Book Description
Financial asset investigation continues to evolve through its techniques, and this book serves as a practical primer, emphasizing the use of data collection forms, the latest computer technology, and tools for identifying, locating, and assessing debtors¹ assets and liabilities. The text explains data gathering from computer data bases, CD-ROM, human sources, surveillance, and public records. The topics cover both individuals and businesses. They range from obtaining subjects¹ basic identifiers, such as a social security number, to using key business ratios to calculate figures for a company¹s balance sheet. This new edition strives to incorporate more online and electronic resources and includes a complete chapter on investigation through use of the Internet. Additional new topics include financial investigation for security officers, piercing the corporate veil, news groups, and public record searching shortcuts. Throughout the book, useful forms are provided for gathering, organizing, and analyzing data which allows for easy integration of information. Learning how to exploit information trails and cutting through smoke screens are the main themes of this practical and effective investigative tool.
Customer Reviews:
Truly One Of A Kind..........2004-12-05
As a licensed private investigator that is experienced in asset investigations, I can personally tell you that this is truly the only book of its kind. I would like to personally thank Mr. Ronald L. Mendell, BS, CLI for writing such a complete and long overdue text on this vital topic. Mendell does an excellent job of describing a systematic method for utilizing various resources/information sources to construct a detailed financial profile of the SUBJECT of the investigation.
Asset investigations are time consuming and arduous. Often, one small piece of information can be the key to uncovering a wealth (sometimes literally) of information regarding the SUBJECT. Even an experienced investigator will benefit from this text merely by employing it to insure that all bases have been covered.
Forget what you know or you think you know about asset investigations. This book is the real deal for legal (emphasis added) asset investigations. To date, I have not found another book on this topic that comes or even appears to come close to providing the same level of information. If you perform or would like to learn how to conduct asset investigations, I would not hesitate for one second to add this text to your investigative library.
As a final note, if you plan on performing any type of asset investigation, I highly encourage you to thoroughly research the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (also known as the GLB) via the Internet. Excellent knowledge of this legislation could mean the difference between a lucrative career as an asset investigator or an excellent career as a resident of your local state correctional facility - no joke. Good luck!
As always, check with your local library or bookstore to see if you can read/review this or any title before deciding to make a purchase. This method has effectively allowed me to make the most of my investigative library budget.
I hope you found this review helpful. If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me via email at MichaelBeltz@FALI.com. Respectfully submitted, MB.
Mendall is essential reading for financial investigators.......1996-12-18
In this seminal textbook for conducting asset searches, Mendall's provides the tools for analyzing a subject's financial situation. The emphasis here is on painstaking research in public records to develop a detailed portrait of the subject. Every investigation of this kind starts in the local courthouse with hard work, meticulous attention to detail, careful notes, and other not-so-glamorous means of retrieving, organizing, and analyzing information in order to provide intelligence to a collection attorney. Using the techniques in this book, one can locate real property, business, bank accounts and other asset for postjudgment execution. I highly recommend this book. It is always on my shelf and I find myself consulting it repeatedly. I only wish that Mendall had included more case studies
Book Description
The most interesting - and lucrative - aspect of private investigations is surveillance. This manual teaches you the nuts and bolts of the craft: how to uncover information by tailing a subject and documenting his actions in photographs or videotape. Learn what it's like on the streets, as well as what equipment and tools you'll need for each job.
Customer Reviews:
Review my own reviews!.......2005-09-08
When this book was written it was the first one on the market for anyone seeking ANY kind of information on surveillance. While I am the first to agree this book is way past it's time several things still prevail. It has been said that the title is misleading. I guess that would be a matter of perspective. When I spoke of SERIOUS, I was referring to the amount of money one spends on buying the best equipment out there to do the job with. At the time of the writing, what I had was state of the art. While, several of you would disagree about "Doing one thing, about converting and old van into a surveillance van" is all the book is about. I have a couple of comments about that, that anyone doing surveillance should agree with. Once you are outside of your vehicle, your danger rate goes up about 90%. Your personal danger that is. If you stay in your van, or vehicle and stay far enough away, with powerful lenses you should have no problem being "Made". Your only concern are those around you. While at the time, I had serious competitors, I have now retired and can say what I want. I purposely left things out of the book so they could not see what we were really doing. If you live in NY, I would agree, this book is not for you. If you are over 40 you should have a van. Why? Comfort.
This may be a mobile society, but being scrunched up in the back of an SUV is not my idea of doing a complete surveillance. We did a survey and found (This was all based on insurance surveillance) that men made terrible claimants. They couldn't stay indoors for a full 8 hours. (We would be on station for up to 10) We knew they would come out for air and we knew we would catch them on film. When they became mobile, we casually followed. They may go to the doc's office, they may go to physical thereapy and finally they may go to the grocery store. When they do, THAT was the video I wanted and needed. I had plenty of time to set up, plenty of time to capture those most needed moments. I kept my distance (we) and the claimants never knew they were even followed. O.k. I missed them going into the doc's office. So what did I miss? Them opening the door, them limping? What? SO I missed them going into physical thereapy, I got them coming out. I got that famous limp. Was that enough?
Not really. But I got them coming out of the grocery store carrying 6 bags of groceries. 3 in each arm! Was that worth it? One has to decide what, during their day they would hope to capture on film. We knew age groups, ethnic backgrounds and work they did before the injury. Statistics was a good precursor to what we would see that day. While it did not always work, in 80% of the cases it did. If the claimant was a welder, you can bet your boots at one time or another he will do it again, injury or not. Same with other blue collar fields.
About my reports. During and up till the time I retired, most attorneys did NOT want a report and allow the video tape to do the talking. I did my best to detail every movement of the claimant, but all that happened was the attorney never produced it. In fact I was told time and again to either not create one, but If I had to, do it generically. No specifics.
So now you all know why and what was SERIOUS. You would show up to a job site with no tools, would you? And if you did, you didn't buy them in the home section at Wally mart did you? NO, spend the money. Borrow it(The money) and be serious about what you are about to embark on. Remember, buying cheap is buying twice. I am placing my e-mail address in here for feedback if you desire. I am not looking to be harranged, just what about the parts I left out? AND there were many. Look at the date of the writing. You won't find a book on amazon older than it. BUt to this day, the knowledge still applies. I can't tell you how many times I have seen investigators doing surveillance out of mini vans, with dark tinted windows, no plate and their vin covered up. This also goes for SUV's. When you get older, comfort is a big issue. As far as "Being a mobile society" Well, if one is doing domestice work. I would have to agree. WHile that is a way to make a living, to me it's seedy. Not my style. I could write another book, but I guarantee you, by the time it came out, several database companies will be out of business and a new camera format will prevail. In fact, as far as filming goes my book was outdated the day it hit the market. At least equipment wise. I retired at age 53 and live very comfortably. Look at yourself, and where you are. I must have done something right. As far as an author goes, well, I could use some help, I sure am not denying that. E-mail me, I'll tell you what I couldn't in the book. That way, you'll get your moneys worth. [...] and good luck. Bob Bruno
Serious Surveillance? Or Serious Joke?.......2005-03-10
Having spent a great amount of years carrying out surveillance both for the government and in the Private sector, I can honestly say that this book has to be one of the worst I've ever read on the subject.
As someone else said, it should be entitled "How to Equip a Surveillance Van". It tells practically nothing about anything else - no real tactics (unless you include "blasting through a red light!") - and is of no benefit at all to a new surveillance operative. It will more than likely get you compromised, and also fired if you use the shoddy outdated report format the author suggests!
The book is in dire need of an update - but even then, unless the content changes dramatically, it would still be of no use. In my opinion, the best book on the market at the moment is "Advanced Surveillance" by Peter Jenkins - even old hands can learn a trick or two from it. Buy that if you want to learn - don't waste your money on serious surveillance - its a serious joke.
Great !.......2003-10-03
I think that "Serious Surveillance for the Private Investigator" is a great book for anyone interested in surveillance and investigation. I found several good ideas , but as I like Computer Forensics, I've read too "Le Guide du Cyberdétective", published in France by Editions Chiron, ISBN 2702707831, with interesting things about software surveillance
Title Should Be, How To Equip A Surveillance Van..........2003-01-23
Please note that this review is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, an assessment of Mr. Bruno's skills in and/or knowledge of the private investigation profession. I personally consider Mr. Bruno to be one of the premier investigators in the nation, especially in the area of covert surveillance.
As a licensed private investigator, college instructor of private investigation courses, and an experienced covert surveillance operative, I can personally tell you that the title of this book is highly misleading. This book contains little information regarding actual covert surveillance techniques/procedures - certainly nothing worthy of the title. As always, be fully aware of what you are purchasing and you won't be disappointed.
Bruno's book is good for those investigators that have the time and resources to equip a van specifically for covert surveillance. I can personally tell you however that I, like most private investigators, perform the vast majority of my surveillance activities using my personal vehicle, which I have equipped accordingly. So if you are looking to equip a surveillance van, this book might be what you are looking for; other than that, I would advise against purchasing this title.
If you are looking for a title that actually contains useful (emphasis added) surveillance techniques/procedures, I would highly recommend: "Covert Surveillance: The Manual of Surveillance Training" by Peter Jenkins (ISBN: 0953537803). I have had the pleasure of reading this fine text, which I consider to be the only covert surveillance techniques/procedures book worth recommending. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a copy for purchase.
As always, check with your local library or bookstore to see if you can read/review this or any title before deciding to make a purchase. This method has effectively allowed me to make the most of my investigative library budget.
I hope you found this review helpful. [...]
Reduculous "old man" tactics.......2002-10-22
This is a case of a simple minded man writing a simple, useless, and outdated book. How anyone can conduct surveillance (exclusively)out of a van is beyond me. I've been tracking people for 18 years and getting film of what they do. Life is just too fast moving to sit in a van. Investigators must be responsive on short notice; that means using a host of vehicles to suit whatever situation is at hand. Bob just sits in his van; worse yet, his cloned backup shows up in another van. Bob had a heat stroke from sitting in his van. Had to be rushed to the hospital. Give me a Toyota extended cab with a good AC, I'll use my wits to set up and run a smart surveillance; and be quick and fresh when its time to follow and film. If you can't follow then you can't film! Bob gives the following bad advise: he says: give the attorney the original film (Hey Bob, attorneys lose stuff!); he says: don't film the claimant if he changes his tire because everyone will think you flattened the tire (Hey Bob, film everything!); he says: when the claimant departs, just sit and wait for him to come back (Hey Bob, learn to follow and get the film wherever the claimant goes)I would fire someone for using Bob's static approach. Nothing worth spending money for here.
Average customer rating:
- Light and Fluffy
- Investigations:150 Things
|
Investigations: 150 Things
Louis Tyska , and
Lawrence Fennelly
Manufacturer: Butterworth-Heinemann
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Industries & Professions
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Social Services & Welfare
| Poverty
| Current Events
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Criminology
| Crime & Criminals
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Criminal Procedure
| Criminal Law
| Law
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Law
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Practical Guides
| Law
| Subjects
| Books
Criminal Procedure
| Criminal Law
| Law
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Law
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Business Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Business & Investing
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Law
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Nonfiction
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Professional & Technical
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Reference
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Private Security & the Investigative Process
-
The Art of Investigative Interviewing, Second Edition
-
Introduction to Investigations
ASIN: 0750671823 |
Book Description
By covering the essential tips and techniques for investigators, Investigations: 150 Things You Should Know becomes a useful reference. By further covering the legal guidelines that investigators must follow, it becomes indispensable. Through anecdotes, case studies, and documented procedures the authors of this book have amassed the most complete collection of investigative information available.
This ready reference is for anyone interested in investigations. Readers in and out of the law enforcement field will find this book easy to use and understand when seeking explanations about a wide variety of investigative topics including: constitutional law, documentary evidence, interviewing and interrogating, and surveillance.
Comprehensive overview of investigation
Easily readable and accessible information supplies all the necessary elements for the beginner or expert investigator
Further investigative resources are listed in valuable appendices
Customer Reviews:
Light and Fluffy.......2002-07-25
There's nothing new under the sun. Whether or not the authors are experts in their fields, this book is not to their credit. The book presents 150 more or less randomly assembled topics presented alphabetically and with very little depth or helpful reference. What I expected was perhaps an outline of investigative techniques or helpful hints. Instead, the authors dish out scant advice and a blend of rehashed, superficial material. This book would be unhelpful and remedial for a novice LEO fresh out of the academy or even to the very green PI. Interesting perhaps as a light and fluffy reference for the lay public. Another so called indispensable book returned to Amazon.
Investigations:150 Things.......2000-07-18
A great resource for someone thinking of breaking into this field. It's easy for the inexperienced to get themselves in trouble on the job. This book will help avoid those complications.For the experienced investigator it is also a good refresher text.
Customer Reviews:
fantasy!.......2004-07-16
Yes, the book looks nice, it says it all - conjures up images of Magnum PI etc.. but inside there is very little of any depth. I found it ludicrous that a whole chapter was given over to how to get fit! Even that isn't done correctly in my opinion. I think this book belongs in the era of movies where typing 'BYPASS SECURITY' and 'OVERRIDE SYSTEM PASSWORD' where the only hacking skills anyone ever needed to access the giant computer! And many of the statements in this book do go along those lines!!!!
The Private Investigator's Handbook.......2002-10-07
For all you PIs and wannabees, The PI Handbook tells you everything you _really_ need to know
about the business. Not that you're ready to open that seedy little office and hire a sexy secretary when
you finish, but if you ever wondered how to run a three-person surveillance on foot, this is the book for
you.
Dr. Gavin covers everything from setting up a van for covert surveillance to combating industrial
espionage. He touches on computer security and how to penetrate computer systems, map reading and
orientation, disguises, radio call signs and how to, uh, maintain regularity while on stakeout for days.
(Hint: Eat lots of dried fruit.) He even incorporates a section on fitness for the private operative.
Gavin is a former Royal Marine, police officer and social worker, currently operating his own
investigation company based in Britain. While this 190 page book is not comprehensive in every aspect
of the business, there's enough gritty technique to inspire the amateur or flesh out that PI story you've
been working on. Although the references to various legal issues are strictly from a British point of view,
the techniques are applicable anywhere. (Gavin even discusses assignments overseas.)
Not very helpful........2002-01-16
I bought this book because I would like to start a private investigation business. This book is not very helpful to a beginner or anyone for that matter. The simplistic pictures are just silly. It suggests getting a good watch and actually uses a whole page to show the reader what a watch looks like! Ditto for a notebook and camera! I got halfway through and quit and bought a new book. I'm glad it was not expensive!
Enter the fascinating world of private investigation........2001-11-22
I found this a user friendly, well illustrated, and interesting handbook, covering techniques for surveillence, and other useful information to give insight and practical help in the fascinating world of private investigation.
Average customer rating:
|
Practical Guide for Private Investigators
Edward R. Smith
Manufacturer: Paladin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Investing
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Self-Help
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0873645537 |
Book Description
Nowadays a private investigator must know more than just how to use a gun. He must be familiar with the latest forensic principles, courtroom procedures, the law of evidence and running an agency. Here you have a source for technical training material, lists of information sources and a look at job opportunities all in one volume.
Book Description
This updated and expanded edition of Be Your Own Detective includes the new technological advances in the art of snooping. High-tech devices developed for the most part by the military--night vision goggles, bugging and tapping equipment, sound amplification dishes are all now available (at reasonable to staggering prices) at the neighborhood electronics shop. The worldwide web is an amazing one-stop source of information. Authors Fallis and Greenberg have compiled the host of opportunities offered by the web and point out how they may be accessed most efficiently and effectively.
Customer Reviews:
Tips and Tricks, Invisibilty and Common Sense.......2003-09-14
A lot of what Fallis writes was extremely helpful for me, as I studied to be a private investigator. Many of the methods he describes are common-sense approaches, though insightful to someone who may not have used the techniques before, such as his advice in the chapter entitled "The Paper Trail."
However, there are also some outdated sections of the book, and the price ranges listed for some of the equipment he describes are totally outdated (I still have yet to see civilian NVD equipment that ranges higher than $300).
All in all, an excellent read, and extremely useful to the fledgling PI. Especially his advice on not using a bright red Ferrari to tail someone in.
A Solid Introduction to the Field.......2002-08-06
This guidebook by a licensed PI (as you will learn in the book, in order to accept any compensation for investigative work, you must be licensed) and a criminal defense lawyer is a good basic introduction to the realm of private detectives. Well-organized and easy to read, the book is full of practical tips for the budding amateur and prospective professional. Each section (Tailing, Surveillance, Paper Trails, etc.) is introduced and illustrated by anecdotes from Fallis' own career. And while most of the book is pretty common sense and straightforward, it's nice to have it all spelled out in one place. Throughout, Fallis adopts a cautionary tone which dismisses how detective work are portrayed on TV and film and underlines the drudgery that most real life PIs deal with every day. Especially valuable are the chapter on civil work (which is the bread and butter of most investigative work), which outlines the most common areas and issues and the chapter on criminal work, which usually (but not always) involves working for a person accused of a crime.
If the book has a weakness, it's that some of it seems a bit dated. In the last two years, the incidence of identity theft has grown exponentially, and so one wonders whether some of the techniques he described for finding personal information out about people would work so well these days. Similarly, the world of computers and the Internet changes so quickly that his chapter on that is also probably not as useful as it might have been. However, the appendix on social security numbers (the first three digits indicate what state or area it was issued in) and information sources are especially handy references. All in all, a fine introduction to detecting.
Loved it!.......2002-01-16
Great book for beginners in the private investigation field. Very fun and easy to read. Loaded with good advice and practical knowledge. I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in this area.
A Great Start to become your own Detective.......2000-02-17
This is one of the easiest to read "How To" detective books out there. The suggestions are easy enough for anyone to follow. From surveillance to tracking down deadbeat dads, this is the book for anyone interested in P.I. work. So be your own detective and investigate this book.
"A must for any P.I. to be...........1999-09-13
Excellent literature for anyone desiring a career as a private investigator, easy to read and excellent explanations on procedures.
Average customer rating:
- Get this book!
- Easy Investigating for the average Joe
|
Be Your Own Dick: Private Investigating Made Easy
John Q. Newman
Manufacturer: Breakout Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Job Hunting & Careers
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Reference
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Social Services & Welfare
| Poverty
| Current Events
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Sociology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
| AIDS
| Abuse
| Adults
| Aging
| Children
| Class
| Communities
| Culture
| Death
| General
| History
| Leisure
| Marriage & Family
| Medicine
| Men
| Occupational
| Race Relations
| Religion
| Research & Measurement
| Rural
| Social Groups
| Social Situations
| Social Theory
| Suburban
| Urban
| Women
General
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Private Investigating, 2nd Edition (Complete Idiot's Guide to)
ASIN: 1893626253 |
Customer Reviews:
Get this book!.......2004-01-17
And you can get it for list within a day from the loompanics page or 8003802230. A classic in the private investigation genre. Some of the loop holes he mentions would be worth more than the price of the book alone--for protecting your own privacy as well as for ferreting out the secrets of someone else. John Q wrote this right before the turn of the century, but the gumshoe methods he espouses are sound and true even today. This author has a good understanding of the ways to obtain information and is good at getting the information across.
Easy Investigating for the average Joe.......1999-05-23
Clear and Precise and at time humorous. Interesting to read "How they do it"
Average customer rating:
|
The investigator;: A practical guide to private detection
James E Ackroyd
Manufacturer: Muller
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Criminology
| Crime & Criminals
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Sociology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
| AIDS
| Abuse
| Adults
| Aging
| Children
| Class
| Communities
| Culture
| Death
| General
| History
| Leisure
| Marriage & Family
| Medicine
| Men
| Occupational
| Race Relations
| Religion
| Research & Measurement
| Rural
| Social Groups
| Social Situations
| Social Theory
| Suburban
| Urban
| Women
ASIN: 0584101333 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Security Management, published by American Society for Industrial Security on July 1, 2001. The length of the article is 736 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: How to Do Financial Asset Investigations: A Practical Guide for Private Investigators, Collections Personnel, and Asset Recovery Specialists, 2nd edition.(Review)
Author: Harvey L Williams
Publication:
Security Management (Refereed)
Date: July 1, 2001
Publisher: American Society for Industrial Security
Volume: 45
Issue: 7
Page: 143
Article Type: Book Review
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Books:
- Immigration Law and Procedure in a Nutshell (Nutshell Series)
- Infrastructure for the Built Environment: Global Procurement Strategies
- Introduction to Law and the Legal System
- Keep the Family Baggage Out of the Family Business: Avoiding the Seven Deadly Sins That Destroy Family Businesses
- Land Development Calculations: Interactive Tools and Techniques for Site Planning, Analysis and Design
- Law, Business, and Society
- Law's Empire
- Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't
- Legal Environment of Business: A Critical Thinking Approach (4th Edition)
- Major Principles of Media Law, 2007 Edition
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Death of Friends: A Henry Rios Mystery
- 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
- Spectroscopic Methods in Bioinorganic Chemistry
- The Speed of Dark
- Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art
- A Billion Bootstraps: Microcredit, Barefoot Banking, and The Business Solution for Ending Poverty
- Why Do Snakes Hiss
- Hide in Plain Sight: The Hollywood Blacklistees in Film and Television, 1950-2002
- The Crafter's Complete Guide to Collage
- The Illustrated Book of Trees: The Comprehensive Field Guide to More Than 250 Trees of Eastern North
The Investigator's Little Black Book 3
