Private Investigator Basics: Surveillance

Surveillance Fundamentals

Surveillance involves the systematic observation of individuals, locations, or objects to record and ascertain contacts, activities, and movements. Private investigators employ surveillance for various purposes, including crime prevention, evidence collection for criminal and civil cases, documentation of an individual's location or actions, acquisition of information to support interviews, intelligence gathering for future operations, and securing details for use in legal proceedings.

Types of Investigations Requiring Surveillance

Surveillance plays a crucial role in a range of investigations, including missing person cases, worker’s compensation claims, child custody investigations, infidelity investigations (cheating spouse), vandalism incidents, and recurrent theft situations.

Types of Surveillance

Private investigators must select the most appropriate type of surveillance based on the specifics of each case and the investigation’s objectives. The nature of the case will determine whether surveillance should be mechanical or human, overt or covert, and stationary or mobile.

Mechanical Surveillance Versus Human Surveillance

Mechanical surveillance involves using technological devices, such as cameras or recording equipment, to monitor targets. This method offers several benefits: equipment doesn’t tire, get hungry, or lose focus, and multiple locations can be monitored simultaneously. For example, in theft cases at a construction site, private investigators may install cameras and later review the recordings for evidence.

Overt Surveillance Versus Covert Surveillance

Overt surveillance refers to monitoring activities that are plainly visible, such as security personnel patrolling shopping centers or the use of security cameras in casinos. This form of surveillance is intentionally made apparent to discourage theft or fraudulent behavior.

Mobile Surveillance Versus Stationary Surveillance

Mobile surveillance involves following moving targets, for instance, tailing someone who leaves a location in their car. In contrast, stationary surveillance means monitoring a fixed location or position.

Preparation for Surveillance

Understand the Client’s Needs

It is essential for private investigators to clarify what the client aims to achieve with surveillance. The client’s objectives will determine the types of surveillance, the project’s scope, and the necessary equipment. Investigators must educate clients and manage their expectations, as investigations are often more complex and costly than anticipated.

Know The Subject

Before conducting surveillance, private investigators should complete thorough background research on the subject. This includes obtaining the individual’s name, address, phone number, full physical description, photograph, and information about relatives nearby. Additional useful details include the subject’s routines, habits, hobbies, schedules, and associates.

Know The Area

Investigators should have a map of the surveillance area and, if possible, a photograph of the building or location to be watched. It’s helpful to visit the site at different times of day and night, especially if the surveillance will occur during less busy hours.

Know Your Equipment

The equipment used depends on the surveillance’s nature. Investigators should be thoroughly familiar with their devices and practice with them ahead of time. For example, if cameras or video cameras are required, it’s wise to have backups and extra batteries, as there’s rarely a second chance to capture key activities.

Know Yourself

Investigators should prepare mentally and physically by getting enough sleep, exercising, and having a clear plan. They must also be ready to handle unexpected encounters, such as being approached by strangers or law enforcement. Having a plausible cover story is essential to successful surveillance.

Key Qualities for Surveillance Investigators

Surveillance requires significant dedication and resilience. Successful investigators are outgoing, communicate well, act decisively, remember details, blend into their environment, and pay close attention to detail. Other important traits include honesty, patience, resourcefulness, flexibility, and the ability to concentrate for long hours, often under challenging conditions such as sitting in a vehicle for extended periods in extreme weather.

Ethics and Laws Relevant to Surveillance

Investigators must know and comply with all laws affecting their work in their respective states, particularly those involving trespassing and audio recording. Laws regarding audio recording vary by state, and some states prohibit covert audio recording. Failure to comply can result in serious legal consequences, including imprisonment.

Conclusion

Surveillance is not necessary in every investigation, but it is invaluable when visual confirmation of a target’s actions or location is needed for resolution. Whether the goal is to catch a thief, locate a missing person, or confirm the validity of a worker’s compensation claim, surveillance provides critical evidence and can be essential to a successful investigation.

Brian Blackwell Investigator | Harrisburg, PA
https://www.brianblackwell.biz

Insurance Claim Fraud Investigation

According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, an estimated $80 billion is paid out annually in fraudulent insurance claims. This affects every American, as these false insurance claims cost the average household more than $950 each year in higher premiums. Plus, false insurance claims can mean that you are held liable in a staged accident and increase your risk of being sued. The high instance of insurance fraud has meant that insurance companies are far more cautious when paying claims, which may mean that you need professional help to make your claim. An insurance fraud investigation is performed to find out if false claims are being submitted. Insurance fraud investigations are usually conducted when an adjuster has doubts about the case that they are evaluating. Don't let your insurance premiums be a waste of money. Use a qualified private investigator to safeguard your insurance privileges.

How is an Insurance Fraud Investigation Conducted?

There are several methods and techniques used to find information in an insurance fraud investigation. Most methods are used to find whether what the claimant claims is true or false. Here are a few commonly used techniques in insurance investigations:

• Surveillance to verify the claim
• Medical reports/history search
• Previous claims/accidents search
• Insurance coverage analysis
• Witness interviews
• Physician's billing search and analysis
• Claimant background check

Types of Insurance Fraud

In general terms, an investigator tries to determine whether someone has filed a false insurance claim. There are many types of insurance investigations, including:

• Health insurance fraud investigation. This investigation tries to determine whether someone is getting paid for health care that they are not receiving or is filing health care claims and requests that are not valid or needed. Insurance claims investigators will search billing records and make sure that doctors and patients are not colluding to commit fraud.
  
  
• Car insurance fraud investigation. Some criminals stage accidents, in which they purposely collide with another car and then try to accuse the other driver of an accident in order to file claims. Some criminals attempt vehicle theft fraud, trying to get money for a car which was not, in fact, stolen. Insurance fraud investigators uncover these schemes.
  
  
• Home insurance fraud investigation. In this type of insurance investigation, investigators discover disaster fraud, which includes false claims of damage. Investigators will often try to find out if the claimant has upgraded their coverage before the claim was filed. They also investigate property fraud to find evidence against those who make false claims about property damage.
  
  
• Life insurance fraud investigation. Investigators work to uncover cases of people who claim life insurance while still alive or those who claim too much in life insurance. Investigators also verify the existence of an individual who has life insurance being collected on them.
  
  
• Workers compensation fraud investigation. Investigators work to find evidence of workers who claim compensation when not as injured as they claim. Investigators will verify the severity of the injury and whether the injury occurred while the person was working.

Brian Blackwell Investigations

Insurance Fraud Investigations

What is an Insurance Fraud Investigation?

How is an Insurance Fraud Investigation Conducted?

There are several methods and techniques used to find information in an insurance fraud investigation. Most methods are used to find whether what the claimant claims is true or false. Here are a few commonly used techniques in insurance investigations:

• Surveillance to verify the claim
• Medical reports/history search
• Previous claims/accidents search
• Insurance coverage analysis
• Witness interviews
• Physician's billing search and analysis
• Claimant background check

An insurance fraud investigation centers around fraudulent attempts to collect based on excessive or false claims.

According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, an estimated $80 billion is paid out annually in fraudulent insurance claims. This affects every American, as these false insurance claims cost the average household more than $950 each year in higher premiums. Plus, false insurance claims can mean that you are held liable in a staged accident and increase your risk of being sued. The high instance of insurance fraud has meant that insurance companies are far more cautious when paying claims, which may mean that you need professional help to make your claim. An insurance fraud investigation is performed to find out if false claims are being submitted. Insurance fraud investigations are usually conducted when an adjuster has doubts about the case that they are evaluating. Don't let your insurance premiums be a waste of money. Use a private investigator to safeguard your insurance privileges.

What Kinds of Insurance Fraud are Investigated?

In general terms, an insurance investigator tries to determine whether someone has filed a false insurance claim. The types of insurance investigations:

• Health insurance fraud investigation. This investigation tries to determine whether someone is getting paid for health care that they are not receiving or is filing health care claims and requests that are not valid or needed. Insurance claims investigators will search billing records and make sure that doctors and patients are not colluding to commit fraud.
• Car insurance fraud investigation. Some criminals stage accidents, in which they purposely collide with another car and then try to accuse the other driver of an accident in order to file claims. Some criminals attempt vehicle theft fraud, trying to get money for a car which was not, in fact, stolen. Insurance fraud investigators uncover these schemes.
• Home insurance fraud investigation. In this type of insurance investigation, investigators discover disaster fraud, which includes false claims of damage. Investigators will often try to find out if the claimant has upgraded their coverage before the claim was filed. They also investigate property fraud to find evidence against those who make false claims about property damage.
• Life insurance fraud investigation. Investigators work to uncover cases of people who claim life insurance while still alive or those who claim too much in life insurance. Investigators also verify the existence of an individual who has life insurance being collected on them.
• Workers' compensation fraud investigation. Insurance investigators work to find evidence of workers who claim compensation when they are not as injured as they claim. Investigators will verify the severity of the injury and whether the injury occurred while the person was working.
• Insurance company investigation. Investigators also work to uncover evidence of bad business practices at insurance companies. If an insurance company takes your money but does not compensate you as promised, a professional investigator can help you make your case in court.

Isn't an Insurance Investigation Just for Insurance Companies?

Absolutely not. When people seek to make fraudulent insurance claims, they also often attempt to make claims from the estate of someone else they've implicated in the accident. For example, if someone sideswipes your car and then claims you're at fault for the accident, not only will your premiums increase, but the criminal may actually target you to get additional money. A fraud insurance investigation by a professional investigator can uncover the scheme and can save you the hassle and costs of a court case. It can also help you keep your insurance costs down.

If you yourself have been accused of insurance fraud, a qualified insurance investigator can help clear your name by gathering evidence of the injuries or damage sustained. This can help ensure that your insurance company pays you on time and pays you the full amount to which you are entitled.

BRIAN BLACKWELL
INVESTIGATIONS

Insurance Claim Investigation

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that 10% or more of property/casualty claims are fraudulent. While the vast majority of workers’ compensation claims are truthful, billions of dollars of false claims are filed each year. When all is said and done, insurance fraud costs Americans nearly $80 billion each year. As the number of claims being filed continues to rise, so does the number of fraudulent claims. Many individuals faced with economic hardship or simply seeking an easy way to earn additional income turn to the insurance industry as a means for financial gain. The result is a drastic rippling effect on the rest of the economy as American businesses and households pay billions of dollars annually in higher premiums and expenses related to fraud.

With insurance fraud being the second costliest white-collar crime in America, the need for professional insurance claims investigations is imperative. We have conducted hundreds of worker’s compensation investigations as well as other claims investigations for law firms and major insurance companies.

Mounting a successful insurance claim investigation is a multi-phased process that includes in-depth investigations, video and photographed surveillance, witness locating and interviewing, subpoena service. We consistently focus on the needs of the client while maintaining the integrity of the investigation.

You can rely on the professionals at Brian Blackwell Investigations, to handle your case with the utmost professionalism, integrity, and competence. Contact us today to receive the assistance you need.

BRIAN BLACKWELL
INVESTIGATIONS