Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Michael G. Kessler was recently awarded the DFCP (Digital Forensics Certified Practitioner) “Founders” certification by the Digital Forensics Certification Board. The DFCP designation is available to Digital Evidence Professionals with a minimum of five years experience related to digital evidence or digital forensics after meeting all of the boards qualifications. The DFCB is administered by the National Center of Forensic Science at the University of Central Florida and in cooperation with the National Institute of Justice.
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Thursday, November 05, 2009
A Federal District judge recently sided with Daniel A. Moore, a sports artist, and reaffirmed his capacity to create paintings of University of Alabama football players in action. The University of Alabama had apparently been contending that Moore’s paintings violated trademark law because of their similarity to the trade dress and trademarks of the University. The judge held that neither the University uniforms or their crimson color are protected by trademark law. Some laud this as a victory for First Amendment rights, others fear the loss of lucrative profits many Universities may find in marketing their signature colors.
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Kroll Inc. recently settled a lawsuit involving the National Electrical Contractor’s Association’s allegations that Kroll mislead the company into believing that accused Ponzi schemer Allen Stanford’s business dealings were above board, causing them to invest and lose millions.
The current climate of investing, with Ponzi schemes and frauds abounding, has caused many investors to obtain due diligence services relative to potential investment firms and opportunities prior to investing. An employee of Kroll was apparently found to be an associate of the accused fraudster, and the employee abruptly left the company shortly following the lawsuit.
Investors should be forewarned that before obtaining the services of a corporate investigations for any purpose, including due diligence, that it is essential to determine the key players, and obtain information on references, possible conflicts of interest, and previous successes. For more information on a Ponzi scheme due diligence investigative effort that was effective, you can check out press releases here: http://www.investigation.com/articles/library/2008articles/articles20.htm/and here: http://www.investigation.com/articles/library/2008articles/articles18.htm .
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Tuesday, November 03, 2009
ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, announced on Friday that Internet addresses containing non-latin characters from start to finish will be available soon. Starting November 16, 2009, ICANN has indicated that nations and territories may apply for Internet extensions in their native languages. ICANN’s President & CEO, Rod Beckstrom, indicates that this is only the first step. An Internationalized Domain Name, or IDN, has been touted to be a historic move by many, and one of the largest changes to the current Internet landscape in recent history. Detractors have indicated that the change could open the door for fraudulent activity, as there is potential for confusion and for fraudsters to use domains close to those of legitimate business.
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Thursday, October 22, 2009
Kessler has learned that a Senate bill, (S.773 – Cybersecurity Act of 2009), if passed, will require Information Technology technicians to be certified by the Federal government. This bill angers many in the IT sector and others who feel that such certification places governmental controls on free speech and the Internet and provides government with unwarranted power in cyberspace. If passed, critics warn that the bill may put control of cyber security in the hands of government as opposed to the private sector, posing significant risk to privacy. Experts in Information Technology, Computer Forensics and Cyber Security disciplines would not benefit in any way from government certification, at least initially, it seems as if only the government will…
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Wednesday, September 09, 2009
With an increased demand for forensic accounting services, it seems that many companies are now offering the services without any credentials. Although the work of a forensic accoutant may appear to be similar to that of a CPA, the review process is quantitatively and qualitatively different. A good forensic accountant will be able to shift from number cruncher to systematic investigator and back again looking for the information “behind the numbers(R)”. He or she will be familiar with both criminal and civil law, and will work as part of an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, technological experts, investigators, and other accountants.
Kessler International employs Certified Forensic Accountants, Certified Fraud Examiners, Certified Public Accountants, Certified Computer Forensics Examiners, investigators, financial analysts, research professionals and former law enforcement officers.
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Sunday, August 30, 2009
ATTENTION -WARNING
Some of you who use Locate Plus as one of your information brokers may have received an e-mail from “them” stating in the subject line “LocatePLUS 100 Free Lookups.”
This appears to be a SCAM!!!
If you click on the link in the e-mail what appears to be fraudulent home page appears(locateplus.org) The Registrant for this site is located in China and the site was created in March 2009 Also on the webserver is the site Locateplus.org.cn. This page displayed is IDENTICAL to the legitimate Locate Plus home page (Locateplus.com). I have been informed that after inserting your login and password the information is captured and you are redirected to Locateplus.com.
Beware!!!
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Thursday, August 27, 2009
A call from one of our clients requesting advice about the distribution of corporate gift cards prompted us to look into this topic. There is a plethora of companies out there that sell customizable gift cards that can be individualized with photographs or logos as personal or corporate gifts. Each company that we looked at came with a different set of regulations and fees, including everything from per-transaction fees, where the recipient of the gift card’s balance is charged each time the card is used, to dormancy fees (charged during periods of non-use) and expiration dates anywhere from six months to two years and up following the issue date of the card. Some companies will even refund the funds not used on the gift card back to the customer after taking out a commission.
Each state has varying legislation or mandatory disclosures relative to gift cards for consumer protection. An excellent source of information for the regulations in each state can be seen at http://www.consumersunion.org/pub/core_financial_services/003889.html. Some states prohibit the expiration of gift cards and prohibit fees altogether.
One gift card sales company indicated to us that because the bank they use to fund their cards has a national charter, the state regulations do not apply.
Regardless of all of this, the most obvious and prudent thing one can do to protect themselves is to immediately read the terms and conditions on the back of any gift card they receive, and to note the expiration date, if any, as well as the terms of any auxiliary charges or dormancy fees. If for any reason you feel that your card is not being honored when it should be, first contact the issuing agency, followed by state regulatory agencies or consumer complaint forums if necessary.
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Friday, August 07, 2009
Forensics can be defined as the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems. Computer Forensics, then, is typically defined as the application of scientific knowledge of computers used to assist in solving legal problems. So often in this field, Kessler International sees so-called Computer Forensics engineers practicing with little or no knowledge of the laws of discover or evidence or experience in investigations of any sort.
Conversely, Kessler often sees unqualified individuals parading as Computer Forensics engineers with little or no experience with the science of computers, having purchased a $49 software program in order to put themselves into the field.
We have taken over enough cases from incompetent, so-called Computer Forensics engineers to know that you need to be certain that the firm you choose for Computer Forensics services demonstrates experience in e-discovery, computer forensics, evidence retrieval and investigations. Review the list of services available from Kessler International to learn more.
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Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Investigators at Kessler International, the world leader specializing in forensic accounting, computer forensics, and corporate investigative services, have witnessed a rapid increase in various types of white-collar crimes in the past six months. Largely due to the weakened economy and its effect on the hard-working, long-suffering middle class, fraud is not likely to diminish anytime soon.
To some, “making ends meet” seems to be tougher and tougher to achieve, so they may decide to commit acts of fraud, either major or minor, as their way of getting back at whoever or whatever they see as an injustice. They ask, “Where’s my fair share? Where’s my buyout plan?” They have seen the big banks squander taxpayers’ money with relatively little repercussion.
The most common acts of fraud being committed lately include accounting and insurance fraud, embezzlement, and identity theft. Statistics show that many consumers view insurance fraud and embezzlement as a means to secure funds in order to pay off their debts. Identity theft is on the rise because more criminals have access to highly sophisticated tools to garner personal information from unsuspecting consumers.
To help combat these types of corporate fraud, legal professionals, financial institutions, and government agencies rely on forensic accounting firms such as Kessler International. This highly skilled team of forensic accountants, computer forensic engineers, licensed investigators, and researchers specializes in fraud auditing and electronic evidence retrieval. Kessler offers the utmost in discretion, security, and peace of mind, and it can help prevent further abuse. Visit our website at investigation.com.
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Monday, May 04, 2009
As if everyone isn’t nervous enough these days….it has just come to our attention that Discover Card customers are being victimized by a new type of spam. Emails are being sent to Discover Card customers informing the Discover Card customer to call an 800 telephone number to discuss recent unauthorized activity on their account. The example that we received was a spoof and appears to emanate from an ISP in Puerto Rico using an open relay of an organization in Maryland.
A representative at Kessler called Discover’s security department and learned that they are currently being inundated with complaints regarding this scam.
Our best advice is to use common sense. Question the validity of any correspondence or telephone calls you receive requesting personal information. If you are questioning a legitimate company they will understand the motive behind your requests and help you put your mind at ease. If the representative is hesitant, has an attitude or disconnects your call, visit the website for the company in question and contact their security or customer service department directly to determine if you were potentially the victim of fraud.
Be particularly cautious when transmitting confidential and personal information via email. It is all too easy for scammers to pose as someone else.
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
Developing new techniques to enable law enforcement agencies to more efficiently and successfully solve gun-related crimes is a good thing, right?
The Ammunition Accountability Act is a new legislation being proposed in 18 states so far, which include California, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington. The bill proposes that each individual box of ammunition manufactured by ammunition producers would be bar coded with its own unique code, and the same code laser-etched on the bottom of each bullet in that box.
When a box of ammunition is purchased, the barcode is scanned, and the purchase will be entered into a statewide database. Then, if a bullet from the box of ammunition is found at a crime scene, the etched code can help law enforcement agencies track the owner.
This seems like a sound theory, but issues of privacy rights are a major concern, not to mention the proposed 5 cent tax charged on every round in a standard box of ammunition, raising prices by approximately $2.50 per box.
The group proposing the Ammunition Accountability Act also happens to be comprised of the developers of the patented technology, and so the question of financial gain as a motivator to pass the bill is also an issue.
The legislation would seek to force all ammunition producers to utilize the coding technology, and allow only coded ammunition to be sold to consumers.
Opposing viewpoints regarding the Ammunition Accountability Act can be found at http://ammunitionaccountability.org and http://www.nationalgunrights.org/ammoaccountability.shtml
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Following fast on the heels of the recent Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme travesty, the President and founder of a Hauppauge, Long Island-based investment firm turned himself in to authorities late last evening after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Nicholas Cosmo, founder of Agape World Inc., is alleged to have actually been running a Ponzi scheme, bilking numerous investors across Long Island and the United States of their life savings.
Last year, Kessler International, an investigative firm specializing in forensic accounting, computer forensics and corporate investigation, investigated Agape World and found that the bridge loan operation exhibited numerous red flags often associated with Ponzi schemes. Michael G. Kessler, CEO and founder of Kessler International, forwarded the findings to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies in August 2008. Shortly thereafter, the FBI, in conjunction with the United States Postal Inspection Service, launched its own investigation.
To read the complete press release regarding these events, please follow this link.
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Monday, January 26, 2009
While training and experience, professional aptitude and overall expertise may be more relevant to the job functions of a computer forensic engineer, customer service is also a critical factor that should not be disregarded.
A business or individual seeking the services of professional computer forensic engineers will consider many things before making a decision. Experience is particularly important, as is competency and a proven track record of success. Unfortunately, these factors are often disregarded, as many potential clients ultimately favor the company that offers the lowest quote for forensic services. This is especially true during an economic recession.
However, as competition in the field of computer forensics increases, it is exceptional customer service, not price, that may be the decisive element fueling a company’s continued success and profitability. Of course, nearly every small business, retailer, and corporation will advertise outstanding customer service, and it’s a standard tale told on nearly every website maintained by computer forensic experts and agencies.
But clients aren’t easily fooled by savvy website copy, especially when it tends to be a repeat of the same drivel from the last three websites they looked at. A potential client can usually discern whether or not they’ll be receiving the advertised excellent customer service within a few short phone calls. An apparent disinterest in the conversation, a condescending ‘we know everything and you know nothing’ tone or attitude, or a quick brush-off are all indicative that customer service skills are lacking, to say the least.
Regardless of what the computer forensic expert or agency believes, the individual or business seeking to retain their services believes that the job which requires those services is an important one. Computer forensic experts need to realize that every case, no matter how small, is important, and they achieve that by making the client feel that he is important to them. Understanding the clients needs, and subsequently fulfilling those needs to the best of their ability, is a key factor of great customer service.
Kessler International, the premier investigative consulting firm specializing in forensic accounting, computer forensics and brand protection, understands that superior customer service is of vital importance and significance in today’s society.
“I have no doubt that Kessler International’s founding philosophy of putting the client first has driven our success,” says Michael G. Kessler, President and Founder. “After 20 years, we continue to provide the highest quality of service by adding value to each relationship that we have managed to develop into a reputation of excellence.”
Everyone has had experiences with bad or inadequate customer service. It has invaded every industry indiscriminately, from the fast food counter clerk to bank managers, from receptionists to doctors, and from the despised tech support lines in foreign countries to major corporations that see only numbers, not people.
In an industry such as computer forensics, where expertise, knowledge, experience and skill are imperative building blocks of any such structure, customer service provides a strong, solid foundation, ensuring that the organization will stand indefinitely. But when customer service is disregarded, the remaining building blocks can no longer stand as one cohesive unit. The structure fractures, and eventually falls.
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