Today’s multi-use office machines often act as small computers, storing sensitive office data and even making it accessible to hackers and other criminals. Most companies are not even aware of the danger.

Imagine this: A busy company executive photocopies a sensitive document and faxes it to a client. Both the client and executive take care to keep the document well hidden and destroy their only copies. The document is leaked out to the press a day later, putting an important deal in jeopardy. Sadly, this is not the plot of some thriller. It is a situation that occurs in offices across the country. Virtually every modern office may be facing the same danger.

Company printers, copiers, faxes, and scanners routinely undermine businesses and even cause lengthy and expensive law suits. These necessary devices often contain hard drives and other high-tech features that make life easier for workers - but which can also compromise security at a company. Many of today’s peripheral devices contain mini computers or function as independent computers, which experts say creates a risk for businesses everywhere.
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Employees embezzle many millions of dollars from their employees each year. All businesses need to be aware of the most common worker scams.

In 2004, Lucy Magda pleaded guilty to stealing more than $2.2 million from her previous employer, the St. Catharines Standard. The Burgoyne family, who owned the newspaper, was forced to sell the newspaper to Southam Newspapers in 1996, a move that some experts claim was brought about by Magda’s dishonesty. In 2006, a business manager of the N.C. Press Association pleaded guilty to embezzling $268,340 from his former employer. In 2006, an employee of Brock Cabinets was sentenced for five to seven years in prison after she was found guilty of embezzling $1.5 million from the company that hired her.
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Prospective Vigo County School Corp. employees would undergo national criminal history background checks if one school board member has his way.

On Monday, board member Michael Tom will propose a school board policy change that will call for such a national background check.

Currently, job applicants must undergo a limited Indiana criminal history check. The school district pays a subscription fee and the search is done through the Indiana State Police database. There is no cost to the applicant.

As Baby Boomers hit their golden years and human life-spans lengthen, financial fraud schemes against the elderly are becoming the fastest growing crime in the United States, according to attorney Jessica Dimitrov, whose Vancouver practice focuses on guardianship, estate planning and vulnerable adult abuse cases.

The National Center on Elder Abuse estimates that only 1 in 25 financial exploitation cases is reported, suggesting an excess of 5 million victims each year.

“People are seeing it everywhere, and no one knows what to do about it,” Dimitrov said.

As laws struggle to keep up with technology, it’s hard to know what’s legal

Hewlett-Packard has shone a light on the gray world of snooping.

But big corporations aren’t the only ones who hire private eyes. In fact, private detectives say about half of their clients are individuals with domestic situations — the classic case being the scorned spouse trying to out the cheating spouse.

Private detectives also get hired to find deadbeat parents behind on child support and to investigate whether an ex-spouse is living with someone and not entitled to receive alimony.

The other half of their work is corporate — i.e. working for insurers trying to show people are faking disabilities or injuries, or for companies that suspect a worker of stealing.

The Pennsylvania schoolhouse shooting is the 3rd in a week around the country. And that has many parents concerned about just how safe their children are when they head to school.

Area schools are taking steps to protect students.

This is something that parents have been worried about for a long time. In fact, ever since the Columbine killings in 1999, security at schools around the country has been beefed up. And now, with the latest rash of school shootings, it’s about to happen again.

Tips one should consider while both preparing for business travel, as well as during the business trip itself.

Business travel is a fact of life for many professionals. According to the Domestic Travel Market Report, business travel accounts for up to 18% of this country’s domestic personal trips. More than 210 million business trips are taken each year in the US. However, with the increased concerns about air traffic safety and terrorist activity, many professionals are taking a more critical view of their professional travel experiences. This stems largely from the fact that professionals seem more vulnerable to threats of mugging, carjacking, explosives, biological agents, blackmail, kidnap, and even murder while traveling. When on business, though, many professionals do not have the resources and comfort level enjoyed at home and some of the world’s top business destinations have frightening crime rates and terrible records of violence against foreign professionals.

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Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Capt. Tim Sandlin said he believes the same people or person burglarized two residences Thursday.

Someone broke into the side door of a home in the 6000 block of Alabama 36 and stole a .38-caliber revolver and jewelry valued at more than $2,500, Sandlin said. The homeowners returned from work and reported the burglary at 3:25 p.m.

The same afternoon, someone broke into a home in the 600 block of Lawrence County 88 at Caddo and stole jewelry, Sandlin said. The value of the stolen goods has yet to be determined. The owners had been at work all day and did not return until about 6:30 p.m., Sandlin said.

Three ex-cops bring 90 years of experience to detective firm.

When partners Mark Dougovito, Dan Monroe and Glenroy Walker sit down for their weekly business meeting in their firm’s conference room, the topics covered include murder, arson, fatal accidents and fraud. A lot of fraud.

“It’s interesting work,” Walker said.

The three retired state police investigators aren’t just talking about these cases. They are investigating them as the Michigan Special Investigations Group, a private investigation company in Flint Township they established this spring.

Investigator follows serial rapist’s trail to Shasta County, Ray case

Russ Whitmeyer is hunting a monster.

From 1976 to 1986, a man went on a rape and killing spree from Sacramento to Orange County, raping at least 50 women and killing at least 10 and maybe as many as 17 people.

The killer was never caught.

Whitmeyer, a 63-year-old private investigator from Southern California, believes he’s found the killer’s trail — a trail he says leads to Shasta County.

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