How to Do Financial Asset Investigations: A Practical Guide for Private Investigators, Collections Personnel, and Asset Recovery Specialists

by Mendell, Ronald L.

• ISBN13: 9780398070458
• ISBN10: 0398070458
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-04-01
• Publisher: Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd

Table of Contents

Preface to the First Edition	vii
Preface to the Second Edition	ix
Introduction	3	(1)
Computers	4	(3)
Summary	7	(1)
Obtaining the Identifiers	8	(12)
The Importance of Basic Identifiers	8	(2)
The Social Security Number	9	(1)
A Person's Name	9	(1)
Address Histories	10	(1)
Common Sources	10	(2)
Trashing About	11	(1)
Voters' Registration	11	(1)
Record Searching Techniques	11	(1)
Tools for Organizing Information	12	(2)
The Telephone Book	13	(1)
Courthouse Files	14	(1)
Civil Court Records	14	(1)
Other Common Sources	15	(1)
Lesser Known Sources	15	(1)
Financial Statements	16	(1)
Professional Directories	17	(1)
Governmental Records	18	(1)
Summary	18	(2)
Identifying Relatives and Associates	20	(10)
Basic Sources	20	(2)
Motor Vehicle Address Searches	21	(1)
The Local Newspaper on CD-ROM	21	(1)
Other Miscellaneous Sources	22	(1)
Other States and Localities	22	(2)
Mailing Lists	24	(1)
Securities and Exchange Commission	24	(1)
Social Security Number	24	(2)
Human Sources	26	(1)
Summary	27	(3)
Basic Sources for Individuals	30	(17)
The Law Speaks	31	(2)
Bankruptcy Records	33	(2)
Occupational Information	35	(1)
Vehicles	36	(1)
Boats	36	(1)
Aircraft	37	(1)
UCC Filings	38	(1)
Tax Liens	39	(1)
Corporations: Officer/Director	40	(1)
Real Estate Records	40	(2)
Public Record Searching Shortcuts	42	(1)
Summary	43	(4)
Information Brokers and Others Sources	47	(12)
Information Brokers	47	(3)
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)	50	(1)
Other Database Providers	50	(3)
Business Sources	53	(3)
Newsgroups	56	(1)
Biographical Sources	57	(2)
Research Centers	57	(2)
Visiting the Subject's Premises	59	(10)
Drive-By of Residence	59	(2)
Surveillance	61	(1)
A Word About Trash	61	(2)
Reading the Trash	62	(1)
Neighbors	63	(1)
Summary	63	(6)
Advanced Sources for Individuals	69	(10)
How the Basic Search Differs	69	(1)
Special Issues in Accident Cases	70	(1)
Wage Earnings Information	70	(1)
Governmental Sources	71	(2)
Real Estate Records (A Second Look)	73	(1)
Financial Statements	73	(3)
Unreported Income	74	(2)
Lawsuits (Another Look)	76	(1)
Financial Investigations: A Tool for Security Managers	76	(2)
Summary	78	(1)
Finding Hidden Assets	79	(16)
Using Discovery Techniques	79	(1)
Common Hiding Places	80	(1)
The Paydown	81	(1)
Life Insurance	81	(1)
Money Orders and Other Negotiable Instruments	82	(1)
Limited Partnerships	83	(1)
Dead and Dissolved Corporations	84	(1)
Stockbrokers	85	(1)
Collectibles and Safe Deposit Boxes	85	(1)
Overseas or Offshore Accounts and Businesses	86	(3)
Other Financial Dodges	89	(2)
Sweetheart Lawsuits	90	(1)
Summary	91	(4)
Basic Business Asset Search	95	(18)
Additional Financial Parameters	96	(1)
Balance Sheets	96	(1)
Scanning for Information	97	(2)
CD-ROMs	99	(1)
Other Basic Business Reference Sources	100	(1)
State Filing Requirements	100	(3)
Unincorporated Business	102	(1)
Charitable and Non-Profit Organizations	103	(1)
Business Credit Reports	103	(1)
SEC Reports	104	(1)
Other Information Sources (From Chapter Three)	105	(1)
Personal Property Renderings	105	(1)
Piercing the Corporate Veil	106	(2)
Summary	108	(5)
The Plant Visit	113	(12)
The Overview	113	(5)
Site Security	115	(1)
Going Inside	115	(1)
Parking Lots, Storage Areas, and Delivery Areas	116	(1)
Waste Disposal and Other Vendors	117	(1)
Area Businesses	117	(1)
Additional Details	118	(2)
Summary	120	(5)
Advanced Sources for Businesses	125	(13)
Identifying Those Who Can Tell More	125	(2)
Interviewing Techniques	127	(2)
Using Key Business Ratios	129	(1)
Business Intelligence Techniques	130	(2)
What Constitutes Reliable Data?	130	(1)
What Constitutes Valid Data?	131	(1)
Background on a Business	132	(2)
Summary	134	(4)
Recording Data and Reporting to the Client	138	(13)
Organizing Data	139	(6)
Reorganizing and Analyzing Data	142	(1)
The Association Summary	143	(1)
The Banking Summary	143	(2)
Reporting on the Individual	145	(2)
The Business Report	147	(1)
Summary	148	(3)
A Fictional Preliminary Investigation	151	(14)
San Francisco	152	(1)
Cross-Texas Transport	153	(1)
The Main Players	153	(1)
Organizing the Data	154	(1)
The Key Piece: A Personal Bond	154	(1)
Blue Diamond vs Blue Star?	155	(1)
Intrepid Holdings	155	(1)
Melissa Reports	156	(1)
Interlocking Companies	156	(1)
Additional Newspaper Research	157	(1)
Business Credit Sources	158	(1)
Athena United Software	159	(1)
Shivers' Hidden Interest	160	(1)
Jupiter's Credit Report	160	(1)
Banking Information	161	(1)
Legal Resource Index	161	(1)
Business Ratios	162	(1)
Biographical Background	163	(1)
Summary	163	(2)
Investigating Using the Internet and Other Sources	165	(16)
General Instructions for Mary	166	(2)
Corporations and Business	168	(2)
Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds	170	(1)
Insurance	171	(1)
Financial Statements	172	(2)
Credit Cards	174	(1)
Income Tax Returns	174	(1)
Bank Statements and Checks	175	(1)
Real Estate	176	(1)
Vehicles, Boats, Aircraft	176	(1)
Calendars	177	(1)
Leases	177	(1)
Collectibles	178	(1)
Summary of Internet Resources	178	(3)
Bibliography	181	(4)
Index	185