Brooks Brothers Investigations Blog

How Money Laundering Works!!

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:50:56 GMT

How it Works. By, Detective Brooks Brooks Brothers Investigations

Netflix series!! Watch a financial adviser drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, a Netflix series, where he must launder $500 million in five years to appease a drug boss!

How money laundering works

As one of the most notorious gangsters in history, AL Capone presided over a vast and profitable empire of organized crime. But when he was finally put on trial, the most he could be convicted of was tax evasion. While nearly hundred million dollars a year which is 1.4 billion in today’s currency that AL Capone had earned from illegal gambling, bootlegging, brothels and extortion would have served as evidence of his crimes, but the money was nowhere to be found. AL Capone and his associates had hidden it through investments in various businesses whose ultimate ownership couldn’t be proven like cash only laundromats. In fact, those laundromats are part of the reason for the name of this activity, money laundering.

Money laundering came to be the term of any process that cleans illegally obtained funds of their dirty criminal origins allowing them to be used within the legal economy. But Al Capone wasn’t the first to launder money, in fact, this practice is about as old as money itself. Merchants hide their riches from tax collectors while others sort to sell their bounty without drawing attention to how they got it.

Although modern money laundering methods vary greatly, most share three basic steps, placement, layering and integration.

Placement

This is where illegally obtained money is converted into assets that seem legitimate. As often done by depositing funds into a bank account registered to anonymous cooperation or professional middleman. This step is where criminals are often most vulnerable to detection since they introduce massive wealth into the financial system seemingly out of nowhere

Layering

Involves using multiple transactions to further distance funds from their origin. This can take the form of transfers between multiple accounts and purchase of tradeable properties like expensive cars, and real estate. Casinos where large sums of money change hand every second are also popular venues for layering, a money launder may have their gambling balance made available at a casino chains locations in other countries or work with employees to rig games

Integration

This is the last step which allows the clean money to re-enter the mainstream economy and benefit the original criminal. They might invest it into a legal business, claiming payments by producing fake invoices or even start a bogus charity placing themselves on the board of directors with an absorbent salary.

Money laundering itself wasn’t officially recognized as a federal crime in the United States until 1986. Before that point, the government needed to prosecute a related crime by tax evasion. In 1986 onwards, they could confiscate wealth simply by demonstrating that laundering has occurred which had a positive effect on prosecuting major criminal operations.

Netflix series!! Watch a financial adviser drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, a Netflix series, where he must launder $500 million in five years to appease a drug boss!

Detective Craig Brooks

Brooks Brothers Investigations

How to spot a Liar

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:48:39 GMT

THIS CAN BE LEARNED

It takes a long time to learn how to spot a liar, and to learn how to read body language. We are anywhere from 10 to 200 lies a day, and we spend much of our history coming up with ways to detect them. From the evil torture devices to polygraphs, blood pressure and breathing monitor, voice stress analyzer, eye trackers, infrared brain scanners and even the 400-pound electroencephalograph. But although such tools have worked under certain circumstances, most can be fooled with enough preparation and none are considered reliable enough to even be admissible in court. What if the problem is not with the techniques, but the underlying assumption that lying surpasses physiological changes? What if we took a more direct approach using communication science to analyze the lies themselves?

On a psychological level, we lie partly to paint a better picture of ourselves; connecting our fantasies to the person we wish we were rather than the person we are. But while our brain is busy dreaming, it is letting plenty of signals to slip by. Our conscious mind only controls about 5% of our cognitive function including communication, while the 95% occurs beyond our awareness and according to the literature on reality monitoring, stories based on imaginary experiences are quite qualitatively different from those based on real experiences. This suggests that creating a false story about a personal topic takes work and results in a different pattern of language use.

A technology known as the linguistic text analysis has helped identify 4 such common patterns in the subconscious language of deception. First, liars reference themselves less when making deceptive statements, they write or talk more about others often using the third person to distance and disassociate themselves from the lie. Second, liars tend to be more negative, because, on a sub-conscious level, they feel guilty about lying, for example, a liar might say something like “sorry my stupid phone battery died, I hate that thing.” Third, liars typically explain events in simple terms since our brain struggles to build a complex lie, judgment and evaluation are complex things for our brains to compute. Finally, even though liars keep deceptions simple, they tend to use longer and more convoluted sentence structure, inserting unnecessary words in relevant but factual sounding detail in order to pad the lie.

So how can you apply this lie spotting techniques to your life? First, remember that many of the lies we encounter on a daily basis are far less serious than you might think and may even be harmless. But it is still worthwhile to be aware of clues like minimal self-reference, negative language, simple explanations, and convoluted phrasing. It might just help you avoid an overvalued stock, an ineffective product or even a terrible relationship.

Detective Craig Brooks

Brooks Brothers Investigations

Brookspi.com

Tips to Stop Criminals from Choosing Your Home!

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:46:02 GMT

Easy steps to prevent home invasions.

Private Investigator Craig Brooks

Tips to Stop Criminals from Choosing Your Home!

Easy steps to prevent home invasions: Brooks Brothers Investigations Craig Brooks

As a police officer I investigated hundreds of burglaries. Remember Hardworking criminals can gain access to almost any home. Fortunately, most criminals aren’t hardworking at break-in time. Instead they look for easy marks. Let’s read on for some home security tips that can lower the odds of home invasion and improve your peace of mind.

Your home is your castle, keeping it secure and your family safe should be a high priority. Many focus on how to handle a bugler once they enter your home, instead you should focus on methods to reduce your home from being an easy target. Consider the mindset of someone who is wanting to illegally enter your home, most buglers and home invaders are opportunists. They are looking for an easy target with a low chance of risk to themselves. Finding a way to reduce the probability that someone would want to illegally enter your home can be done with the following easy steps.

1. Lock your doors and windows

This might seem like common sense, but many people forget to lock their doors and windows and hence providing easy access to points to buglers. According to our research, about 33% of buglers in the United States are considered unlawful entry and less of burglary, meaning intruders gained entry without breaking in usually through an unlocked door.

2. Make your house well light at night.

Someone looking to enter your home doesn’t want to be seen. It is easy to forget to turn the lights on sometimes so just set them to turn on automatically when it's dark using a photosensitive switch.

Outside your home, have motion-activated lights or keep lights on throughout the night. (Solar lights might be most cost effective and reliable.) Place the lights up high and where they aren't easily disabled.

Inside your home, keep lights on even when you’re away. Security systems with home automation make it easy to program your home’s lighting. With mobile app control, you can adjust the lamps no matter where you are. Automated window blinds are an option too.

3. Make it appear someone is at home.

Contrary to popular beliefs most home invasions don’t occur at night, 67% of them often occur between 6 am and 6 pm. Most times a bugler attempting to access your home during the day will pose as a salesman to find out if someone is home. Often, they will knock on your door and if no one responds it’s a green light to them.

4. Learn to rely on neighbors to watch your house

The best way to have your neighbors is to be a good neighbor. Take your time to develop a good relationship with your neighbors. Or even volunteer to be in the neighborhood watch association if there is one in your area. This way you can always be sure your home is safe when you are not around.

5. Remove shrubbery from around the house

Doing this will make the bugler not have anywhere to hide. Also, consider planting plants around your house that have thorns. Anything you can do to make it difficult for them to get close to your house will make it a challenge to them.

With these simple and inexpensive steps, you can severely reduce the probability that your home will be a target for home invasion.

6. Use Radio and TV

When you leave your home, help create the impression it's occupied by playing a talk radio station or the TV. Criminals might still try to break in if they think they won’t be noticed, but the sound of voices can be a deterrent.

7. Fortify Your Doors

A properly fortified door can’t be kicked in. You can reinforce a basic wooden door with a few inexpensive metal strike plates. A strike plate is several inches high and covers part of a door’s front, side and back. Similar reinforces can be installed around door handles so that they’re more difficult to remove.

As for locks, strong doors are secured with high quality deadbolt locks. An effective door lock is solid metal (not hollow) with a throw at least 1.5 inches long. Many of the leading home security companies sell powerful door locks with keypads.

8. Guard Your Windows

To help stop criminals from choosing your home, walk around the premises and examine your windows with a criminal mind. Are basement windows easy to open? Protect them with metal grates or bars. Are higher-up windows accessible? Remember that criminals could use a ladder, a patio table, a drainpipe, a car or each other’s shoulders as a boost. Use window locks!

9. Lock Away Helpful Objects

Homeowners sometimes make criminals’ job easy by providing the tools! Store your ladders and stackable items (such as heavy boxes) in a locked area. Avoid placing a table or other item near your home where it might be used as a step. Keep your snow shovels and other potential break-and-entry tools out of reach.

10. Don’t Stash a Key

The most helpful object for an intruder is a house key. Many people think that they hide their spare keys. However, stashing a key is very risky. It raises the risk of entering your home without seeing any sign of intrusion… and possibly encountering a criminal.

Criminals know that people often “hide” keys beneath doormats, above entryways and in plants or faux rocks. And if you choose a more unusual spot, that can be discovered through snooping or spying.

If you tend to forget house keys, then automated door locks with keypads might be a good solution. You might also rely on a trustworthy neighbor, but make sure that they store your spare key in a smart location. Don’t label the spare key with your name or address. Instead attach it to a unique keychain that helps the neighbor remember whose it is.

11. Grease the Drainpipe

It might sound cartoonish, but criminals really do climb up drainpipes! To foil this home invasion strategy homeowners sometimes coat metal drainpipes with slippery substances such as petroleum jelly.

12. More Home Security Tips

What are your favorite tips for home security? Send us your strategies! Also check us out on our web page Brookspi.com or on FB Brooks Brothers Investigations.

Hope this helps someone

Detective Craig Brooks

Follow our Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of a Private Investigator.

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:41:56 GMT

WE WORK UNDERCOVER.

Well in the movies, private investigators are often depicted as gun-toting, Ex-Law Enforcement slugs who get results.. Results the police can’t by knocking down doors and shaking down suspects. In reality, licensed PIs don’t usually have to nurse any broken knuckles. They tackle criminal and civil cases, insurance fraud, infidelity, missing person, undercover and corporate impropriety by diligently combing through records and trailing persons of interest, using experience garnered from backgrounds in law enforcement.

That doesn’t mean they don’t have to occasionally go undercover, or think fast when they’ve been spotted. For the next few weeks check out some of these lesser-known facts about what it's like to be a Private Detective for hire.

1. THEY WORK UNDERCOVER.

Creeping into a new job for investigative purposes isn’t limited to law enforcement. Craig Brooks, founder and Brooks Brothers Investigations located in Des Moines Iowa, reports our firm frequently pursues cases relating to business fraud by getting one of their PIs hired at the company to see what’s going on. “If you’re a company with a retail location that’s missing deposits, we can go in and see what’s happening for ourselves,” he says. “Right now, we have someone at a clinic to see who might be stealing prescription drugs. We also can incorporate a certified fraud examiner to work as an accountant.”

Craig Brooks

BROOKS BROTHERS INVESTIGATIONS

BROOKSPI.COM. 515-246-8100

Internet Dating Investigation

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:37:08 GMT

Internet Dating Investigation

How do internet dating scammers operate?

Online dating scammers will create fake profiles, including false pictures, names, address, citiesand information, which is usually catered to the type of victim they hope to attract. They will then gain the trust of subjects or victims through loving words, heartfelt conversations, and even gifts in order to attempt theft of money or identity.

What is an online dating investigation?

This is a internet dating investigation which is the use of a private investigator to reveal an online romantic partner’s true identity and motives. Investigators will take actions like gathering information across multiple platforms, conducting extensive background checks, and tracing messages back to their original sources. Ultimately, the data gathered by an investigator will be used to put the victim at ease, uncover potential criminal action, and prevent future fraudulent activities by turning evidence over to the police.

Common Internet Dating Scams

The Basic Swindle: The most common scam is when the con artist, after forming a relationship with their victim, requests money for seemingly valid reasons, like a family member in the hospital or a severe car crash. After the money has been sent, they cut contact.
Money Laundering: Money laundering is also a fairly common scheme. It involves asking victims to send money or stolen objects, like laptops and cellphones, so that they are harder for the law to trace. Scammers also ask their victims to forward packages and cash checks.
Internet Scandal: A recently rising scam involves con artists growing so close to their victims that intimate photos and/or conversations take place. Scammers then publish this private information and will only remove it when given a large fee. Even then, there is no guarantee that the information will be removed.
Catfish: A term based on a heartbroken filmmaker's movie, a catfish scam is when someone uses fake online profiles to appeal to their victims romantically. These scammers use fictitious names and photos to lure people in, sometimes for no other reason than to have a relationship.

How to Avoid Dating Scams

Sometimes it's easy to tell when and online contact is inauthentic, but some signs are not as obvious. Here are some actions you can take in order to traverse the web safely.

Ask to meet in person

Most scammers will claim to be from your area but they are currently unavailable to meet due to working overseas or tending to a sick relative.

Note profile inconsistencies

This includes pictures that look overly glamorous or don’t line up with the person’s current claimed location. You can also Google image search any pictures they provide. Significant age differences are also common since scammers often target older victims.

Keep a slow pace

Con artists will often share or press for personal information right out of the gate. They will also declare strong feelings within a short period of time.

Use the dating site to communicate

Internet dating scammers will usually prompt their victims to use more personal means of communicating, like emails or texting.

Look for abundant grammatical errors

In their messages, look for abundant grammatical errors and vague statements. They may even call you by the wrong name.

Don’t send money, information, or objects

They will ask for money and usually accompany the request with a good excuse. However, you should never send money, objects, or even basic information to someone you haven’t met in person.

Stick to well-known dating sites

Ultimately, use only well-known dating sites that most people know the names of. These websites make it harder to create fake profiles but remain cautious.

Why should I hire a private investigator?

Internet dating scams often cause more pain than hurt pride or a broken heart. These scams are a form of fraud that can result in identity theft, crime, and significant loss of money. Having a professional, unbiased opinion that is familiar with these scams is vital to your safety and prevents money loss. Private investigators have experience recognizing and handling online dating scams. They also have access to tools, like background checks and high-powered software, which produce undeniable proof that will stand up in court.

Need a Social Media Investigation?

Social Media Investigator Call us at 1-(866) 631-ISPY 4779. 515-710-4803

BROOKS BRO INVESTIGATIONS

Brookspi.com

Safety Tips for Runners

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:33:48 GMT

Five Important Safety Tips for Runners!

Safety Tips for Runners

Most runners will assume that they are safe if they do their run during the daylight hours. However, the problem is that runners become prone to letting their guard down and leaving themselves vulnerable to attack. It’s only natural to assume that an attack won’t happen when it’s light out, which can lead to a false sense of security.

Most assailants are opportunistic and will take any opportunity presented to them to attack at any time. They’ll catch you by surprise during the wee hours of the morning. They will hide in wait for you to pass by on your lone trail run when they know you’re tired, and more than a few victims have sadly disappeared from suburban streets in broad daylight as we all known in the Iowa Mollie Tibbetts case.

Attacks can and do happen at any time and anywhere, but we know that the fresh air and sunshine are an essential part of your fitness routine. A treadmill from the local health and fitness outlet so you can do your runs in the relative safety of indoors is not the answer for the average running enthusiast.

We want you to get home safe after every run, which is why we are sharing these five tried and true tips that will help increase your level of security as you pound the local pavements and wilderness trails while enjoying the great outdoors.

1. Leave Out the Earphones

Maintaining an awareness of your surroundings is a critical component of staying safe when running outdoors. If you have loud music drowning out the environment then not only will you not hear your attacker coming up behind you, but your reaction time will be markedly slower as your zoned-out brain tries to adjust to the new and dangerous situation.

If you absolutely need the tunes to hype you up then try running with your phone’s loudspeaker or use only one headphone ear bud, alternating each ear as you go.

2. Run with a Friend

Attackers will always prefer a lone runner as it is much easier to control one victim. So, while this tip is a simple and obvious one, that is because it is one of the most effective at preventing an attack. A second runner also doubles your chances of survival if your attacker considers the risks to be worth the trouble.

If you can’t find a friend to run with you regularly, then consider taking a dog. Not only can a dog alert you to danger before you are aware, but they are a potential risk to any would-be attacker.

Loud dog barking and growling also increases the possibility of attracting unwanted attention. Of course, this tip will only work if the dog is of a size that is more substantial than a shoebox.

3. Change Your Route

Stalkers who notice that you run the same route every day may take the opportunity to plan an ambush in a quiet area where they know they will not be disturbed. They are also likely to time their attack when they know you are tired and less able to fight back.

Changing up your route can improve your security in a couple of ways. Firstly, it’s difficult to predict where you will be at any given time, which makes you a harder target for stalkers.

Secondly, running the same route day in day out can create an almost hypnotic effect, and you zone out because you don’t have to think about which turn to take next. Unfamiliar terrain will help bring your mind back to the here and now and make you more aware of your surroundings.

4. Don’t Track Your Run Online

A lot of fitness apps and fitness trackers can post your run online where they can be accessed and viewed by anybody who takes an interest. Broadcasting your run online is a bad idea if you are a solitary runner, so turn this feature off, or change your app if you can’t.

5. Discreet Wearable Safety Equipment

Your loved ones can track smartphones, but they are obvious, hard to operate during a struggle, and quickly discarded. A device such as Wearsafe from Wearsafe Labs is discreet and works with the simple press of a button.

Press the button during an attack and connected devices are instantly alerted with audio, group-chat, and location, so trusted friends are immediately warned of your dangerous predicament and can come to your aid.

Hope these tips help someone!

Craig Brooks Private Detective

Brooks Brothers Investigations

Brookspi.com

How Lawyers Can Use Social Media In Investigations and Process Service

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:29:44 GMT

Social media is a great way to tell your friends and family what you are up to. What many people don't realize is that social media is very useful to attorneys and law enforcement who are conducting investigations as well. When you share information on social media websites, it's pretty hard to keep your information confidential to only you and your friends. Using basic accounts, attorneys can easily investigate and find individuals who they need to serve papers to.

Your Social Media Profile is not quite private

When you share pictures on social media, or you are tagged in a picture, it's pretty easy to find you. No matter how many privacy settings you turn on, the general public can probably find some information about you by searching social media. With the majority of adults enjoying social media today, it is easy to find out information on almost anyone if you have some investigation ability.

When a person doesn't want to be found

Hiding in a world where there is an inundation of technology is almost impossible. While some individuals who absolutely don't want to be located can hide by not using social media at all, this is not generally the trend. Many people think they are smarter than the investigators, thinking they can still be on social media without being found. A good attorney can locate an individual they are trying to serve papers to by searching on social media websites.

Investigating individuals has become easier with technology. Social media has opened up a wide network for lawyers and law enforcement officials to search through no matter what is being investigated. Social media information can be gathered and used to find an individual, see what they are doing from day to day, and figure out where they might be next.

For more information on social media investigations contact the team at Brooks Brothers Investigations today.

Brooks Brothers Investigations & Process Serving

Des Moines, Iowa . 515-246-8100 craig@brookspi.com

How long does it take to serve papers?

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:20:22 GMT

Question: How long does it take to serve papers?

Most process server company can estimate an appropriate turnaround time for each job. While turnaround times vary depending on the subject, each process server can offer a different level of service and speed. The average amount of time to attempt to serve papers is typically between one to seven days after hiring a process server. However, many companies also offer rush delivery service, including same-day service, where a subject will be immediately attempted to be served. Given the extra time and the promptness of the process server situation, the cost will be slightly higher given the ugency, but also quite effective.

To learn more about Same Day Process’s trackable process serving technology and how it can benefit you, contact us today!

Brooks Brothers Investigations

Des Moines, Iowa

515-246-8100

8 Reasons Why People Cheat

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:17:22 GMT

Infidelity is costly — it can lead to tears, break-ups, divorces and even violence. So why do people do it?

The question haunts lovers and fascinates researchers, with the latest study offering some sobering findings: You could be doing everything right and your partner could still be tempted to cheat for reasons that have nothing to do with you or the quality of feelings you share.

It’s something people should consider as they think about their relationships, said Dylan Selterman, lead author of the study, recently published in The Journal of Sex Research, and a social psychologist at the University of Maryland.

“One of the biggest myths in relationships is that people think, ‘Oh, my partner cheated therefore there is something wrong. There’s an underlying problem either with me or the relationship.’ That’s not necessarily the case,” Selterman told TODAY.

“This speaks to the idea that humans are promiscuous, and even if things are going well, that does not necessarily mean that there’s not a desire for more — at least in terms of more experiences with other partners.”

Infidelity is one of the most distressing things you can experience in a romantic relationship, so it's very important to understand why lovers are motivated to be unfaithful, he added.

The study, based on responses from 495 people who had cheated on a partner, found eight basic motivations for infidelity. The participants were young, 20 years old on average, but their reasons for straying are common themes that could apply across other ages, Selterman said.

Here are eight reasons why people cheat on their partners:

1. LACK OF LOVE

Feeling that your partner is not “The One” for you. No longer feeling passionate love or even falling out of love. Perceiving the relationship to be boring, dull or stagnant. “Lack of love is a powerful motivation — it’s definitely one of the stronger ones,” Selterman noted.

2. SEXUAL DESIRE

Feeling unsatisfied with the sex life you have in your relationship, perhaps because your partner has lost interest or you want to try something new that your partner can’t give you. “We also found people might be motivated to test the waters with regards to their own orientation or identity,” he said.

3. NEGLECT

Feeling that your partner is not paying enough attention to you or not spending enough time with you. Not feeling appreciated.

4. SITUATION

When you’re in a different setting or not quite yourself — perhaps when you’re on vacation, drunk or under a lot of stress — you may have a momentary urge to sexually explore that would not necessarily be part of your stable, everyday behavior. “Landmark events,” such as an upcoming 40th birthday, may also lead you to cheat. One study showed “9-enders“ — people who are 29, 39, 49 and so on — may seek an affair as they approach a new decade to try to find meaning in their life.

5. VARIETY

You live by the motto “You only live once,” so you want to try lots of sexual experiences with as many partners as possible.

6. LOW COMMITMENT

This is oriented toward people’s definitions of exclusivity, Selterman said. “Some people say they never discussed being exclusive with their partner or ‘I didn’t want to get too close,’ or ‘I don’t envision a future with this person,’” he noted. “They’re in a relationship, but they haven’t specified that the commitment level is high or the exclusivity is there.”

7. ESTEEM

You feel sleeping with others will improve your sense of self-worth, signal your independence or increase your social status and popularity.

8. ANGER

You suspect or know your partner has betrayed you, so you want to get even. “The motivation is revenge,” Selterman said.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Men were more likely to list motivations having to do with sexual desire , while women pointed to neglect, the study found.

If the notion that your loved one could cheat even if you think you’re doing everything right or believe you're exclusive is scary, Selterman advised having an honest conversation with your partner about your relationship and monogamy.

“‘Doing everything right’ — that can mean many different things,” he said. “It could be the case that you think things are going very, very well, but in your partner’s mind maybe not so much. It could be the case that there’s room for improvement or that partners have not been on the same page with regards to exclusivity.”

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By A. Pawlowski / Jan.22.2018 / 12:01 AM ET / Source: TODAY
Follow A. Pawlowski on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter .

5 Steps to begin Trusting Your Spouse after Cheating

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 17:06:49 GMT

5 Steps to begin Trusting Your Spouse after Cheating

For most people, cheating on your spouse is the ultimate deal breaker – it’s not the sort of thing anyone can just come back from. A couple who chooses to try and patch up their relationship after one of them has been found to be unfaithful will face a long, hard road composed of several challenges, the first and most important being how to rebuild their trust in each other.

While there’s no quick and definitive guide on how to get your partner’s trust back after you’ve been caught having an affair, below are a few guidelines that may help ease the process a little:

Be Honest

If you’ve already been caught cheating by your partner, putting up any sort of pretense or piling on lies on top of more lies is not the first step you want to take in the road to reconciliation. Stop rubbing salt into the wound and don’t insult your partner’s intelligence by continuing to dispense untruths.

Honesty also goes both ways – the cheating partner stops lying and the aggrieved partner should also be allowed the freedom to air out their grievances without filter or judgment. It’s equally important for the truth about the affair to come out in a way that is productive for both parties. The couple needs to be able to feel as though they are being heard and that each of their concerns is validated.

Don't Be Defensive

Be mature enough to own up to your mistake instead of shifting the blame to your spouse who is most likely already suffering from enough heartache just catching you in the act. Drop the ego and the bravado if you want to keep the relationship afloat, and be genuinely contrite and remorseful.

You must also be prepared to bear witness to your spouse’s grief process – after all, your infidelity has caused all of this to happen, which means that you should be prepared to face the consequences that your unfaithfulness has brought into the relationship.

End The Affair

This should go without saying, but in case it does: cut ties with the person whom you were having an affair with. It will be hard for your spouse to swallow the idea of you keeping the person you cheated on them with in your life, as well as sending a very confusing message to boot. Don’t try to have your cake and eat it, too.

Removing the other man or woman from your life is one way of making your partner feel slightly more at ease and assured that you truly do not want to make the same mistake twice, and that you are willing to rebuild your relationship from the ground up.

Open Yourself up to Scrutiny

Accept the fact that anything you do from this point forward may be asked after or scrutinized a little longer than you’re used to – after you cheat, everything you do comes into suspicion. You will no longer be able to come and go as you please if you want your partner’s trust back; you have to let them in even on the smallest of things, like why you’ll be late coming home from work or who you’re heading out to drinks with. You may be subjected to more frequent check-ins, so accept that and respond without belligerence.

Its Not up to You

How long your partner takes to trust you again or complete her grief process is not on you to dictate, and you should never try to take control of it. Cheating is a serious offense and how spouses react to it vary – some may be able to forgive you easily, while others may require a bit more time to process the events and start to heal.

Considering that you are the instigator of these feelings of pain and heartache to start with, it is not up to you to say when the other party should heal. Be respectful and mindful of their boundaries and don’t push them to get over it. They may never be fully over it, and things may never go back to normal, either. Give your spouse the time and space to heal themselves and try to acknowledge the pain they are going through, and be respectful of it.

If you suspect infidelity in your relationship, call us Today at Brooks Brothers Investigations for a free confidential phone consultation (515) 246-8100 or visit us at www.BrooksPI.com

Questions on our article? Email Chris@BrooksPI.com

Watch KCCI News Rides Along With Iowa Private Investigator

Credit: Author Darrin Giglio, with NAI

The Private Detective: Past and Present

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:58:25 GMT

The Private Detective: Then and Now

We’ve all seen private investigators in television and movies, sitting in dimly lit offices filled with cigarette smoke. But most people are not aware of the complex origins of these characters, or of their real life applications today. There are still many who wonder today, “what is a private investigator?”

What is a Private Investigator?

The story of the private investigator (Detective) is a fascinating one, and it helps us understand the role they play in our society. If you are finding yourself in need of some specialized services – to obtain a piece of information, put together a puzzling story, or otherwise go beyond the scope of traditional law enforcement – learning about what a private eye does may be the first step in the right direction.

Historically, private detectives have existed as a means for individuals to hire services that traditional law enforcement are unwilling or unable to do. In 19th century France, it was the original private investigators who developed techniques of record-keeping, taking plaster casts of footprints, and using indelible ink in order to solve the crimes of their day.

In the United States, the scene was dominated by the Pinkertons, a private investigator agency that offered services to wealthier citizens and organizations. Most notably, founder Allan Pinkerton is credited with foiling an assassination attempt on a young Abraham Lincoln, before his days as leader of the country. It was during these days that private eyes were also commonly used as bodyguards or even private militia men.

The Private Investigations Industry Has Evolved

It was through ingenuity and dedication that these professionals were able to find solutions to problems that the police of their day were stumped by, and many common investigative methods that exist today may not have come into being at all, if it were not for these resourceful detectives. However, the field has changed much since these early days. Over the past century, the industry has evolved to cover many other functions, from settling labor disputes to tracking down wanted criminals. As private eyes have grown more accessible to the average citizen, their uses have diversified to match the many needs of contemporary society.

Today, the full list of uses for a private detective is practically inexhaustible, but there are a few general categories to keep in mind.

The most basic function of the private investigator has always been to obtain information. This broad role includes a wide assortment of different tasks, including, but not limited to: finding an address or phone number; identifying an identity or alias; research familial history; uncovering various financial assets; or finding employment history. The investigator has an assortment of resources and skills at his disposal to get the job done, and by doing his research, knocking on doors, and putting in the necessary legwork, he will become an invaluable ally who is willing and able to go to any lengths to find out what you need to know.

Perhaps what you are looking for is more concrete than an address or phone number that can be quickly scribbled on a piece of paper. Luckily, private investigators are experts at tracking down people, objects, physical documents, or anything else their clients can dream up. It is very common to hire one of these professionals to check in on a spouse who is suspected of infidelity or to locate a missing person. Getting their hands on any number of legal or financial documents is a particular specialty, and one that should not be forgotten.

Hire an Expert in the Field

Finally, where the hard earned expertise comes in to play is through the investigator’s ability to help their clients see the big picture – to connect the dots between a series of seemingly separate events and get the full story. Using their trained eye, they will pick up details that others would miss, and with their sharpened mind they will expertly piece together the fragments in order to get a clear idea of the situation. Often a client will hire a professional investigator to spy on a cheating girlfriend, or retrieve a specific piece of information, only to discover that their suspicions were only the tip of the iceberg.

No matter what, your private eye will use the utmost discretion to protect and serve your interests. The potential uses are almost limitless and based totally on your needs, and often you will find yourself discovering more than you expected. If you are in a situation where you feel your suspicious rise, or your curiosity piqued, it might be a good idea to sit down with one of these professionals and have a conversation. You might be surprised at what you can find out.

If you're searching for a qualified private investigation agency, look no further. We at Brooks Brothers Investigations are a team of former/retired law enforcement officers, police chiefs, and detectives ready to assist with your case. Call us TODAY at (515) 246-8100, or check out our website at www.BrooksPI.com

Credit: Author Darrin Giglio, with NAI

Using Surveillance in Spousal Infidelity Casesin Iowa

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:51:35 GMT

Using Surveillance in Spousal Infidelity Cases in Iowa

The general public utilizes the services of private investigators in Iowa on a daily basis to determine if their spouses are being unfaithful or having illicit affairs. Many times there have been indicators of an affair and the suspecting party has noted unusual charges on a credit or debit card, the cheating spouse may work longer or irregular hours, changes in general routine, new clothes, new perfumes or colognes, etc...

Most often, when a client contacts us for a consultation regarding a cheating spouse case, they already have a good idea that the affair is actually going on. It then becomes an exercise in obtaining "proof" versus trying to "confirm" there is an affair to begin with. A good private investigator can conduct surveillance and find the "proof" in a short amount of time. The real issue is what to do with the "proof" once it is obtained.

The question we ask, at the outset of the case, is what does our client intend to do with the video evidence of the cheating spouse once we obtain it.

Oftentimes, we see clients who request surveillance as a way to address the issues with their partners and potentially "save" the marriage. Others simply tell us they want the "proof" so they can finally feel free to divorce and move on with their lives. The truth, generally, falls somewhere in the middle.

Situations such as cheating spouses are highly charged and emotional ones. It is rare to find the person who treats these situations like business deals. Most of the time, when confronted with the fact that a spouse is cheating, people become highly emotional. These emotions manifest themselves as sadness, anger and everything in between. As a result, if not properly guided through the process, the offended party can fly into a rage and do harm to themselves or the cheating spouse.

Usually, these other issues have to do with child custody or marital waste. A judge may look at the affair as an indicator of an absent parent or a person not fit to be the primary caregiver to a child. Additionally, marital waste can occur when a spouse spends large amounts of money on an affair and the other spouse may be able to lay claim to those funds in the divorce proceedings.

Selecting a Iowa private investigator to handle your marital infidelity case is a decision best made by a level-headed client and their respective attorney. A professional Iowa private investigator will explain all your options and detail potential pitfalls before they arise.

If you are in need of professional private investigative services, consider Brooks Brothers Investigations. Call us at (515) 246-8100 or visit us at www.BrooksPI.com

How Do Private Investigators Conduct Surveillance?

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:46:27 GMT

How Do Private Investigators Conduct Surveillance?

Professional private investigators conduct surveillance every day. It is one of the most common services requested and yet TV shows and movies often get it wrong when depicting it. When a client requests surveillance the true professional investigator will go through a series of steps before he or she even accepts the case:

Step 1: Is the client's purpose legal, moral and ethical?

As you can imagine, our private detective agency gets an interesting amount of characters walking our doors on a daily basis. Most of these folks just need help. Some of these "clients" have ulterior motives and are seeking the services of an investigator to help them stalk someone or otherwise carry out activities that a professional P.I. would find to be unethical or illegal. For this reason, a good investigator has to vet the client and assess whether there is a lawful purpose for conducting surveillance. This isn't always easy because some of the "clients" are really good at being deceptive and / or playing the victim.

Surveillance is an invasive activity for the target being watched. Investigators have access to personal information including vehicle records, driver license information, relatives and associates, addresses, emails, phone numbers and myriad other personal data on the subject of the investigation. It is critical that the client be subjected to a fair amount of scrutiny to make sure they have a legal need for the requested surveillance and that it is ethical to do so. We often conduct a min background check on our client to make sure they have no history of domestic violence or stalking behavior. We also consider the likelihood that our objective is actually attainable. Does the client have a realistic objective and can we, as professional investigators, actually resolve this matter successfully for our client? Out of every ten people who come to us for P.I. services, we might only accept 60% of the cases.

Step 2: Obtaining information from the client

This step is pretty straightforward; however, if it is not done properly, the entire case can fall apart. At this phase, a professional investigator will obtain any and all information about the target that might prove useful.

Where do they live?
Where do they work?
What type of car do they drive?
What do they look like (photo of the subject)
What route do they travel?
What is there favorite hangout?
What is their typical routine?

These questions seem tedious to clients, but if this step is done well, it will ensure success on the case. Sometimes a little tidbit of information can make the difference in success or failure on surveillance. If you are planning on consulting with a private investigator you must understand that being open and completely honest is vital. Professional investigators have a strict requirement to maintain confidentiality, so you can rest assured, the information is kept between you and the investigator.

Step 3: Planning a Surveillance Schedule

This step is a difficult one for most private investigators. Clients usually approach this one of two ways. Either, they tell the investigator to figure it out on their own, or, they micromanage the hours and days worked to the point that very little useful evidence is obtained. It is really important to work together as a team to determine what days and hours surveillance should be conducted. It will also save a client money in the long run.

Step 4: The Investigation

In this step, all the details have been ironed out. The schedule has been agreed upon. The client has paid the investigator's retainer fee and all pre-surveillance research has been conducted. Now, it is time to get out there and see what the target is up to. It doesn't really matter if the case is for marital infidelity, criminal defense investigation, employment verification or a potentially fraudulent insurance claim. A good, experienced private investigator will approach nearly every surveillance case the same.

Private investigators most often work from a vehicle. That vehicle looks normal on the outside, but, inside it has been modified for surveillance.

For an insurance fraud case, our objective may be to get video of the person lifting heavy objects or bending over with a "bad back". In an adultery matter, we may just follow them to make sure they don't meet up with a mistress for a romantic dinner.

Sometimes, while following a person, we might lose them in traffic. Private investigators can't run red lights or break any laws while following a target so this happens from time to time. When a person is an aggressive driver who speeds often, we might use two investigators to maximize our chances of staying with them in traffic.

In the end, we always remember that our client had questions they wanted answers to. Our goal is always to answer our clients’ questions and to do so in a legal, ethical and discreet manner. If we can assist you with any "questions" you may have, please call us at (515) 246-8100 or visit us online at www.BrooksPI.com

The Difference Between Finding a “Missing Person” and “Locating a Person”

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:40:08 GMT

The Critical Difference Between Finding a “Missing Person” and “Locating a Person”

Did you know that there actually is a difference between a “missing person” and “locating a person ”? Locating someone from your past may be as easy as an internet or Facebook search, which you can do by yourself.

If you are looking for a lost relative, an old girlfriend, or a former colleague, then Google, LinkedIn.com, Ancestry.com, Facebook, Instagram or any other social media will be your first stop. But if it is truly a “missing persons” case, then it belongs in the law enforcement realm. Unfortunately, the police can only do so much, so it may be up to you to hire a private investigator.

Here are a few of the things police can and cannot do:

They cannot file a missing person report until the person has been missing for 24 hours. They will file a report after 24 hours, but this does not mean they will actively search for this person.
They cannot find a person who does not want to be found. Sometimes there may be a runaway situation; other times, someone may just want to disappear.
Law Enforcement can search the area where the person was last sighted and conduct interviews with friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
In addition, they can check the missing person’s cell phone records, their “virtual” web footprint, and their credit or debit card usage in extreme cases.
They can pull and examine footage from CCTV and security cameras if the person’s last location is known. (This is in rare circumstances, and sometimes can take days if not months to obtain footage from businesses).

In contrast, here is what a private investigator can do in addition to what the local law enforcement is doing or not doing:

Investigators can investigate any type of missing person – kidnappings, runaways, fugitives, and cases where people have gone missing for any reason.
They can even skip trace a missing person who don’t want to be found. There is no statute of limitations on finding a missing person for private investigators. They can even locate so-called “cold cases” because their hands are not tied by bureaucracy and budgets.
Private Detectives can use tactics that law enforcement are not able to use to find your loved one. (Conduct Interviews, and search the area where the person was last sighted and conduct interviews with friends, neighbors, and colleagues).
Private Investigators can also begin a search immediately instead of waiting for the initial 24-hour period to end.

While you as private citizen can use the Internet to search public records, private investigators have access to databases and contacts that the public does not have access to. Additionally, PI’s use their years of experience and training to search for a missing person in real time without relying on dated and possibly inaccurate information.

A PI is your dedicated resource for finding the missing person. They can more easily travel across state borders or across the country to follow any leads that turn up whereas local law enforcement has to follow certain rules and protocols that don’t allow them access to other states.

Oftentimes, people are more comfortable talking to a private investigator instead of the police. PIs can blend in better, and often people will reveal sensitive information and details that they aren’t as comfortable sharing with law enforcement.

Are you trying to find a missing person? Call us to see how we can help! Brooks Brothers Investigations 515-246-8100

www.BrooksPI.com

Credit: Author Darrin Giglio, with NAI

How to become a Private Investigator in Iowa

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:32:59 GMT

Become a Private Detective through Training and Certification in Iowa

I get this question asked often, “How do I become a private investigator in Iowa”. The answer is quite simple…

In order to work as a private investigator in the State of Iowa, you first need to be licensed. The license is typically through an agency that has been approved by the Department of Public Safety.

Private Investigator Licensing Services Bureau is headquartered in downtown Des Moines, and they’re responsible for issuing private investigator licenses in the state. If you are interested in the profession, then review the following guide that explains how to become a private detective in Iowa:

Meet the Basic Requirements
Iowa Training and Education Requirements
Apply for an Agency

There is no typical day in the life of a private investigator. You may find yourself conducting an undercover surveillance in Cedar Rapids one week, investigating a suspected case of fraud in Davenport the next week, and locating a missing person in Council Bluffs the week after. Not as glamorous as Hollywood makes them out to be, private detective jobs in Iowa often involve long hours of research and investigation before cases are resolved.

Step 1. Meet Basic Requirements in Iowa

To become a licensed private investigator in Iowa you will need to meet the following basic requirements:

Not currently be a peace officer: sheriff’s deputy, police officer, etc
Be at least 18 years old
Have no aggravated misdemeanor or felony convictions
Be of good moral character
Have never been judged guilty of a crime involving moral turpitude or fraud
No history of violence or illegally carrying dangerous weapons
Not currently be addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Step 2. Private Investigator Training and School Requirements in Iowa

Although there are no official private investigator school and training requirements in Iowa, there are several reasons why you should consider pursuing training, certification classes or a degree in relevant fields.

A education and prior experience provides the following benefits:

Education credentials will demonstrate you are serious about your job
Show you are qualified with the right know-how to get the job done well
Open up future career advancement prospects
Increase your competitiveness for clients among other PIs in the Cyclone / Hawkeye State.

The following programs are available as certificate classes and degrees at locations throughout the state as well as online:

Criminal Justice (DMACC, Kaplan University to name a few..)
Law (Drake Law)
Business (AIB)
Law Enforcement (Iowa Law Enforcement Academy)
Psychology
Forensics
Gain experience as a Reserve Police Officer (IA Law Enforcement Academy located at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa).

Step 3. Applying with the Private Investigator Agency

When completing a license for private investigator jobs in Iowa, make sure to include the following along with your complete application :

Two fingerprint cards
Criminal / FBI Background Check

For more information, visit our website www.BrooksPI.com or call us at 515-246-8100. For any questions regarding our article, you can email me at Craig@BrooksPI.com

Watch as KCCI rides along Iowas Preferred Private Investigator

FBI Spy Catcher who tookdown America's most notorious traitor.

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:23:06 GMT

FBI Spy Catcher who took down America's most notorious traitor.

I was given the opportunity at the recent CEC (Communications Engineering Company) Business Technology Conference in Iowa City, where O’Neill was the keynote speaker.

You won’t know his name, but you likely know what he did. In 2001, Eric O’Neill arrested his boss and fellow FBI agent Robert Hanssen for spying on the United States on behalf of the Soviet Union and Russian Federation. These series of events lead to an American spy thriller film, Breach (2007).

O’Neil told the conference when he first applied to the FBI, he was too young to become a special agent. O’Neil was trained to be an undercover surveillance specialist. O'Neill underwent training on how to conduct surveillance, videotape, photograph and follow targets. " We were Ghosts. We are invincible ," he said, " because you're following someone without being seen. "

At the time, FBI Director Louis Freeh, believed that FBI Agent Robert Hanssen had sold secrets to the Russians, including the names of American spies, causing at least two to be executed. On the surface Hanssen was the last person to sell secrets to the Russians. Hanssen father was a retired police officer, and Hanssen was a veteran FBI Agent rising through the ranks of the FBI, family man, devoted catholic who would attend mass on a daily basis.

The spy is always "where he has access to the information that he knows he can use to do the most damage and get the most money. And he knows how to use it and get away with it." Robert Hanssen

O’Neill was selected for the assignment even though he was not yet a full-fledged FBI agent. What characteristics O’Neil did have was he was catholic, a male that was good with computers, and they believed Hannsen would trust.

The FBI promoted Hanssen and gave him access to secrets that he may sell to the Russians, while spying on Hanssens every move. This is where d O'Neill. Came in as Hanssens assistant.

According to O'Neill, Hanssen said the spy is always "where he has access to the information that he knows he can use to do the most damage and get the most money. And he knows how to use it and get away with it."

O'Neill said, "I really felt at that minute that he was saying, if you're onto me then try and catch me because I'm better than you and all these guys at the FBI. Because I'm the great Robert Hanssen."

Step One: Examine His Behavior

O'Neill began to observe hansens every move and slowly begin to build a rapport. On the outside, Hanssen spoke about God, prayer, confession, and family. However he began to observe a different side of Robert Hanssen. We now know that Hanssen reportedly had an obsession with Internet pornography and dated and lavished gifts upon a stripper.

O’Neill observed Hanssens obsession with wanting know one in his office. Also that Hanssen carried his Palm Pilot with him every where he went, and used it for all his contacts and information.

O’Neill attempted to give Hanssen a “new palm” which had spy wear put on by the FBI. However Hanssen did not want new palm pilot, as his palm pilot had special programing.

O'Neill said Hanssen's Palm Pilot was key to under covering Hanssen's contacts with the Russians. However, according to O'Neill, Hanssen almost never let it out of his sight. So, they developed a plan. It was a long shot, but they gave it the green light.

Getting the Palm Pilot

Hanssen's bosses surprised him in his office and invited him to go shooting with them in the basement firing range. That created an opportunity; leaving O'Neil alone and with an opportunity to gather the information off the palm pilot.

O’Neil grabbed the palm pilot and data card and ran down one floor to have the information downloaded onto a computer. It was all going smoothly until Hanssen cut the target practice short after just a few minutes. O'Neil got another page indicating that Hanssen was probably returning to his office.

As the data on Hanssen's palm pilot was downloading to a computer, he was on his way back. The download was going slowly, because, according to O'Neill, Hanssen had encrypted the data on his Palm Pilot.

However, all worked out and Hanssen returned to the office and Hanssen did not discover the plan. O’Neil said he just about blew the case, when as he was leaving the office he said one last words to his soon to be former boss and Americans most notorious traitor.

Former Senior FBI Agent Robert Hanssen, serving Life in Prison for espionage and treason.

For the FBI, the Palm Pilot was the nail in the coffin, as Hanssen had kept copies of the documents he had given his Russian contacts on his palm pilot, and he also had stored a "drop date" on it, according to O'Neill.

The drop would be the end of Hanssen. Hanssen was followed to a Virginia park, where he allegedly left another packet of classified material, which was then intercepted by the FBI.

The double agent surrendered without a fight. On July 6, 2001, in order to avoid the death penalty, he pleaded guilty to 15 counts of espionage. He was sentenced to 15 life terms without the possibility of parole. His activities have been described by the Department of Justice's Commission for the Review of FBI Security Programs as " possibly the worst intelligence disaster in U.S. history."

O'Neill, who has not spoken to Hanssen since, said, "If they let him watch 20/20 in prison that I was the one who helped bring him down … he will feel so betrayed." O’Neill said one day he may just ask the FBI for permission to interview Hanssen in prison.

The investigation into Hanssen not only proves he was a traitor of the United States, but proves that even a person on the surface appears to be a “good husband” and devoted religious person is capable of the unthinkable.

The Real Life Spy Behind Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:12:46 GMT

The Real Life Spy Behind Charlie And The Chocolate Factory

Spies Steal Willy Wonkas Secrets

How many remember the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? I am not referring to the movie, but the book inspired by Rolad Dahl.

In the novel is a character named Slugworth, who is one of Willy Wonka's rival chocolatiers. Slugworth sent in spies to steal the secret recipes to Wonka's amazing treats, posing as workers for Wonka. Having obtained these, he began making a plagiarized invention, stolen from Wonka. The work of Slugworth came close to ruining Wonka's factory. Wonka was forced to close his factory and fire all his workers. A few years later, Wonka's factory began working again (operated exclusively by Oompa-Loompas) and his work continued to dominate the candy industry, with no rival able to plagiarize his work, and keeping the factory off-limits to the public, so no spies can infiltrate.

The story was originally inspired by Roald Dahl's experience of chocolate companies during his schooldays. Cadbury would often send test packages to the schoolchildren in exchange for their opinions on the new products. At that time (around the 1920s), Cadbury and Rowntree's were England's two largest chocolate makers and they each often tried to steal trade secrets by sending spies, posing as employees, into the other's factory. Because of this, both companies became highly protective of their chocolate-making processes. It was a combination of this secrecy and the elaborate, often gigantic, machines in the factory that inspired Dahl to write the story.

Whats more interesting about the story isn't that Dahl created an iconic book that lead to a series of books and two blockbuster movies. The more interesting part of this story is that Dahl himself was a spy!

Roald Dahl was a real-life James Bond style Spy

Before he gained fame by putting pen to paper Dahl, was a real life spy!

Dahl, was a real life spy. Dahl led an extraordinary life in America during the Second World War as a philandering James Bond-style spy with a "stable" of women. Yes, you got it right! Apparently motivated by a combination of duty and lust, Dahl slept with countless high society women while gathering intelligence in the United States.

Dahl had fought as a fighter pilot earlier in the war, until injuries grounded him. He then worked for a secret service network based in the United States called British Security Coordination. It had been initially established to promote UK interests in the United States and to counter Nazi propaganda.

Dahl's secretive role went against the grain because he was a terrible gossip who frequently betrayed confidences, according to his family and friends. His daughter Lucy admitted: " Dad never could keep his mouth shut."

Despite Dahl's reputation as one of the biggest Playboy in America and his inability to keep a secret, he was said to have passed on several useful pieces of intelligence, including his belief that President Franklin D. Rooseveldt was having an affair with Crown Princess Martha of Norway, who had been granted asylum by the US.

" And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely of places ." Roald Dahl

5 Ways Every Attorney Can Partner With A Private Investigator

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:04:54 GMT

If you’re an attorney with a hectic work schedule, and you’ve never contemplated hiring a private investigator, here are a few major benefits to consider.If you’re an attorney with a hectic work schedule, and you’ve never contemplated hiring a private investigator, here are a few major benefits to consider.

An attorney may think that they do not have any need for an experienced private investigator because of the variety of skills and resources that they employ. However, every attorney should retain their own Private Investigator on hire to handle those day to day investigative needs.

Although law school and career experience provide an attorney with a number of useful research techniques and litigation skill, they do have limits. When a law firm is working on multiple cases, it's often more difficult to find the time to investigate and dig for case-making facts as thoroughly as the case may deserve. There are ways you can outsource some of that time and expertise, though, allowing you to take on a wider variety of cases, while also benefiting your client. Partnering with a professional private investigator can help attorney’s to leverage your position and find creative and efficient ways to come out ahead of your adversary.

Ten Ways Every Attorney Can Benefit From Using A Private Investigator

If you’re an attorney with a hectic work schedule, and you’ve never contemplated hiring a private investigator, here are a few major benefits to consider..

1. Locate People / Interviewing Witnesses

You may need help searching for a witness, or locating parties involved in a case. Out sourcing these tasks save the office staff and paralegal team more time to focus on your clients.

Private Investigators are a big help interviewing witnesses to undercover the facts. Whether you would like to interview, serve, or investigate someone, an investigator can help you to identify and locate the individual. Check out our video below on one of the many cases we have solved through interviewing witnesses.

2. Locate Assets
Private Investigators are skilled at locating assets such as real estate, valuable property (artwork, antiques, collectibles, etc.), and vehicles (motor vehicles, aircraft, vessels, etc.). An investigator can also help attorneys to identify the location both domestic and offshore bank accounts (though the details of these assets may not necessarily be disclosed by banking institutions without court order or permission from the account holder.

3. Process Serving

Private Investigation firms also assist with serving legal paperwork (process serving), legal video including video taping with audio and video equipment of depositions, or "Day in the Life" for personal injury and workers compensation claims.

4. Criminal / Civil Cases

Private Investigators can be a help to law firms in not only serving papers but in criminal and civil cases as well. Maybe the firm will need an investigator to conduct surveillance on a custody dispute, divorce case, or settle case. Having the investigator on hand, saves a lot of hassle from the client privately retaining a poor or "cheap" investigation agency who fails to complete the case.

Many private investigation firms are owned by prior law enforcement officers and retired detectives. With some research, you will find investigators who are skilled in criminal investigations, with years of investigative experience that would be beneficial to your case.

5. Legal Video

The power of video is rapidly changing the world around us. Although the technology is new, the power of video has proven that there is a significant difference in how we interpret what we hear on the radio or newspaper, versus what we watch on a video. Some private investigators are trained in Legal Video, which includes professional audio and video recording depositions.

Brooks Brothers Investigations believes that private investigators must ensure fairness, leveling the playing field and providing the client / defendant with a neutral and impartial investigator to seek and gather the facts so that they can be assessed when the defendant presents his or her defense.

If you have more questions on criminal defense, and what our agency can do to help your clients, call us today!

Brooks Brothers Investigation Once Again Proves A Mans Innocence.

How To Hire A Private Investigator?

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:58:15 GMT

10 Tips on Hiring the right Private Investigation Firm

Locating a trustworthy and qualified private investigator can be an intimidating task so here are some tips to help you know how to hire a private investigator.

1. Get a referral. It is likely that you will be sharing personal information with this person and so it important to find someone reliable. Do as much research on the investigator as possible. Ask trusted friends for recommendations and Contract the Better Business Bu. Locate and search for any local consumer reviews on private investigators.

2. Check their license. The only states that don't require licensing for private detectives are Idaho, Mississippi, Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. A professional private detective will be able to give you their license number immediately and you can check it with your local state to make sure it’s valid. Some states, such as Hawaii require private investigations agencies to be approved through a Public Safety Board.

3. Make sure they have an office. If your private detective only works out of restaurants and over the phone, that is a sign you should get out now. You need to know where to find this person if they don’t follow through on their obligations. Some will put up a good addresses, but have NO office.

4. Ask about their experience and education. To make sure your job gets done right, find a detective who specializes in the task you need. Ask about how much work they have done similar to what you want in the past and how those jobs worked out. Watch out for the LARGE nationwide firms. These firms hire their staff with little to no experience in the field. Check and see if the agency is ran with ownership with prior law enforcement and military intelligence.

5. Consider whether they have insurance. Most serious private investigators are insured up to a few million dollars. While it’s not necessary for all jobs, if something were to happen during the course of the work, you, as the hirer, would be held liable if there was no insurance coverage.

6. Talk about confidentiality. You are very likely dealing with sensitive information when you are working with a private investigator and you need to be sure your PI will be discreet and respectful of information shared between the two of you.

7. Get a contract. Your initial consultation with a private detective should be free and from there, they should be able to outline anticipated cost. If you choose to follow through with the work, make sure all fees and expectations are clearly outlined in a contract.

9. Be sure you are prepared for what a private investigator may uncover. You are hiring a private investigator to uncover something for you and especially when it involves people close to you, be sure you are ready to for whatever the PI may find. You may hope the private investigator will prove your fears wrong, but be sure you can handle what they may turn up to prove your fears right before you hire their services.

10. Cheaper is not always better. We all have heard the saying, "you get what you pay for". This is true also in the private investigation field. Make sure you talk with your investigator about their costs up front, and in their contract. If the price seems to good to be true, it probably is! Check out our blog post on The Cost For a Private Investigator .

What Does A Private Investigator Do?

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:53:59 GMT

Leading Private Detective Provides Tips on hiring a Private Investigator

What does a Private Investigator Do?

Private Investigators, also known as Private Detective or P.I. , and depending on their state requirements are licensed, bonded, and insured. Private Investigation Agencies may specializing in, surveillance and detailed research methods on all types of Investigations.

Private Investigators are not Police Officers, however many are retired Police Officers and Detectives with many years of experience law enforcement. Many States require proof of experience and approval through a Public Safety Board in order to be licensed as a private investigator.

Private Investigative Agencies work in partnership with Insurance Companies, Law Firms, Court Reporting Agencies, and private businesses and individuals.

Here is just a few areas that private investigators cover:

Criminal Defense. Defending individuals charge with a crime. Whether this is a misdemeanor or a felony. Investigating the crime scene, reviewing police report, case files, witness statements, accident scene report's.

Insurance Fraud. False claims. Many insurance companies local and nationwide hire private investigators to conduct workmen's compensation investigations. This can be from a result of a slip and fall, car accident, injured at work and/or arson investigations.

Investigating an individual . A spouse or partner will contact a private investigator about infidelity issues.

Finding an individual. Called skip tracing looking for a long-lost relative or someone who owes you money and skipped town.

Investigating crime. As in-house thefts for a business or a home invasion of an individual when the client feels police attention is lacking. That's when private citizens contact a private investigator

Background checks. These are done for private citizens, attorneys, insurance companies, Business owners, new employees.

Setting up surveillance. surveillance for insurance fraud's, cheating spouses, Thefts, criminal cases, Child custody cases. Setting up covert hidden cameras.

Covert hidden cameras. A professional investigator well have an arsenal of covert cameras. That can assist in all types of investigations. Do your research make sure this investigator knows what he's doing. You do not want a camera placed haphazardly and violate an individual's rights. Invasion of privacy.

Case research. Case research can be done or private citizens, Insurance companies, attorneys, Fortune 500 companies, and all types of businesses.

Like to know more?

Would you like to know more about the daily life and skills of a Private Investigator? Follow our Youtube/Podcast PI Minute for up to date video on our advice on Tips, Tricks, Equipment, and daily work of private investigation agency. Follow us today!

Private investigator cost

For certain services such as background checks, looking up a vehicle registration or identifying a cell phone number, private investigators may charge a flat fee. Most commonly, though, private investigators charge an hourly rate. Depending on your location, complexity of the work and expertise of the private investigator, fees can range from $70 to over $125 per hour with the average somewhere around $70 an hour in the United States.

Remember if a private investigator is charging a very low rate.. Dig Deeper!! Remember you get what you pay for.

I recommend you obtain a written contract upfront that outlines all potential costs. Your private investigator should inform you beforehand if something changes and will require an increase in the cost. All private investigators should explain the costs and the expenses upfront. Some will use a flat fee. Flat fees are normally associated with a misdemeanor case or felony case.

Hiring a private investigator

Locating a trustworthy and qualified private investigator can be an intimidating task so here are some tips to help you know how to hire a private investigator.

2. Check their license. The only states that don't require licensing for private detectives are Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota and Wyoming. A professional private detective will be able to give you their license number immediately and you can check it with your local state to make sure it’s valid.

3 Top Benefits of Legal Video

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:46:01 GMT

Legal Video Experts Share Top 3 Benefits of Legal Deposition Video

We all remember that famous Presidential Grand Jury Testimony President Bill Clinton testified, under oath, before a Federal Grand Jury. During the videotaped Grand Jury Testimony Clinton shows oblivious signs of deception, which were later verified.

Here is a great example of this known fact. In the 1960 Presidential debate between President Nixon and Kennedy, those who listened to the debate on the radio believed that Nixon won the debate. Although, those who watched the debate on television believed that Kennedy won the debate. The signs of Nixons sweating, and appearing to the viewers showed his lack of confidence. Where Kennedy who had makeup applied before the debate, appeared calm and confident in front of the cameras.

3 Top Benefits For Legal Video

1. Impeaching a Witness

Impeaching a witness during a trial is a game changer. Attorneys can take advantage of this powerful technology to turn the tables in their case. By comparing the answers from a statement made during a video deposition to the statements made in court, you are more likely to catch the witness in a lie or notice any inconsistencies in their testimony.

2. Getting Clients Prepared for Trial

In the preparation for trial comes the responsibility of assessing whether or not to use a witness or if their testimony will be beneficial to your case. Video depositions are a valuable tool when used to view the actions and attitude of the deponent. Will they be nervous or difficult to crack?

3. Viewing of Physical Evidence

Let’s say that the witness is asked to hold or handle a particular piece of evidence at a deposition. The benefit of video is that the judge, as well as the jury, can view it for themselves instead of hearing what is happening from a paper transcript being read out loud. The visual component is an excellent source of information and powerful tool many attorneys use every day when making preparations for trial.

At Brooks Brothers Investigations our Investigators are certified through the American Guild of Court Videographers.

Call us today to gain the competitive advantage and to better serve your client through our professional and affordable video depositions.

Tips When Hiring A Process Server

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:41:45 GMT

What To Consider When Hiring A Process Server?

Whether you are facing a day in court or have essential legal documents that must be presented to another party, a process server can be an invaluable asset. While your Google search will offer you a ton of local options, it’s essential that you take a few things into consideration before handing over your documents.

Verify Credentials

Make sure you check out your local process servers to confirm that their credentials meet your state's requirements. Process servers vary from local law enforcement (Sheriffs Department), local private investigations agencies, and National or Regional Companies who subcontract out their papers. Research your local private investigation, and process serving firms to find out their experience in handling skip tracing, and locating those difficult serves.

How Satisfied are Previous Customers?

As with hiring any contract professional, you must investigate the process server’s efficacy and customer satisfaction levels. Larger and Cheaper services aren’t always equivalent to success rates, so take a little time to look at online reviews in addition to checking out their standing with the Better Business Bureau.

How Lighter Will Your Wallet Be?

Obviously, the less time your process server has to spend searching for the second party the lower the final cost will be. Dig deep into your memory bank, and utilize all of the most recent information you have about the person being served. Even the smallest detail can assist in serving your papers quicker and will reduce the overall costs associated with the process. Expect heightened costs if your target is likely to be resistant due to other pending legal issues.

If your needing a process server to serve multiple papers in a given month, that price typically is reduced, saving you money. We are Brooks Brothers Investigations in Des Moines, Iowa offer flat rates to clients which is made available on our process serving page. We offer reduced rates to Law Firms, Collection Agencies, Apartment Complex, and more on bulk serves each month.

Updates and Notifications

The most important aspect of hiring a process server is knowing that the job has been completed. Ensure that your prospect is on the leading edge of technology and that they’ll notify you promptly upon encountering any delivery complications and/or job completion via e-mail or phone call.

Top 3 Reasons Attorneys Hire Private Investigators

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:37:03 GMT

Every attorney needs their own Private Investigator on hire to handle those day to day investigative needs. I am not talking about the “Better Call Saul” type of investigator, but an agency that is trained and experienced in criminal and civil law.

Regardless of an attorney's practice, education, experience, or staffs efficiency, it's not always an easy task to stay on top of all the work that comes through the door. When a law firm is working on multiple cases, it's often more difficult to find the time to investigate and dig for case-making facts as thoroughly as the case may deserve. There are ways you can outsource some of that time and expertise, though, allowing you to take on a wider variety of cases, while also benefiting your client.

If you’re an attorney with a hectic work schedule, and you’ve never contemplated hiring a private investigator, here are a few major benefits to consider.

Top 3 Reasons Attorneys Hire Private Investigators

1. Finding Details That Were Initially Overlooked.

Private Investigators serve a crucial role in a criminal defense investigation, as they work to find witnesses and evidence that will establish reasonable doubt-- that will show the jury that there is reason to believe that the defendant is not actually responsible for committing the crime.

Throughout the criminal defense investigation, the private investigator will scour routine police reports, copies of evidence, photographs, phone messages and witness statements related to the case, with the ultimate goal being to determine whether or not there are any inconsistencies from one witness to the next.

2. The Need For Qualified Experience

Private Investigators serve a crucial role in a criminal defense investigation, as they work to find witnesses and evidence that will establish reasonable doubt-- that will show the jury that there is reason to believe that the defendant is not actually responsible for committing the crime.

Throughout the criminal defense investigation, the private investigator will scour routine police reports, copies of evidence, photographs, phone messages and witness statements related to the case, with the ultimate goal being to determine whether or not there are any inconsistencies from one witness to the next.

3. Professional Private Investigators Understand Legal Nuances and Objectivity

If you have more questions on criminal defense, and what our agency can do to help your clients, call us today!

Detective Craig Brooks

I think someone is spying on me...

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:30:57 GMT

Brooks Brothers Investigations showcase their advanced debugging devices.

Have you got that odd feeling that somebody is watching you? You may see a fleeting movement out of the corner of your eye, or you hear strange noises when the house is quiet? You wonder if your home is under surveillance. You do internet searches: "somebody is watching me" . The results are inconclusive and are mostly useless links to song lyrics. Nothing seems to reflect exactly how you feel. Alone. Vulnerable. Angry. Scared. Violated.

So why is someone watching you?

It’s a question that is asked a lot especially by people who have been spied on. Well, maybe you have information that someone else wants. If you’re in business it could be details about sales strategies, new product development and so on.

With the advancement of modern technology, cameras and GPS are becoming more sophisticated and difficult to discover by the average person. Hidden cameras, and GPS can easily be purchased over the Internet, and be stored in many hidden locations.

3 Tips To Locate A Hidden Spy Camera

A stalker likes his victim to be aware that he has access to private conversations– it adds to the fear-factor— and he will often find ways to let you know you are being watched, followed, or listened to. If you feel someone is listening to your conversation, or spying on you remotely inside your home, here are some quick steps:

Warning Signs

If you have internet or WiFi, immediately change passwords to any internet connection. In serious cases, completely remove any WiFi. (This will prevent any transfer of footage from any electronic device).
Search for any webcams, or laptop which may have a camera/mic which may be transmitting audio and video. Remove batteries, and any power source to those devices.
Search your vehicle, residence, or business for anything out of the ordinary. If you believe you may be a target for a covert operation, the first thing to do is to be on the lookout for evidence that someone is watching or listening to your private conversations. Someone you know (your partner, a colleague, or neighbor) may inadvertently let slip something that they could only have overheard. If you question them, they will glibly deflect you by saying they guessed, that someone else told them, or that they made an assumption. Don't argue or pursue the point.

We at Brooks Brothers Investigations, we have state of the art technology that sweeps your vehicles, home, or business bakehouse, mobile home for electronic surveillance devices. Our detection sweeps are a full-scale sweep of the vehicle, business, or residence.

This service is important to not only find the bugs that may be hidden, but to find the people that planted them in the first place.

Our private investigators are former law enforcement officers, and have decades of experience with these situations.

If you still feel that there is a hidden device, contact us today for a free phone consultation. Signing Off..

Detective Craig Brooks

Should I Background Check My New Employees?

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:12:41 GMT

We see it on the news daily, and we read about it on the internet. Employers are being held liable for the decisions and actions of their employees, volunteers, and staff.

When hiring that new staff member to the team, besides the resume they gave your business in the interview, you have no way of actually fact checking that they are who they say they are.

Investigating potential new candidates can reveal potential false information on a resume, past violent or dishonest behavior, and safety or security risks. Background checks may also be used to screen volunteers, prospective business partners, board members and new tenants.

One Bad Hire Cost Nearly $17,000 On Average

Consider this: According to a CareerBuilder survey , 75% of employers said they have hired the wrong person for a position, and of those who had a bad hire affect their business in the last year, one bad hire costs them nearly $17,000 on average.

Who Should Be Checked?

Many businesses choose us to perform background checks on every employee. This makes their hiring procedures consistent and provides them with an additional resource in the hiring process.

At a minimum, business should conduct checks on applicants who:

Work with children, the elderly or disabled
Work with money
Have access to others’ financial information
Work inside private homes
Provide transportation for others
Work in security or sensitive positions.

Employers can simply background check every new employee before they're hired. When conducting a background, investigators are analyzing these aspects:

Criminal Background
Confirm Employment
Confirm Identity
Confirm Education
Confirm Addresses
Check for Illegal Drug Use and Convictions
Check Licensing
Check Sex Offender Registry
Many More

I hope these very short tips will help you to decide if you should background check your applicants before they join your team. As always, if you have more questions on our background checks, please don't hesitate to call or email us.

Until next time,

Detective Craig Brooks

Is my partner cheating on me?

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 15:04:54 GMT

Is my spouse cheating on me?

This is a question that I get asked often by my clients. It’s our job to obtain the facts and many times answer the question with the reality of the situation. We always tell our customers who are calling to inquire about our services that if you suspect infidelity, do not confront your spouse until you have proof. While it is important to talk with your spouse or partner about about most relationship problems, this is NOT the case when it comes to a cheater.

You see, a cheater will almost never admit to infidelity, unless presented with evidence to the contrary. Maybe you found some secret emails, or text messages on the phone, or obtained surveillance video from a licensed investigator. That maybe enough evidences for the cheater to confess their sins. But some cases, even when presented with evidence, some spouses continue to lie. In all cases, the evidence is piece of mind knowing the truth.

3 Simple Tips To Catch A Cheater

Keep a journal of your partners’ activities . Write down the times, dates, places, other people involved, excuses given, etc. Your journal will become invaluable as you compare what’s said with phone bills, credit card statements, ATM withdrawals, mileage, ATM withdrawals, etc. A cheating spouse is likely to change his or her story, or question your memory, so keeping a record of everything is critical.
Plan a surprise visit to work , or come home at unexpected times, or make announcements about having to work late, but then come home early, etc.
Try walking in on your partner when they least expect it without announcing yourself, especially if they’ve been by themselves for a while and on their phone or electronic device. Does your partner act jumpy or nervous when you walk in on them, especially if they’re over the phone or in front of their computer? They were probably doing something and they don’t want you to know what it was.

Its never easy learning your partner is a cheater. Always remember to follow your laws in your local jurisdiction when doing any personal investigations. Research your local private investigators and choose a firm with experience in your matter. Check out our blog post on "How to find an experienced Private Investigation Agency" . These are just some basic tips on to catch if your partner is cheating. Although, these tips may lead you to more suspicion which may warrant an expert licensed private investigator... So if your partners activities are not matching up, or their conversations are being deleted from their phones or maybe you found a new hidden cell phone. Its time to contact your private investigator!

If you like to know more about our services, give us a call for a free confidential phone consultation today. 515-246-8100!

Signing off...

Detective Craig Brooks

It's official, I have a blog and I know how to use it.

websites@hibu.com (Hibu Websites) — Fri, 30 Apr 2021 14:51:13 GMT

It's official, I have a blog and I know how to use it.

I have finally decided to take the plunge and add a blog to our site. Its a perfect time to start my first post as I am relaxing on Waikiki Beach. Although, I like the idea of being Magnum PI, my wife and I are vacationing with our children and grandchildren for two weeks! As I sit here relaxed looking out into the pacific ocean, I invision many topics to share with you all from tips on catching a cheater to stories we have encountered over the years in law enforcement and investigative field.

So, keep coming back to our site and check for updates right here on the blog.

- Craig