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In this chapter:
Assumptions
How to Use this Handbook
Online
Investigator's Handbook Rationale
The author has made several assumptions regarding the
use of this website. Users must have access to the Internet via modern
browser software (Internet Explorer 5.x, Netscape 6.x, or better) and
have a basic understanding of the following topics: Insurance
investigation, Internet surfing, email, and general computer usage. The
author also assumes that the user has conducted Internet research using
search engines or other common Web searching tools. Each search
tool on the Internet uses its own syntax and users are encouraged to
read the Help sections of each tool before using it. All examples
in this manual are given utilizing the syntax for the
Google search engine
unless otherwise noted.
If you need to update your browser, you can download a free upgrade of
Microsoft Internet Explorer or
Netscape.
 Some
of the files available for download on this site require the free Adobe
Reader. You may need to download and install the
Adobe Reader.
Please thoroughly review the Online Investigator’s Handbook
Privacy Policy and
Terms & Conditions before continuing. If you have a question about
the site, please review the Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ) page. If you are unable to find an answer to your
question, please feel free to Contact Us.
Companies, products, websites, and
other entities mentioned in the Online Investigator's Handbook may be
trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark
owners. The listing of a company, product, website or other entity
in the Online Investigator's Handbook does not indicate an affiliation
with the Online Investigator's Handbook. Unless stated
explicitly, no endorsement of this information, service or product by
any company or person is made or implied.
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This handbook is designed to be a handy resource for investigators when
conducting online research in relation to disability insurance claim
fraud investigations. It is not a definitive guide on public records,
research methods, or investigative strategy. This guide is designed to
give investigators the background and tools they need to effectively
gather online information during a fraud investigation. If you have a
question about the usage of this handbook, please consult the Online
Investigator’s Handbook Privacy Policy and
Terms & Conditions. For more
information about the development of the Online Investigator's Handbook,
see the About section.
The handbook is divided into chapters and each chapter is divided into
sub-categories. The handbook may be read like a normal book,
chapter-by-chapter, for a complete tutorial on the subject matter. The
Table of Contents provides a brief description of
the content included in each chapter. Alternatively, you may wish
to jump to a particular section of the manual and use it as a reference
guide when conducting your research.
Please note that words appearing in fixed width
font in this handbook are examples or words that should be typed
during a search query. Words in black bold represent hyperlinks.
Hyperlinks to resources outside the handbook will open in a new browser window.
Remember to take advantage of the Tools & Resources and
References sections for additional information.
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Increasingly,
investigators are turning to the Internet to begin their research or
investigation into a suspicious claimant. The Internet affords myriad
resources to the investigator with minimal time or effort. Investigators
utilize all kinds of online tools including electronic public record
services like ChoicePoint or LexisNexis, insurance claim-specific
services like ISO ClaimSearch, and others. These paid online resources
offer excellent information and are accessible from the desktop.
Insurers recognize that these technological tools are essential to
effectively combat fraud. A 2000 survey of insurance companies found
that companies are investing in technological solutions both to identify
suspicious claims and build a case to prosecute suspected offenders
(Conning & Company, 2000). Additionally, Nearly 90% of survey
respondents felt that the use of technology could improve their fraud
detection efforts (Conning & Company, 2000).
In addition to
the common subscription resources, there is another resource that
investigators have discovered hiding in plain sight. The World Wide Web
itself can provide a wealth of information about a claimants activities
or whereabouts. Using Web resources effectively is highly desirable
because they are free, fast, and effective. However, while most SIUs
have been provided with a computer and Internet access, very few have
received sufficient formal training on how to use Web resources to
conduct investigations.
While there are
some training materials available on this topic, there is a dearth of
comprehensive quality training on this subject. This void has been
haphazardly filled with some self-study courses, seminars, and other
inadequate training tools. However, there is very little published
material available on how to effectively use the Internet as a resource
for the investigation of insurance fraud claims. Disability insurance
claims in particular can benefit from more formal training in this area,
as disability fraud investigations often center around functionality and
activity – the types of information that are readily available on the
Internet.
Remember that this handbook is not intended
to be a comprehensive list of all the resources available to
investigators. The goal of this project is to provide a
methodology along with a few representative examples and tools for users
enhance their ability to gather information effectively. Enjoy!
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Proceed to Chapter 2: Internet Investigation 101
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