia Introduces New PI Television Series

Jimmie Mesis — Mon, 14 May 2007 12:31:16 +0000

The interest in private investigators isn’t limited to just the USA or the UK, as Malaysia introduces television viewers to their own version of a PI.

According to Malaysia’s The Star Online, TV3 has started airing a new action and comedy series Kaber Hero Kaber Zero. This private investigator has super powers and the script takes him on what is best described as weekly zany adventures. The show also includes computer generated graphics to enhance the powers that enables the private investigator to leap off tall buildings, run at high speed and even walk through walls.

Fortunately, the show is so far from reality, one would hope that the average person won’t expect real life private investigators to perform any of these feats. However, there are those that will now expect us to compete with Superman.