ATM SCAM WORLWIDE

Source: F.B.I. http://www.fbi.gov/page2/nov09/atm_111609.html

It was a highly sophisticated and cleverly orchestrated crime plot. And one unlike any we’ve ever seen before.

It culminated a year ago this month—on November 8, 2008—when a wave of thieves fanned out across the globe nearly simultaneously. With cloned or stolen debit cards in hand—and the PINs to go with them—they hit more than 2,100 money machines in at least 280 cities on three continents, in such countries as the U.S., Canada, Italy, Hong Kong, Japan, Estonia, Russia, and the Ukraine.

When it was all over—incredibly within 12 hours—the thieves walked off with a total of more than $9 million in cash. And that figure would’ve been more, had the targeted ATMs not been drained of all their money.

This individual, one the suspected "cashers" at an ATM in the Atlanta area, is still at large. Contact our office in Atlanta at (404) 679-9000 if you have any information on him or the case. Details

The alleged masterminds of this slick scheme—prosecutors charged earlier this month following an extensive FBI investigation assisted by other federal agencies and our partners around the globe—were three 20-something Eastern Europeans and an unnamed person called simply “Hacker 3.”

Working together, the four hackers cooked up “perhaps the most sophisticated and organized computer fraud attack ever conducted,” according to Acting U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates of the Northern District of Georgia.

• It started when a 28-year-old Moldovan man learned of a vulnerability in the computer network of a major credit card processing company based in Atlanta. With an eye toward exploiting it, he passed that information to a hacker living in Estonia.
• The Estonian conducted “reconnaissance” on the network vulnerability and shared what he learned with a hacker in Russia.
• With the help of the three other hackers at varying times, the Russian busted into the electronic network, reverse-engineered the PIN codes from the encrypted system, and raised the limits on the amount of money that could be withdrawn from the prepaid payroll debit cards. (These cards, used by many companies, enable employees to withdrawal their salaries from an ATM.)
• In addition to providing computer support, Hacker 3 managed the network of thieves around the world—called “cashers”—who used a total of 44 counterfeit cards to withdrawal the $9 million. The Estonian also managed his own cashing group.
• As the cashers went to work, the Russian took the lead in monitoring the victim company’s database to track the illegal withdrawals. With the Estonian, he later deleted or tried to delete files on the computer network to cover their tracks.
• When the ATM thefts were complete, Hacker 3—with the help of the Estonian—gathered and divvied up the proceeds. The cashers got to keep 30 to 50 percent of the money they stole; the rest went to the four hackers.

Another wanted casher hits a convenience store in the Atlanta area. Details

Fortunately, the company reported the breach immediately, and we quickly got to work. Our ensuing case was made with a great deal of international cooperation and even led to joint investigations overseas. Suspected cashers, for example, have also been identified and arrested in Estonia and Hong Kong.

The case is a testament to both the globalized nature of crime in today’s world and the international reach of the FBI, which depends more and more on a network of 61 overseas offices worldwide to protect the U.S. from a range of national security and criminal threats.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING ALERT Beware of Seasonal Scams

“Oh, you better watch out…” Cyber shoppers should take heed of the familiar holiday song’s timeless refrain.

With holiday shopping in full swing and recession-wearied shoppers hunting for irresistibly good buys, it’s a safe assumption that crooks and scammers are baiting their traps with deals too good to be true.

On Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Thanksgiving and the unofficial kick-off of the online holiday shopping season, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) issued an alert reminding shoppers to be prudent with their purse strings and personal information.

“Cyber criminals continue to aggressively create new ways to steal money and personal information,” the alert states. Among the scams that prompt some 30,000 complaints each month to IC3, through its website www.ic3.gov, are:

Bogus online classified ads and auctions: Criminals post products they don’t have, or, in some cases, use stolen credit card numbers to purchase merchandise they offer in auctions. In another scam, criminals may promise free delivery and provide customers with free “paid” shipping labels that are fake and won’t be honored by shippers.

Tips: Don’t provide financial information directly to sellers—use a legitimate payment service. Check each seller’s feedback ratings and proven track record.
Phony gift cards: As with merchandise, be cautious about buying gift cards through classifieds or auctions.

Tip: Buy directly from a merchant or authorized retailer. Counterfeit cards won’t be honored.

Phishing: These time-tested scams arrive by e-mail or text message, directing recipients to follow a link or call a number to correct or update account information. Would-be victims are sent to fraudulent or spoofed websites that look legitimate and directed to provide their account information and personal details.

Tips: Don’t respond to unsolicited e-mail. Don’t click on e-mail links or download attachments from unknown senders.

The leading retail association predicted 96 million Americans would shop online on Cyber Monday alone, and millions more during the month of December. For criminals, the numbers spell opportunity. Shoppers, meanwhile, should exercise the same caution they would in a crowded mall—eyes wide open, protecting themselves and their money.

“If you’re shopping online, make sure the website is secure and it’s not a cloned website,” says Supervisory Special Agent Leslie Hoppey, acting unit chief of the Internet Crime Complaint Center. “If you want to deal with a business, go directly to their official website.”

IC3 last year received more than 275,000 complaints and reported losses of $265 million—an average of $931 per complaint. The most common complaints in 2008 were non-delivered merchandise or payment (32 percent) and auction fraud (25 percent).

Some additional tips—have the latest version of security software installed on your computer and make sure online transactions are secure. And she offers a holiday classic as time-honored as re-gifting: “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

Signs of a Serial Cheater

No one wants to date someone who is a serial cheater. How do you know if someone is willing to cheat on you though? A number of different signs may indicate that someone has cheated many, many times in the past. Here are some of the common characteristics of serial cheaters.
Cheating in Past Relationships

If someone has cheated in a previous relationship, this may be a sign that they are a serial cheater. While there are some people who cheat once and never cheat again, the saying “once a cheater, always a cheater” is generally true in most cases. When you know that the person you are dating has cheated once or more, then you should know to be cautious when entering a relationship with them. Even if the person has not admitted to cheating, it is likely that you will still hear rumors about them that may or may not be true.

Lots of Short Relationships

Some serial cheaters remain in one long relationship with someone who they frequently cheat on. This is not always the case, however. Many serial cheaters have a lot of very Short Relationships. The best way to find out is to ask the person how many Relationships they have been in. Also keep in mind that you will want to ask what the length of their longest relationship was. If the relationship was only a few months long, this may indicate that they do not have success in this department and it very well could be because they are a serial cheater.

Words and Actions

It is often easy to spot a serial cheater based on their words and actions. Anyone who makes themselves seem like the perfect person to get into a relationship with may be trying too hard. When someone is a really great person, they will not give you more complements than necessary or talk about a perfect future with you. If the person that you are seeing is insisting that you become sexually involved after one or two dates, this is also something that may indicate that they have been around the block more times than you can count.

Friends and Family

When you begin seeing someone, it is very common to not meet any of their Friends or Family members right away. Once the relationship is made official, it is very unusual to not be introduced to anyone that the guy or girl you are seeing knows. If you almost feel as though you are being kept hidden, it could be because you really are. Be sure to bring it up and if the person becomes defensive, it could be a sign that the person is really a serial cheater.

These are just a few of the signs that may indicate that someone is a serial cheater. The most important thing to keep in mind is that if someone has been willing to cheat in the past, they are also willing to cheat on you. Even though you may feel like you’re special or different, the truth is that you probably aren’t. Spotting a serial cheater early on will help prevent you from being the next brokenhearted victim.

Extra Marital Affairs – The Serial Cheater

The type of man that we will describe is the one who has an almost insatiable appetite for women—as many as he can have. Some are married. Others are single. Society rather expects single men to “have their fling” but not married men. We call these men “serial” cheaters because like addicts—they don’t seem to be able to stop their addictive behavior. In the case of the serial cheater, his addiction is his compulsion to “sleep around” with as many women as possible.


These men are very skillful in their seduction of women. They are quite careful in their selections of the women they target for an affair. The women are often lonely, suffer from low self esteem, and are desperate for a relationship. He goes after them tenaciously. He knows how to approach them, what to wear, what to say, what lies to tell, and how to take advantage of the woman’s vulnerability. Even though she may be aware that he’s not being completely honest, she may be so desperate for love, affection, and attention that she’ll discount his dishonesty and may even make excuses for his deceit in order to keep the relationship going.

Prominent married men who are serial cheaters are able to take advantage of their status to seduce women. They have power, influence, and money and they use all three to seduce and manipulate the women in their lives. This includes their wives and all the “other women.” The wife tends to be almost totally dependent on him and he is able to manipulate and control her. She may be aware of his exploits but be incapable of doing much about it except to complain. He may promise to do better, end his “wandering” ways, and may even agree to go to counseling. He will do and say almost anything in an attempt to convince the wife that he’s trying to do better while actually continuing his extra marital relationships.

Men who have status and position often have the means to keep their extra marital affairs secret. They do an exceptional job of hiding their exploits. If the cheater is affiliated with a company, a political party, a church, a business or some organization that has a repetition to protect, the leaders of those institutions may assist the cheater in “keeping the affair under wraps” in order to protect the organization’s image. They may be able to keep these affairs out of public view for quite some time, but eventually, “what is done in the dark eventually comes to the light.” The discovery may come as a surprise to the public, but not to those close enough to know the husband’s history of cheating.

A marriage involving a serial cheater is considerably more difficult to correct because of the man’s continuous pattern of deceit. At some point, eventually the wife may grow tired enough to end the masquerade. Hopefully, she will grow from the experience so that she can create a healthy and meaningful relationship in the future.

Regardless of the reason for the extra marital affair, the solution is the same. The solution is appropriate for couples of all ages and status. It’s quite simple. Fix the marriage! The only difference between an older man having an affair and a younger man is time—the amount of time it takes each to fix the marriage, if it can be fixed, and if not, the husband owes it to the wife to end the marriage and allow her the opportunity to find happiness in another relationship. But we’d advise the man not to “throw in the towel” too soon, believing that the “grass is greener over there” with the other woman. If you’re a man who has decided to leave your wife to pursue a life with the other woman, in time, you may discover that you’ve made the biggest mistake of your life. But after all the pain has been inflicted, you, your wife, and your children have been exposed to public humiliation, and the money divided, it’s just too late to go back. Our recommendation is that you end the affair immediately and put your attention and energy into fixing your marriage!

MurderSuspect Goes Ballistic In Court

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GOLF CLUB OR OTHER -- YOU DECIDE

VACATION LODGE HOMICIDE

Orlando: Vacation Lodge Homicide

Date: March 11, 2009

Vacation Lodge Orange County, Floirda,

62 year old Lawrence Stefkovich deceased. Mr. Stefkovich resided for approximately 2 years at the Vacation Lodge. He left and then recently returned to the Vacation Lodge. Details on manner and cause of death will not be released. The motive for the murder is undetermined at this time.

Two children missing: Tammy and Diego Flores

Tammy and Diego, now aged 5 and 4 respectively, have been missing from Victorville, CA since October 23, 2007. They were allegedly abducted by their father, Francisco Flores. A felony warrant was issued for Francisco Flores for kidnapping on January 18, 2008.

They may still be in the local Victorville area or travel to Oregon or Mexico.

Francisco has a mole on each cheek and one under his nose.

Tammy was born on March 30, 2004. Deigo was born on July 28, 2005.



Name: Francisco Flores
From: Victorville, CA
Height: 6' 0
Weight: 210 lbs.
Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Black
Date of Birth: Apr 23, 1974
Date of Disappearance: Oct 21, 2007

CON MAN IN ORLANDO

Couple: Con Man Tried To Sell Our Land
Man Accused Of Trying To Sell Land That Wasn't His
POSTED: Thursday, August 13, 2009
UPDATED: 11:46 am EDT August 14, 2009


Cedric Frierson More

WINDERMERE, Fla. -- An Orange County family wants to warn Central Floridians about a con man who they said nearly destroyed their retirement plans.
VIDEO: Couple Says Man Pretended To Be Son
Jean Guerrier said Cedric Frierson tried to sell a piece of property he and his wife own and pocket the money.

Guerrier said he and his wife hope to someday build their retirement home on a piece of land they own near Windermere, but earlier this summer, they said Frierson tried to sell the land without their knowledge.
The Guerriers met Frierson when he offered to rent a townhome the couple owns near the Orange County Convention Center. The couple was thrilled with their new tenant.
"When he came, I thought he was a very decent man. He came with family, his wife and four kids," Guerrier said.

Guerrier said he and his wife Jacqueline thought it was a bit odd when Frierson gave him a nickname.

"He just called me 'Pop.' And asked for me to call him 'Son.' He said, 'From now on, I'm going to call you Pops,'" Guerrier said.
The couple said Frierson offered to help them sell off some of their many investment properties, including the lot in Windermere, but they declined and said the land was not for sale.

Guerrier said Frierson ignored them, and tried to sell the land anyway without his knowledge by forging the couple's signature on a contract and giving a realtor permission to list their property for $215,000.
The land was photographed, an MLS listing was created and the property was put up for sale.

The realtor said Frierson told him that the Guerriers were his parents.
When the realtor requested a survey of the land, Frierson reportedly forwarded him an e-mail, claiming it was written by Guerrier, in which Guerrier addressed Frierson as his son.

The Guerriers said when they discovered their land had been put up for sale, they confronted Frierson., who moved out of their townhome and disappeared.
Private investigator James Copenhaver is trying to track down Frierson and said he believes the man may be scamming other Central Floridians.
"The economy is in the tank, and Jean and his wife were bamboozled by this Cedric character," Copenhaver said.

The Guerriers filed a criminal complaint against Frierson with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

"I think the only thing that will help him is to go to jail, because that's the only place he will learn. Even God, I don't think God can help him," Guerrier said.
The realtor took the land off the market after becoming suspicious of Frierson.
Local 6 has been unable to contact Frierson for a comment.

INJURY CASE CAUGHT WITHOUT HER WALKER

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THEFT CASE AT A LOCAL MALL

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MASCOTTE HOME INVASION-MURDER

ENHANCED REWARD $7,000
Mascotte: Home Invasion, Homicide

Date: October 31, 2008

Approximately 9:24pm, Officers of the Mascotte Police Department responded to 828 Anderson Avenue, Mascotte, for a reported Home Invasion Robbery and Shooting. Officers arrived on scene and discovered that two subjects had been shot. One victim survived the shooting and the second died as a result of the shooting. Witnesses and the surviving victim said that a young white female and young light skinned male (White or Hispanic) entered the residence pointing small black in color semi-automatic pistols at the victims and witnesses. The female spoke some Spanish, the male subject had a dark colored covering over his head/facial area and dark sunglasses on. The suspects began demanding money and cell phones. The surviving victim resisted, not wanting to give up his money and the female shot him. One of the two suspects then shot the second victim, who died. The two then fled the residence on foot in an easterly direction on Anderson Avenue and then toward State Route 50.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT AGAIN !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK5MBhfsr1E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDi3oJJ46gQ

FBI 10 Most Wanted

Has Your Cell Phone Been Bugged?

Although it is unlikely to happen to most people, it has gotten increasingly easier to bug cell phones. It was recently revealed that law enforcement was using the bugging of cell phones to listen in on suspects.

Watch this short video by Vortex to help determine if your phone has been compromised.

Are You Being Stalked?

Our firm receives several Stalking investigations per month. Protect yourself against stalking. If you think you are being stalked or are suffering harassment, report your concerns to the police.

How you can help yourself
• Take a mobile telephone with you when you go out.
• Carry a personal attack alarm and learn how to use it - do not carry anything that is meant for use as a weapon.
• Try to alter your daily routines, ask friends to go with you whenever possible, and always try to let someone know what your plans are. Help the police to help you
• Keep a record of what happened, where, when every time you were followed, phoned, received post or e-mail.
• The more details you have the better, how the offender looked or sounded, what they were wearing, the make, and number plate or color of their car.
• Keep letters, and parcels as evidence: even if they contain frightening or upsetting messages, do not throw them away and handle them as little as possible.
• Keep copies of e-mails on disk and print out hard copies, do not delete the original.
• Making notes in a diary is a good idea. Write the information down as soon as possible, when events are still fresh in your mind.
• Tape record telephone conversations if you can and keep the tape.
• If you recognize the handwriting, you can keep letters or parcels as evidence without having to open them.
• Make sure you keep any stored messages (including text messages) or telephone numbers that you have received on your mobile phone and caller ID units.
• Tell your friends, neighbors and work colleagues about what is happening.
• Try to get photographic or video evidence of your stalker (especially if they are someone already warned by the police not to come near you).

Avoiding unwanted calls
• Answer the phone by saying 'hello', not your name or number.
• Try to keep calm and not show emotion, many callers will give up if they don't think they're making an impression on you or your feelings.
• Use an answer machine to screen out calls and only talk to people you want to.
• If the caller rings again, put the handset down on a table for a few minutes - the caller will think you're listening. After a few minutes replace the handset, you do not have to listen to what the caller has to say.

If you know or find out who is stalking you
• Do not confront your stalker or even engage them in conversation.
• Do not, under any circumstances, agree to a meeting to talk about how you feel about them constantly bothering you.
• Do not respond in any way to calls, letters, or conversations. If you ignore the phone nine times and pick it up on the tenth, you will send the message that persistence pays. Once they have your attention, they will be encouraged to carry on.
• Ask friends or solicitors to contact them if you want to get a message to them.

How Much do you Know About Stalking?

Stalking Awareness month is January. The Stalking Resource Center of the National Center for Victims of Crime and the Office on Violence Against Women of the U.S. Department of Justice have come together and provided some powerful tools to use in gaining knowledge of this safety issue. Their goal is to provide a way to educate our communities about stalking and to raise awareness.

Among the tools available are videos, buttons, posters and pamphlets in both English and Spanish. Check out their website to learn what you can do to help in the fight to stop stalking.

To visit the "STALKING: KNOW IT. NAME IT. STOP IT." website, click here.

Man Rapes Woman Stranded On I-4

Cops: Man Raped Woman Stranded On I-4
Altamonte Springs Police Officer Finds Suspect At Storage Unit

October 29, 2009

Winel A. Castro Molina, 33.
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- An officer checking a suspicious car at an Altamonte Springs storage facility discovered a man raping a woman who had been stranded along Interstate 4, police said.

VIDEO: Police: Stranded Woman Raped

Winel A. Castro Molina, 33, was arrested Thursday on a charge of sexual battery.

According to Altamonte Springs police, the 26-year-old woman pulled over on I-4, just after the Altamonte Springs exit, because she was feeling ill. Police said Molina pulled over and offered to drive her home.

Altamonte Springs police said Molina entered the woman's vehicle at about 3 a.m. Thursday and drove her to Assured Self Storage, located at 510 Douglas Ave. in Altamonte Springs, and raped her.

An officer in the area noticed a car parked suspiciously and found Molina with the woman in the back seat of her vehicle, police said.

Police said the woman was so sick and disoriented she was not aware what was happening.

Molina was taken to the Seminole County Jail.

Man who found Caylee Anthony’s remains fired

Man who found Caylee Anthony’s remains fired

Updated: Thursday, 29 Oct 2009, 6:15 PM EDTPublished : Thursday, 29 Oct 2009, 1:14 PM EDT

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - The Orange County meter reader who called a crime hot line with a tip that led to the discovery of 3-year-old Caylee Anthony's body in December, has been fired from his job at the utility company.

Last December Roy Kronk became a household name in Central Florida when he came forward as the man who found what turned out to be the remains of Caylee Anthony. After making that discovery on Suburban Drive, Kronk did not go back to being a meter reader. On February 8th Kronk was transferred. According to his personnel file he was promoted to being an Inventory Specialist for the county. But that job only lasted 8 months. Kronk was terminated Wednesday. Today the big question, why? Though a public information request to the Orange County, FOX 35 got a copy of Kronk's personnel file. According to Kronk's personnel records he last reported to work on July 20. Somehow he got hurt. At this point it's not clear if it was on or off the job. Since then Kronk has been on family medical leave. According to his personnel records he was sent several certified letters. The only one the county has record of Kronk accepting, the letter alerting Kronk his 480 hours of family leave act time expired October 2nd. Records show Kronk never returned to work and never contacted a supervisor. Kronk was sent a letter stating he was scheduled for a predetermination hearing on Tuesday to discuss his excessive or habitual absenteeism, unauthorized absences and insubordination. Records show that Kronk skipped yesterday's hearing. The county decided to terminate Kronk citing he's been medically separated because he can't handle essentials of his job for health reasons. Kronk's attorney sent out a statement this afternoon. He says this dispute is all about an injury Kronk got on the job. "Mr. Kronk and his doctors did not consider it safe or medically appropriate to resume those duties at this time". Attorney David Evans also told FOX 35 that Kronk is evaluating his legal option.

Evans released the following statement Thursday afternoon:

"I have received a number of inquiries today regarding the decision by Orange County Utilities to terminate Roy Kronk's employment yesterday. I am furnishing this statement on Mr. Kronk's behalf. Mr. Kronk is the Orange County Utilities worker who found the remains of Caylee Anthony. The termination of Mr. Kronk relates to a difference of opinion between Mr. Kronk and Orange County regarding a workplace injury sustained by Mr. Kronk in the course of his job duties at an Orange County Utilities warehouse. This dispute arose because Mr. Kronk's management directed him to resume work duties after his injury, and Mr. Kronk and his health care providers did not consider it to be safe or medically appropriate to resume those duties at this time. Mr. Kronk is evaluating his legal options relating to his termination. In the meantime, Mr. Kronk is volunteering his time to a veteran's group in Osceola County--he is providing counseling to military veterans to help ease their adjustment to civilian life." David Evans Attorney for Roy Kronk

Halloween Safety Tips

BEFORE HALLOWEEN:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective in order to increase visibility to motorists. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.

• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.

• Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.

• Because a mask can limit or block eyesight, consider non toxic and hypoallergenic or a decorative hat as a safe alternative.

• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame resistant.

• Think twice before using simulated knives, guns or swords. If such props must be used, be certain they do not appear authentic and are soft and flexible to prevent injury.

• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.

• Plan ahead to use only battery powered lanterns or chemical light sticks in place of candles in decorations and costumes.

• Teach children their home phone number and to how call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost. Remind them that 9-1-1 can be dialed free from any phone.

• Review with your children the principle of "Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
• Openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.

• Consider purchasing individually packaged healthy food alternatives (or safe non-food treats) for those who visit your home.

• Take extra effort to eliminate tripping hazards on your porch and walkway. Check around your property for flower pots, low tree limbs, support wires or garden hoses that may prove hazardous to young children rushing from house to house.

• Please learn or review CPR skills to aid someone who is choking or having a heart attack.

• Consider safe party guidelines when hosting an Adult or Office Party.

FUN ALTERNATIVES:

• Find a special event or start one in your own neighborhood.

• Community Centers, Shopping Malls and Houses of Worship may have organized festivities.

• Share the fun by arranging a visit to a Retirement Home or Senior Center.

• Create an alliance with College Fraternities, Sororities or Service Clubs for children's face painting or a carnival.

BEFORE NIGHTFALL ON HALLOWEEN:

• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.

• Consider fire safety when decorating. Do not overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special effects, and do not block exit doors.

• While children can help with the fun of designing a Jack O' Lantern, leave the carving to adults.
• Always keep Jack O' Lanterns and hot electric lamps far away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials or areas where children and pets will be standing or walking.

• Plan and review with your children the route and behavior which is acceptable to you.

• Do not permit children to bicycle, roller-blade or skateboard.

• Agree on a specific time when revelers must return home.

• Along with flashlights for all, older children and escorts should wear a wristwatch and carry coins for non-emergency phone calls.

• Confine, segregate or otherwise prepare household pets for an evening of frightful sights and sounds. Be sure that all dogs and cats are wearing collars and proper identification tags.

• Remind all household drivers to remain cautious and drive slowly throughout the community.
• Adult partygoers should establish and reward a designated driver

WHEN TRICK-OR-TREATING:

• A Parent or responsible Adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.

• Remind Trick-or-Treaters:

• By using a flashlight, they can see and be seen by others.

• Stay in a group, walk slowly and communicate where you are going.

• Only trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods at homes that have a porch light on.

• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.

• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the farthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.

• Never cut across yards or use alleys.

• Never enter a stranger's home or car for a treat.

• Obey all traffic and pedestrian regulations.

• Always walk. Never run across a street.

• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom).

• Remove any mask or item that will limit eyesight before crossing a street, driveway or alley.

• Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will.

• Never consume unwrapped food items or open beverages that may be offered.

• No treats are to be eaten until they are thoroughly checked by an Adult at home.

• Law Enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

AFTER TRICK-OR-TREATING:

• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible Adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.

• Try to apportion treats for the days following Halloween.

• Although sharing is encouraged, make sure items that can cause choking (such as hard candies), are given only to those of an appropriate age.

4 Tips On How To Use Social Networks For Employee Screening

One of the hottest and most controversial topics in the background screening space is the use of social networks to screen employees.

The New York Law Journal covers this important issue in an article titled “Social Networking and Blogging: Managing the Conversation.”

The Tips:
1.Employers choosing to screen blogs and social networking profiles must also comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA requires an applicant’s or employee’s consent before an employer may engage a “consumer reporting agency” to produce a “consumer report” on that individual. FCRA does not prohibit employers from receiving or using the consumer report that contains information derived from social networking sites or blogs, but it requires disclosure that such information resulted in an adverse employment decision.

2. Employers should also develop clear rules regarding their hiring procedure if they wish to make use of available online information from personal blogs and social networking sites for screening purposes.

3. For instance, it is vital that a wall be constructed between the ultimate decision maker and the individual conducting the initial online research. While specific rules will vary based on an individual employer’s needs, any employer utilizing these technologies should ensure that irrelevant information is screened and filtered before it reaches the decision maker.

4. The law applicable to employee blogging and social networking is still evolving, and the lack of legal precedent leaves significant room for interpretation. When making use of online resources, however, it is better to err on the side of caution, as the potential risks to the employer can be significantly greater than any benefits the additional information social networking sites and blogs may provide.

Background Checks

It’s not everyday that I see a headline like this in our local newspaper, The Columbus Dispatch.

Last night the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities voted to require background checks every three years on all their employees. Previously, background checks were conducted upon hiring and the county relied on the honor system for employees to report any offense after that.

This is a good reminder that your organization should have a Post-Hire Screening Program in place.
A Post-Hire Screening Program (also called recurring screening) is considered a best practice for employers. It ensures a safe workplace and helps reduce the risk of a negligent retention lawsuit. Conducting checks on all new hires is essential. Keep in mind that a lot can happen in the years after a new hire comes aboard. Companies should consider protecting themselves with periodic post-hire criminal checks and drug screening.

Statistics on Cheating Spouses

Studies have shown us many things about marriages, divorces and the role adultery plays in many divorces. The following are statistics on cheating spouses

About Marriages and Divorce:

50-70 percent of all American marriages end in divorce. •

Within the last decade, incidents of adultery have risen to this alarming rate of 50-70 percent in America.

About the Adulterers:

100 percent of adulterers violate the trust they shared and enjoyed with their spouse. •

10-20 percent of spouse's cheating begins as Internet affairs in chat rooms or at game websites. •

75 percent of adulterers are middle-class wage earners. •

1-5 percent of adulterers are pastors or clergy. •

90 percent of clergy divide churches and cause spiritual upheaval within their sphere of influence. Many congregants become skeptical, bitter and resentful. •

60-70 percent of adultery victims are women. •

30-40 percent of adultery victims are men. This number has increased dramatically over the past decade and a half, due in part to the increased presence of women in the workplace.•

10-15 percent of female victims are between the ages of 20-25 years old.•

50-75 percent of female victims are between the ages of 25-50 years old.•

1-2 percent of female victims are married more than 25 years to the same spouse.•

10-20 percent of adultery victims claim to be Christians, and the cheating spouse usually is a regular attendant of church or religious activities.•

15-20 percent are repeat offenders.•

99.9 percent deny they are having an affair and hide the truth! The exception is when they confess without being forced into it. •

70-80 percent who willing confess to infidelity recovery and enjoy a stronger marriage in time.

About the Affair:

50-75 percent of extramarital affairs take place with someone from the workplace.•

70-80 percent of the time, extramarital activity lasts six months to a year but not longer.•

20-25 percent of adulterers frequent motels or hotels.•

75 percent of sexual activity occurs in a residence, apartment, or office location.•

80-85 percent of domestic relations investigations reveal evidence of adultery when one spouse questions the other's devotion and loyalty.•

30-50 percent of affairs involve alcohol during their indiscretions.•

50 percent of extramarital affairs take place under cover of darkness or in the shadow of the night.•

50-65 percent of extramarital affairs occur on weekends.•

10-15 percent of marriages survive affairs after professional or non-professional (clergy) counseling where the act of forgiveness occurs.•

10-25 percent of spouses having affairs bring financial ruin to their marital home.•

10 percent of affairs result in physical abuse with their spouse at some stage of the affair.•

100 percent of extramarital affairs take their toll on biological and stepchildren. Don't make any sudden moves!

Univ of Central Florida crime rate down

ORLANDO -- The crime rate on the sprawling University of Central Florida campus dropped for the second straight year.


Click here to read more.

Law Enforcement Officers to Take Spanish Lessons

Officers from different law enforcement agencies gathered at the Stuart Police Department this week for some Spanish lessons.

The lessons are aimed at improving communication lines between officers and Spanish-speaking drivers.

Officers from the Florida Highway Patrol and local police learned some basic Spanish skills, from the alphabet to conducting field sobriety tests in the language.

"It's difficult enough talking to a drunk in English, let alone talking to a drunk in a foreign language," one officer said.

Kahlia Mizell of the Florida Highway Patrol said she has had several experiences trying to communicate with Spanish-speaking drivers.

"There was a vehicle that was weaving all over the road," Mizell said. She said she pulled the vehicle over and found that the driver did not speak English. They had to communicate in hand gestures, Mizell said.

"You really have to get a Spanish speaking officer there because if you are trying to make an arrest with something serious like a DUI, you want it to stick in court so you don't want to have any communication problems," said Mizell.

Police officers and highway patrol troopers said that while the lessons were challenging, they were confident that they would come in handy in the future.

Problems with iPhone 3G Security

This brief video demonstrates the simplicity in removing the passcode PIN and backup encryption from the iPhone 3G[s] without revealing the actual recipe.

Couple: Con Man Tried To Sell Our Land

An Orange County family wants to warn Central Floridians about a con man who they say nearly destroyed their retirement plans. Thursday, August 13, 2009. Private investigator James Copenhaver is trying to track down the con man and said he believes the man may be scamming other Central Floridians.

Read the story in the news at "Click Orlando.com". Click here

Another cheater caught in the act

Copenhaver & Associates Orlando Private Investigations is located in Orlando, Florida. Surveillance experts, with over 25 years of experience. Call us today (407) 802-1670

Renters taken by poser landlord

Copenhaver & Associates retained by local man, where his home was rented without his knowledge. Click here to read more on MyFoxOrlando.com

Who's Buying Cell Records?

Both federal and local level law enforcement officials have purchased cell phone records and other private information from Internet-based data collection services as an investigative short-cut, MSNBC.com has learned. At least one Web-based data seller has told Congress that the FBI is a client.

Click here to read more at MSNBC.