Did You Know... (PI Historical Trivia 3)

Sir John Fielding, notable English magistrate and social reformer of the 18th century along with his brother and magistrate Henry Fielding formed the Bow Street Runners, known as Thief Takers, which were a group of paid citizens who served writs, warrants, made arrests, and conducted investigative work. This effort proved to be successful in reducing crime and public disorder.

Did You Know... (PI Historical Trivia 2)

Early law enforcement focused on making arrests for crimes in progress. If an individual wanted to pursue criminal action against a suspect they had to hire their own private investigator, known then as "thief takers", who charged for their services.

Government Oversight or Overlooked?

One of the functions of The New York Federal Reserve Bank is to monitor other financial institutions to ensure that the financial crisis which occurred in this county in 2008 does not happen again.

According to the article "NY Fed Fired Examiner Who Took on Goldman", Carmen Segarra, the examiner assigned by the NY Fed to look into the "conflict of interest" policies at Goldman Sacks was fired for the very findings that she was hired to gather.

The article also indicates that some very powerful people within the Federal Reserve Bank of New York are former employees of Goldman Sacks and vice versa...


Check out the article at the link below and let us know what you think!

NY Fed Fired Examiner Who Took on Goldman

Did You Know... (PI Historical Trivia 1)

Edgar Allan Poe, "the father of detective fiction", was the first to write about Private Investigators in 1841 in the short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"

10 Best Home Security of 2013

ConsumersAdvocate.org has compiled a list of the 10 best home security systems of 2013. They've ranked them using specific criteria in order: Price, Hardware Features, Contract Length, Customer Service Guarantee.

1. FrontPoint Security

• First Year Price- $358.87
• Overview- Extremely High Customer Satisfaction; Better than Free Equipment (after $300. rebate); Online Quote Available
• Monitoring & Contract- Monitoring from $34.99; 3-Year Term

2. Protect America

• First Year Price- $239.88
• Overview- Great for Price Conscious Customers; Home & Apartments
• Monitoring & Contract- $19.99/mo; 3-Year Term

3. SimpliSafe Home Security Systems

• First Year Price- $409.84
• Overview- Inexpensive Monitoring; 60-Day Guarantee; Must Buy Your Own Equipment
• Monitoring & Contract- $19.99/mo; No Contract

4. LifeShield Security

• First Year Price- $459.87
• Overview- Free Kindle w/ Gold Package (34.99/mo); High Quality Wireless Equipment
• Monitoring & Contract- $29.99/mo+ Monitoring; 3-Year Term

5. AlarmRelay

• First Year Price- $342.40
• Overview- Best for the "Do-It-Yourselfer"; Hardware & Monitoring Sold Separately; Long Term Savings
• Monitoring & Contract- Alarm Relay Monitoring $8.95/mo;1-Year Contract 

6. AlarmForce

• First Year Price- $300.
• Overview- Lower Price; Trusted by Fewer Customers; 2-Way Communication
• Monitoring & Contract- $25.00/mo Monitoring; 3-Year Term

7. Xfinity Home

• First Year Price- $558.40
• Overview- High Quality Security System; Inexpensive Monitoring; $199. Instilation Fee Increases Cost
• Monitoring & Contract- $29.99/mo Monitoring; 3-Year Contract

8. Vivint

• First Year Price- $599.88
• Overview- Best High End System; Home Automation & Security; No Entry Level Pricing Available; 
• Monitoring & Contract- $49.99/mo Monitoring; 3-Year Term

9. ADT

• First Year Price- $720.86
• Overview- Most Recognizable Brand in the U.S.; $200. Cash Back Offer; Still Very Costly
• Monitoring & Contract- $35.99/mo for Basic; $49.99/mo for Fully Featured; 3-Year Term

10. Pinnacle Security

• First Year Price- $618.88
• Overview- Pinnacle Security is Full Featured but High Price, Long Contract & Low Ratings with the BBB Earned it a Low Rank
• Monitoring & Contract- $34.99/mo Monitoring; 4-Year Contract 

To view the article which includes links to each security company listed visit http://consumersadvocate.org/security/best-home-security.html?gclid=CNas0_Sj57kCFRDZQgodb2AA1Q

Social Security Scams Lead to Extreme Elder Abuse

A Houston man has been arrested for felony elder abuse according to a July 23, 2013 article in The New York Times.

The article exposes a scam to collect Social Security and Veteran benefits from elder individuals held against their will. Three elderly disabled men ages 50, 74, and 80 were held prisoner for at least one year in a small garage fitted with burglar bars and lacking the benefit of furniture, beds, blankets, or plumbing. Officials said the men were only given scraps of food to eat and were prevented from leaving by force or coercion.

Walter Renard Jones, the 31-year-old grandson of the homeowner, allegedly lured the men to the garage with promises of food, shelter, and care. He was arrested and charged with felony elder abuse, including allegations that he struck one of the men with a cane.

According to the article, neighbors were shocked by the scandal. Many neighbors and relatives were often guests in the house but never went near the converted garage.

A fourth man, who was apparently given more freedom than the others lived both in the converted garage and, at other times, in the home was instrumental  in notifying police of the travesties occurring at this location.

The individuals held captive were taken to the hospital and treated for malnourishment.

Officials from the Houston Police Department stated that this case was one of the most extreme instances of elder abuse and financial exploitation in Texas.

For more information and to read the full article visit http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/us/houston-garage-was-prison-for-three-disabled-men.html?_r=0

Uncle Sam is Watching

According to an article from the San Francisco Chronicle on July 20, 2013, both major political parties are finding cause to agree. In the article, "Right and Left Unite on Surveillance Issue," Stewart M. Powell discusses the rise in domestic intelligence gathering among U.S. government agencies since Sept. 11, 2001 to the scandal brought on by Edward Snowden leaking National Security Agency information.

Since the uprising of the anti-terrorism movement after the Sept. 11 tragedy, the government has continuously increased its power through the steady flow of data in this information revolution. With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security  and the United States Intelligence Community during President George W. Bush's administration, the government has been able to collect data on possible foreign and domestic threats more efficiently

The Department of Homeland Security encompasses all federal agencies that focus on domestic safety, whereas the United States Intelligence Community encompasses all intelligence agencies to ensure the sharing of information among individual agencies in an effort to prevent terrorism. Though the implementation of these umbrella departments was ordered with the best intentions in order to offer the American people greater assurance of their safety; however, many feel that it has gone too far and resent that governmental capabilities have abused individual citizens' rights in the name of national security.

Powell expresses in his article that the emphasis on domestic security at all costs is faltering under continuous concerns "among Republicans about a 'Big Brother' federal government, and Democrats worried about protecting individuals' civil liberties."

A quote appears in the article from Norman Ornstein, a congressional scholar at h the Americna Enterprise Instutue, which explains the reasons for this adjacent stance. Ornstein highlights, " a real change in both parties on the war on terror, the role of the military and intelligence agencies, and a new common ground on distrust of government."

For more information and to read the frull article, please isit http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Right-and-left-unite-on-surveillance-issue-4677354.php

And of course, visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Airlines Join the Fight Against Human Trafficking

In an article posted on June 9, 2013 on thePhilaNews.com, four American commercial airlines have partnered with the government to provide special training for their employees to recognize signs of human trafficking in the air and on the ground.

Representatives from Delta AirLines and JetBlue Airways joined the U.S. Transportation Department Secretary, Ray LaHood, and U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection acting Deputy Commissioner, Kevin K. McAleenan, at a press conference in Washington on June 6, 2013 to announce the new association. The other two airlines joining this voluntary partnership are Allegiant Air and North American Airlines.

"We cannot let the American transportation system be an enabler in these criminal acts," said Secretary LaHood, according to a June 6 Transportation Department news release, "With today's announcement, we are sending a message to any would-be traffickers -whether you ravel by land, by rail, or by air, we will be watching you."

According to this news release from the Transportation Department, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) collaborated to develop a training program called Blue Lightening Initiative that is available to airlines as part of a DHS Blue Campaign to help them educate their employees on potential indicators of human trafficking and how to identify potential victims.

The article goes on to discuss Blue Lightening in more detail as well as further efforts by  the U.S. Department of Transportation to combat human trafficking.

To read the full article, visit the link below.

Airlines, U.S. Agencies Partner to Combat Human Trafficking

Find a Charity You Can Trust

Charity Navigator, America's leading independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the Financial Health and Accountability and Transparency of 6,000 of America's largest charities. 

To find a legitimate charity to support visit www.charitynavigator.org

The above testimonial is a description directly from Charity Navigator. 

Beware of Charity Scams

As a nation, we are compassionate. Millions of people throughout the country rush to help those in need, whether they are our fellow countrymen or abroad. This is especially prevalent during a natural disaster such as the recent tornado in Oklahoma, Hurricane Sandy last year, or even the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Human nature compels us to help victims of any kind; and yet, human nature also compels some towards dishonesty and deceitfulness.

A natural disaster is the perfect opportunity for scammers. People are looking to give money away left and right, and all a scammer needs to do is pose as a charity representative interested in raising money to help those affected by destruction. This is not only harmful to you, but to those in need of that monetary support because the scammers are stealing contributions away from legitimate charities who badly need those finances in order to offer any help and support.

It is important especially in times of disaster, to offer sustainance to those who require it. But keep in mind that there are people willing to take advantage of your kindness. So before you donate, consider these points below:

• If you're approached by an unfamiliar charity, check it out. Most States require charities to register with them and file annual reports showing how they use donations. Ask your state or local consumer protection agency how to get this information. The Better Business Bureau Wise (BBB) Giving Alliance also offers information about national charities. Call 703-276-0100 or go to Give.org
• Ask for written information. Legitimate charities will be happy to provide details about what they do and will never insist that you act immediately. 
• Beware of sound-alikes. Some crooks try to fool people by using names that are very similar to those of legitimate, well known charities. 
• Ask about the caller's relation to the charity. The caller may be a professional fundraiser, not an employee or a volunteer. Ask what percentage of donations goes to the charity and how much the fundraiser gets. 
• Be wary of requests to support police or firefighters.  Some fraudulent fundraisers claim that donations will benefit police or firefighters, when in fact little or no money goes to them. Contact your local police or fire department to find out if the claims are true and what percentage of donations, if any, they will receive. 
• Be especially cautious after after natural or other disasters. Fraudulent charities take advantage of those situations to trick people who want to aid the victims. If you're not sure whether a charity is legitimate, check it out with your state charities regulator and the BBB before you donate. 

For more information, and to read the full article, please visit Fraud.org - Home

10 Tips to Avoid Identity Theft During Summer Travel

Enjoy your vacation more knowing your identity is safe!

1. Don't announce your travel plans on social media. “This invites identity thieves to target your house while you’re away.”

2. Place a hold on your mail. “When criminals see an overflowing mailbox, they see an easy way to steal personal information.”

3. Carry only necessities in your wallet when traveling. “Go through your wallet and leave at home your library card and other cards with your name on them.”

4. Set up a travel alert on your credit card accounts, and freeze your credit with the three credit bureaus.

5. Leave your laptop computer at home if you can. “If you must travel with a laptop, update your anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. Do not access bank accounts from your laptop while in a hotel room or at a coffee shop or other public location.”

6.  While staying at a hotel, lock important documents such as your passport in a safe.

7. Use only ATMs located in banks.

8. Protect your smartphone. “Create a password for access, and use an application with a GPS locator to find your phone if it is lost or stolen.”

9. Don’t put your full name and address on luggage tags. “Include just your last name and phone number.”

10. Tear up and discard used boarding passes. “Many travelers leave boarding passes behind in airplanes or hotels. They often contain full names and other personal information.”

For the full article by Kelsey Owen at Better Business Bureau visit the link below. 
10 Tips to Avoid Identity Theft During Summer Travel

Legislation on Human Trafficking Will Give Minors Immunity from Prosecution

At what age are minors able to make decisions for themeless? Teenagers will surely argue that they always know what is best ; but this question is commonly addressed in a court of law. How old does a child have to be before they fully understand right from wrong? At what point is it acceptable to treat minors as adults when those minors perform acts with a full awareness of what they're doing? And what if they are not? 

The link below goes to an article by Kevin O'Hanlon from JournalStar.com about a bill proposed by Nebraska Sen. Amanda McGill which deals with the questions above: Should a minor be prosecuted for prostitution? The bill is designed to protect underaged victims of human trafficking. Being trafficked is no doubt an unspeakably heinous situation for a child, or anyone for that matter, to experience. Sen. McGill's bill offers that any person under the age of 18 shall not be prosecuted for prostitution. The article offers several quote from the senator regarding this subject. According to McGill, experts say" anyone who is a minor who is performing sex acts for money is not doing it by choice. It isn't something that should be prosecuted."

The article also goes on to address that in some cases minors (often older teens) are not forced into prostitution. In those cases, though force may not be present, it is likely that those individuals made that choice based on a number of circumstances. The bill offers an amendment for situations where a minor engages in prostitution without being forced by any other person. Sen. McGill states, "That is incredibly rare. I'm not hearing of any cases like that. The specter is there, but I am not aware of any cases like that." The amendment offers that, in these situations, a juvenile court may have jurisdiction to order treatment.

Fro a full and more detailed account please visit the link below to read the article.

Human-trafficking bill would make minors immune from prostitution charges : Politics

5 Signs That Your Investment Advisor Is Scamming You

Sign No. 1: An Adviser Won't Provide Real-Time Trading Information.
In the case against Capital Management Associates, the SEC alleges that the duo ran trades without specifying whether they were for clients' accounts or for the owners' accounts. Then, once the profitability or loss of the trade was assured, the company would backdate that information, assigning the profitable trades for themselves and the losers to clients.

Sign No. 2: An Adviser's Returns Are Too Good to Be True.
Bernie Madoff swindled investors out of billions of dollars in what has been called the largest Ponzi scheme ever uncovered. While Madoff, a former chairman of the Nasdaq stock exchange and securities representative on SEC industry panels, knew enough to hide from the regulators for decades, his returns were too consistent to be real.

Sign No. 3: You're Getting Hot Tips That You're Told You Need to Act on Now.
Any legitimate investment worth owning will still be available tomorrow, after you've had the time to think about it (and research it independently). Any pushy advisor telling you things like, "You've got to act today to get in on the ground floor" or "You don't have time to read the paperwork" is asking you to act without reviewing something, which is a common hallmark of a scam.

Sign No. 4: You're Promised Investments That Will Be "No Cost to You."
If you're working with a financial advisor, that advisor is getting paid by you, either directly by checks you write or indirectly via commissions, spreads, or fees generated by the investments you make. Any adviser claiming otherwise is hiding something -- likely an outlandishly high fee for placing an investment or insurance policy, which can often run north of 7 percent of the invested amount.

Sign No. 5: Your Account Is Being Churned and Burned.
And speaking of fees, be wary of an adviser who regularly churns your account through multiple trades of similar types of annuities, mutual funds, or other investments. If your adviser is getting paid through a hidden commission from making the transaction, that activity is very likely lucrative for the adviser ... but not so much for you.

The contents of this post are pieces of a larger article. For more information and to view the full article please visit this link 5 Signs That Your Investment Advisor Is Scamming You

Behavioral Red Flags of Occupational Fraud

These are the red flags to look for if you're concerned about fraud. They apply to large and small businesses. The first 5 flags are the most common. 

1. Living Beyond Means
2. Financial Difficulties
3. Control Issues/ Unwillingness to Share Duties
4. Unusually Close Association with Vendor/Customer
5. Wheeler-Dealer Attitude
6. Divorce/ Family Problems
7. Irritability, Suspiciousness, or Defensiveness
8. Addiction Problems
9. Refusal to Take Vacations
10. Past Employment-Related Problems
11. Complained About Inadequate Pay
12. Excessive Pressure from Within Organization
13. Past Legal Problems
14. Instability in Life Circumstances 
15. Excessive Family/Peer Pressure for Success
16. Complained About Lack of Authority 

The Benefits of Pre-Employment Screenings: Part 2

Reduce Employee Turnover: Hire the Right People

Pre-Employment Background Checks help screen in employees who remain employed longer because employers are able to make the "Right Hire" the first time. Employers are able to hire the right people by increasing the accurate and objective information available to hiring managers. The information provided by a comprehensive background check enables employers to build a competent workforce and reduce the likelihood of hiring dishonest employees and employees with drug and alcohol problems. Gathering information from multiple sources provides a clearer understanding of the applicant's qualifications and reduces an employer's risks.

Avoid Negative Publicity

Prior history is a good predictor of future performance. Background checks are used by employers to verify the freely volunteered information provided by applicants (usually through a resume or job application). Because of the large number of applicants who make false claims, Criminal Record Checks, Prior Employment Verifications, Education Verification, License Verifications, and other research tools can reveal potential problem areas. Through careful and wise use of the information obtained in proper background checks, employers greatly reduce the risk of negative publicity.

In many cases there is little difference in the eyes of the public or the law between employees and volunteers who perform essential functions of an organization. Volunteers should be screened just as carefully as employees who would be performing similar roles. The public, courts, and regulatory agencies expect extra vigilance during the selection process of those who will be dealing with the infirm, the elderly, and children, as well as those who will have access to living quarters or residences. Such staff should be carefully screened. Proper background checks greatly reduce the likelihood of hiring a bad employee or volunteer, and thus they reduce the likelihood of negative publicity.

Meet Regulator , Insurance, and Customer Requirements

Many employers are required by government regulation, their insurance carriers, and/or their customers to conduct pre-employment screenings. To achieve all the benefits discussed above, employers should meet any external requirements and then seriously consider obtaining more complete background checks where appropriate. A complete pre-employment screening should include: 

• Social Security Search
• County Criminal Search
• OFAC Specialty Designated Nationals List/ Blocked Persons List
• Education Verification
• Prior Employment Verifications
• Comprehensive Report (position specific)
• Credit Report (position specific)
• DMV Records (position specific)
• Live Scan Fingerprints (position specific)

The Bottom Line: Success

Why do pre-employment screenings? The bottom line is that pre-employment background checks help an organization be more successful. That means greater profits to for-profit organizations and greater impact for non-profits. Thorough background checks help employers:

• Reduce the high cost of turnover by screening in employees who stay longer
• Reduce losses from employee theft, employee fraud, drug and alcohol abuse, absenteeism, workplace violence, and litigation
• Avoid wasted benefits
• Reduce training and employee development costs
• Increase productivity through hiring employees with better work habits, attitudes, policies, and practices
• Enhance professionalism by "screening in" appropriate workplace attitudes
• Decrease insurance costs
• Meet regulatory, insurance, and customer requirements

Background Check Benefits for Employees

An applicant applying to an employer who conducts thorough background checks will not be competing against applicants who lied about their experience or falsified their credentials.

Employers who conduct careful background checks are usually better organizations to work for. They:

• Are better managed
• Place greater value on employees
• Provide a safe workplace
• Are willing to invest in quality employees

Note
Keep in mind that, though performing pre-employment screenings may contribute to a more honest applicant pool, employers or HR departments will most likely not give out character references on former employees. This is because if an applicant is not hired based on a reference given by a former employer, that applicant can sue their former employer. It seems completely ridiculous; however, there is nothing that would prevent an individual from doing this. In order for a company to avoid the costs of going to court, they simply will not comment on a former employee's behavior; even if that behavior is extremely relevant towards the applicant's credibility.


The information presented here has been gathered from our own experiences with performing pre-employment screenings as well as information from A Matter of Fact. 

The Benefits of Pre-Employment Screenings: Part 1

Increase Applicant and New Hire Quality

The first benefit of background checks that most businesses see is an increase in applicant quality. Companies that utilize pre-employment screenings often see an almost immediate improvement in the quality of applicants once it is advertised that they conduct thorough background checks. A complete employee screening process:

• Results in fewer applications with serious discrepancies
• Discourages applicants who are trying to hide something
• Increases applications from applicants who want to work in a safe environment
• Increases the quality of new hires due to an improved applicant pool and improved selection process

Reduce Violence in the Workplace
Prior history is a good indicator of future performance. Background checks are used by employers to identify applicants prone to unacceptable workplace behavior. Background check tools such as Criminal Record Checks, Prior Employment Verifications, Education Verifications, License Verifications, and other research tools can reveal potential problem areas. 

Protect Against Neglegent Hiring Liability

Because employers have a moral and legal obligation to provide a safe work environment, knowing whether a potential employee has been involved in criminal or dishonest activity (such as drug or other substance abuse, reckless behavior, theft, or dangerous and violent behaviors) allows the employer to better determine if an applicant is appropriate for the job and work environment. Pre-eimployment screenings allow an employer to better determine if an applicant poses a potential threat to other employees or customers.

Background check tools such as Criminal Record Checks, Prior Employment Verifications, Education Verification, License Verifications, and other research tools can reveal potential problem areas and provide documentation that an employer has taken "reasonable care" in the hiring process. Thorough background check documentation is an important element in reducing negligent hiring liability.

NOTE: If Your Employees:

•   Access consumers' financial, medical, or personal information

•   Access consumers' living quarters or residences

•   Work with the infirm, the elderly, or children

•   Work with hazardous materials

•   Are responsible for the safety of themselves and others

You are generally expected by the public, the law, and the courts to be extra-vigilant when screening employees.

Reduce Employee Dishonesty Losses

Prior history is a good predictor of future performance. Background checks are used by employers to verify the freely volunteered information provided by applicants (usually through a resume or job application). Background check tools such as Criminal Record Checks, Prior Employment Verifications, Education Verification, License Verifications, Drug Screening and other research tools can reveal potential problem areas. Through careful and wise use of the information obtained in complete background checks, employers greatly reduce or eliminate the risk of employee dishonesty losses by avoiding individuals who exaggerate or falsify credentials on resumes and job applications and reduce drug-related theft by encouraging a drug-free work environment.

Screen Employees With Access to Livign Quearters

All employees (including temps, part-time workers, contractors and volunteers) who have access to consumer residences or living quarters should be backgrounded. A background check, or application verification, confirms the information provided by the candidate using independent sources such as criminal and civil court records, prior employer records, educational institution records, and credit or motor vehicle reports.

While it may seem unfair, the courts have repeatedly found employers responsible for the criminal actions of employees on the job, and, in some cases, off the job. The average award in security (personal safety) negligent hiring cases is more than $1 million. Essentially, the courts see a background check as cheap insurance against repeated criminal actions.


Note
Keep in mind that, though performing pre-employment screenings may contribute to a more honest applicant pool, employers or HR departments will most likely not give out character references on former employees. This is because if an applicant is not hired based on a reference given by a former employer, that applicant can sue their former employer. It seems completely ridiculous; however, there is nothing that would prevent an individual from doing this. In order for a company to avoid the costs of going to court, they simply will not comment on a former employee's behavior; even if that behavior is extremely relevant towards the applicant's credibility. 



The information presented here has been gathered from our own experiences with performing pre-employment screenings as well as information from A Matter of Fact. 

Human Trafficking Red Flag- Working and Living Conditions

The working and living conditions may present red flags.

For example, you may note that potential victims in the workplace express that they aren't doing the job they expected.

You may also notice the victims appear deprived of food, water, sleep, and/or medical care as well as satisfactory living conditions.

Red flags are clearly indicated when minors are engaged in commercial sex. 




Reference: This information has been shared from the Human Trafficking Awareness Training provided by the U.S Department of Homeland Security. For more information, or to participate in the online training visit  www.dhs.gov and visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Human Trafficking Red Flag- Freedom

When a potential victim defers to another person to speak for him or her, or appears to have been coached on what to say to authorities, it can be an indicator of human trafficking.

Additionally, if a potential victim isn't allowed to socialize and communicate with family, friends, or at community events, this is also a red flag that the person is being controlled. 




Reference: This information has been shared from the Human Trafficking Awareness Training provided by the U.S Department of Homeland Security. For more information, or to participate in the online training visit  www.dhs.gov and visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Human Trafficking Red Flag- Safety

Human traffickers will control victims by threatening potential victims or their families with harm. 

Potential victims may have bruises or other signs of physical abuse.

Victims will also be threatened with deportation or arrest in order to control them.

If you find that potential victims appear fearful, this could mean a red flag should be raised. 




Reference: This information has been shared from the Human Trafficking Awareness Training provided by the U.S Department of Homeland Security. For more information, or to participate in the online training visit  www.dhs.gov and visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Human Trafficking Red Flag- Wages

Traffickers often control victims by prohibiting them from controlling their own money.
Another method is not paying them what was promised.

This makes it is more difficult to pay off debts, which means traffickers are able to exercise more control over the victims.

Traffickers will also withhold pay completely for a victim's work. Control over a victim's pay can
sometimes be the result of the victim working to pay off a debt.



Reference: This information has been shared from the Human Trafficking Awareness Training provided by the U.S Department of Homeland Security. For more information, or to participate in the online training visit  www.dhs.gov and visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Human Trafficking Red Flag- Documents

When traffickers take victims' personal documents, such as identification papers and/or travel documents, this effectively restricts victims' freedom of movement and opportunity. 

Reference: This information has been shared from the Human Trafficking Awareness Training provided by the U.S Department of Homeland Security. For more information, or to participate in the online training visit  www.dhs.gov and visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Red Flags of Human Trafficking

There are a number of red flags, or indicators, which can help you identify human trafficking. Recognizing the signs is the first step in identifying victims.

Each red flag focuses on the traffickers' methods of control and can be broken down into categories: personal documents, wages, safety, freedom, and working and living conditions. Think of these categories as pieces of a puzzle. Any method in any category can give a trafficker control. However, the methods can be interrelated and combining them can lead to total control over the victim.

If you decide to participate in the online training, you would select each red flag category to learn more about the methods of controlling potential victims. Here we will post a new red flag each  day, so be sure to check back with us. 



Reference: This information has been shared from the Human Trafficking Awareness Training provided by the U.S Department of Homeland Security. For more information, or to participate in the online training visit  www.dhs.gov and visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Victims are vulnerable to trafficking because of...

Human trafficking is a worldwide epidemic and that means it occurs within our borders as well. Human trafficking can occur anywhere, from the darkest corners of the globe, to your own backyard.

Traffickers prey on victims with little or no social safety net. They look for victims in vulnerable situations due to economic hardship, political instability, natural disasters, and other causes. Traffickers also exploit people who are vulnerable because of their illegal immigration status. 



Reference: This information has been shared from the Human Trafficking Awareness Training provided by the U.S Department of Homeland Security. For more information, or to participate in the online training visit  www.dhs.gov and visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Trafficking vs. Smuggling

What sets human smuggling apart from human trafficking is that the defining element of human smuggling is transportation, while the defining element of human trafficking is exploitation. In fact, a human trafficking victim would not need to travel anywhere to be trafficked. And, people who are smuggled are not necessarily exploited and are acting out of their own free will.

Human smuggling is the facilitation, transportation, attempted transportation, or illegal entry of a person across an international border. It occurs in violation of one or more countries' laws, either clandestinely (by avoiding checkpoints altogether) or through deception, such as the use of fraudulent documents. Smuggling usually ends when a border has been crossed and a smuggling fee has been paid.

By contrast, human trafficking is non-consensual; the exploitation typically occurs indefinitely. 

However, a case of human smuggling can become a case of human trafficking if the "smuggler" forces the individual being smuggled to work off fees that were not originally agreed upon. In this case the smuggler may threaten the smuggled person's life or the lives of their loved ones to ensure cooperation. 

Reference: This information has been shared from the Human Trafficking Awareness Training provided by the U.S Department of Homeland Security. For more information, or to participate in the online training visit  www.dhs.gov and visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Human Trafficking is defined as...

Anywhere between 12 to 27 million people are held in slavery around the world today. Men, women, and children. Documented and undocumented. Foreign nationals and citizens. For sex and for labor. All around the world and in the United States. You may think slavery is only in history books but it is happening today, for labor and commercial sex.

So what is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is defined as the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for labor services or commercial sex acts through force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of exploitation, involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. It includes any commercial sex involving a minor.

Human trafficking is not a crime of movement, but rather the dehumanizing practice of holding another in compelled service using whatever means necessary, whether physical or psychological. People who are subjected to involuntary servitude are held against their will and forced to work, frequently under the threat of violence to themselves or their families.

Victims of debt bondage are typically required to work for low wages to repay an excessive or unreasonable amount of money in exchange for a service, such as transportation or a recruiter fee for a job. The victims are then compelled to pay off their debts by becoming modern day slaves.

In the United States, trafficking occurs for commercial sexual exploitation in street prostitution, massage parlors, and brothels. Forced labor can also occur in domestic service; agricultural, manufacturing, and janitorial services; hospitality industries; construction; health and elder care.

Traffickers coerce, force, or deceive victims into performing commercial sex acts. Sex trafficking may include prostitution, pornography, live-sex shows, and sex tourism. Victims can be undocumented workers, migrant and temporary workers on legitimate visas, or even U.S. citizens. Human trafficking can exist in any workplace.

Human smuggling is different from human trafficking. For more information on the differences, please continue to visit our blog. 



Reference: This information has been shared from the Human Trafficking Awareness Training provided by the U.S Department of Homeland Security. For more information, or to participate in the online training visit  www.dhs.gov and visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Identity Theft: Stay Educated- Tip of the Week

Have Your Mail Held While Traveling 

If your mail is left unattended while your out of town, it is possible that your mail can be stolen and the info used for stealing your identity. This would be most likely to occur if you have a mail box that is easy to access (doesn't require a key to gain entry). If you take a little vacation you should schedule a hold for your mail. This ensures no mail is delivered and left sitting in your mailbox while you’re away. It may be tempting to have a friend or neighbor get your mail for you, but it’s better to play it safe and just have the post office hold it. In the past, the post office did not charge for this service; if they do now, it is probably at a reasonable rate and well worth the expense for the assurance that your personal information is secure. 



For more information visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Identity Theft: Stay Educated- Type 7

Synthetic Identity Theft

This is the “latest thing” in the ID theft world. The thief will take parts of information from many victims and combine it. The new identity isn't any specific person, but all the victims can be affected when it’s used. It will show up in the areas covered in previous posts, so look to those sections for additional information.

Synthetic identity theft has also been used to describe any act in which the criminal attempts to convince someone they are another person, real or fictional. This careful wording is no doubt reactionary to the the US Supreme Court ruling that an illegal immigrant has not committed a crime unless he or she was aware that the SSN they were using belonged to an actual citizen.



For more information visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

The Global Realities of Human Trafficking

We've all heard the notion that slavery is a blemish on American history; while that is true, it is inaccurate. Slavery is still very prevalent in the United States and other countries around the world. Human trafficking, commonly referred to as modern day slavery, is the illegal trade in beings for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor. The buying and selling of human beings is an extremely lucrative business, second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable illegal industry in the world. . 

The U.S. Department of State conducted a Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report for 2012 which classifies the worlds nations into five categories  Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watch List,Tier 3, and Special Cases. Below are the definitions for each category and the statistics showing how many countries qualify for each classification.


Tier 1- Countries whose governments fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act's (TVPA) minimum standards.

Tier 2- Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA's minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.

Tier 2 Watch List- Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the TVPA's minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into complacence with those standards AND:
a) The absolute number of victims of sever forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing.
b) There is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year; or
c) The determination that a country is making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with minimum standards is based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year.

Tier 3- Countries whose governments do not comply with the TVPA's minimum standards and are making no efforts to do so.

Special Cases- No definition given. 


Tier 1- 33 countries
Tier 2- 93 countries
Tier 2WL- 42 countries
Tier 3- 17 countries
Special Case- 1

186 countries were listed in the TIP Report and of those only 33 fully comply with the minimum standards set by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.That means that, despite the level of effort to comply, 153 countries do not fully abide by the TVPA's minimum standards. According to The United Nations there are 7 billion people populating this planet as of October 2011. Only taking into consideration simple calculations and overall populous averages, approximately 83% of the world is not in compliance with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. That means that approximately 5,810,000,000 people do not have the assurance of being protected by their governments if they were to become victims of human trafficking. 


For more information visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Identity Theft: Stay Educated- Tip of the Week

Do Not Give Out Personal Information To Anybody Over Phone, Mail Or Internet. 

Unless you have initiated the contact, in which case you can be sure of the person at the other end, don’t give people sensitive personal or financial information, not even to somebody claiming to be calling from your bank (your bank will already have the info). They may ask for a piece of identifying information, last four-digits of your Social Security number or part of an account number, but they shouldn’t be asking for every little detail. If someone calls you to offer credit cards or any other offer, ask them to provide you with a written application. If your bank or any other financial institution calls you and begins asking more information than you’re comfortable giving out simply hang up and call them directly and then ask about why they were calling to make sure it is a legitimate request.

Be aware of this same issue through your email. If you receive an email from your bank, credit card company, or insurance company, etc.,  and the body of the email asks you to click on a link or reply with specific information because they need to confirm certain data or they claim there is an issue, DO NOT DO IT! It is possible that this could be a phishing email in which case it is a scam for someone to access your personal data. If you receive an email like this call the customer service line for the company the email appears to have come from and ask them about it. If you discover that the email is a scam, give the company you contact the information in the email so that they can investigate who is posing as them. You should also delete the email immediately. 

This happened to me a couple years ago. I received a strange email from my credit card company saying that there were suspicious  charges on my card and to click the link in the email to confirm my information. Luckily I always prefer dealing with an actual person than relying on a machine of sorts so I contacted my credit card company. The customer service agent informed me that they never contact their customers that way, and the email was a scam.  She also told me that if I had clicked on that link, it would have given whoever sent the email direct access into my computer's files, or any other device I used to open the email, from basically anywhere. 

For more information visit us at www.conroyassociates.com

Identity Theft: Stay Educated- Type 6

Insurance Identity Theft

Insurance identity theft, while technically in its won bracket, is closely linked to other forms of identity theft. It is, if you will, a melting pot of identity thieving bliss as it is not only related to other ID theft forms, but causes many problems of its own.

If other forms of your information are compromised  such as a drivers license or social security card, it is possible that your insurance data may be stolen as well. This issue has come about in more recent years due to the increasing number of illegal immigrants entering and living in the United States. If these individuals choose to acquire identification, it may also come with a social security card and an insurance card; these cards may be legitimate forms of someone else's data, as those already exist they are more easily obtained.

In 2011 a Nevada D.M.V employee was arrested on charges of federal bribery for selling drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. By providing drivers licenses, this Nevada woman opened a Pandora's box of problems for all the individuals whose information was used on the fake identification cards. As stated before, this issue can lead or be linked to medical identity theft, as well as other forms of insurance.So, why would an identity thief be concerned about insurance? Simply put, medical care is one of the hottest commodities the United States currently has, which has a lot to do with why the Federal government wants control of the industry. Getting healthcare is high on most people’s priority lists, and this is true regardless of legal status. For many, using someone else’s insurance information to get medical services is the only option available. (And just to be clear, it is not exclusively illegal immigrants who do this, although that demographic is the bulk of the problem.)  With that being said, please keep in mind that regardless of an individual's need to use someone else's insurance information for their own benefit, it is extremely dangerous for everyone involved. As discussed in a previous post, medical identity theft  is severely dangerous. Please see Identity Theft: Stay Educated- Type & Tip 1 for details on medical identity theft. 

A victim of insurance identity theft will first face fraudulent claims against their legitimate policy. Sadly, this can be overlooked until the policy has reached its “cap” – the maximum amount the policy will pay out. Then the policy is cancelled. The cancellation notice is often the first the insured hears of the problem, and then (of course) it’s too late to do anything besides argue with the insurance company. It can be “iffy” when it comes to getting the problem resolved, too. And while you’re debating with the insurance company about whether or not it is possible for you to be going to hospitals or driving in several states at the same time, you will most likely find that other insurance companies will refuse to give you coverage.

That is the specific reason insurance identity theft has earned its own category. Not being able to get insurance isn’t really a financial problem, and it isn't really medical identity theft either, because it gives the victim a whole new set of problems that may be unrelated to either of those issues, while still giving him or her plenty of headaches and worries.


For more information visit us at www.conroyassociates.com