I have received a great deal of feedback from readers regarding my thoughts on pretexting. Additionally, I have also heard from many members of the investigative community, most of whom are outraged by the position (or lack there of) taken by ASIS International. One such individual is Ms. Kitty Hailey, CLI, a long-time friend and [...]

Several weeks ago I took ASIS International and Jack Lichtenstein (Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy) to task regarding the society’s decision to define pretexting as “the use of false, fraudulent, or fictitious information in order to gather personal information during investigations (emphasis added).” I pointed out that using a plausible but false assertion to conceal [...]

Like most effective processes, the investigator’s effort should also produce measurable results. First and most immediate, is the return on investment, or ROI. The properly engineered investigation will often produce tangible, measurable results such as the recovery of stolen property or money; the termination of dishonest employees or vendors; and of course, successful prosecution when [...]

Using a plausible but false assertion to conceal one’s true purpose or intent has been an acceptable method of investigation for investigators for more than 100 years. Not until a small group of contractors working for Hewlett-Packard misused this valuable tool in 2006, did lawmakers or anyone else even take notice of it. Since then, [...]