Episode Show Notes:

• Introduction to cell phone tracking and GPS tracking using cell phone data
• Explanation of cell phone antennas you see along highways and streets
• Description of typical cell tower antenna design — triangular mounts with multiple antenna arrays facing different directions
• Each antenna array often belongs to a different mobile provider (e.g., T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint)
• Importance of recognizing antenna sectors to help locate a device geographically
• Overview of how cell towers connect with multiple devices in their coverage area, even when phones are not in active use
• How cell networks “ping” phones regularly to know their location and route incoming calls properly
• Using cell tower data to identify not only which tower a device is connected to but also which specific antenna sector (direction) it is in
• Understanding that knowing the sector narrows down the phone’s location to a smaller area on a map
• Explaining how distance from the tower is calculated using the time delay of radio wave signals traveling between tower and phone
• Combining sector direction and distance from tower creates a rough location line where the phone could be
• Using speed data from the device’s movement to further narrow down possible locations by matching known roads and speed limits
• Example: If a device maintains 400 meters distance from the tower and travels at 70 mph, it likely follows a highway segment, not smaller streets
• How law enforcement uses this combined data to track suspects or verify alibis by analyzing cell tower “dumps” during specific times
• Eliminating innocent devices regularly present in an area (e.g., employees) to identify unusual or suspicious activity
• Application in various cases: crime investigations, fraud, divorce cases, money laundering, and asset concealment
• Using location data to confirm or refute claims about whereabouts at specific times
• How cell tower antennas can capture various data from connected phones beyond location: accelerometer, speed, altitude, barometric pressure, and sometimes message and call records
• Importance of understanding that any device within a sector’s coverage area can be identified and tracked
• Summary of how this technology can assist in solving crimes and providing evidence in court

Episode Show Notes:

• How do you find a missing person, a potential witness, or a defendant who needs to be served but isn’t readily available?
• One common method is called skip tracing — locating someone who may be using an assumed name or trying to stay off the radar.
• Many people rely on Google or simple online searches as a first step, but that often just shifts the work to others and lacks depth.
• Even professionals use advanced databases like LexisNexis, TLO, or Clear, but these have limitations and may not have fully accurate or complete records.
• Real success comes from doing old-fashioned legwork and thorough research — you don’t need to physically visit locations, but you do need to dig deeper remotely.
• Start by sending a registered letter to the person’s last known address to confirm if they still live there or get forwarding info.
• Use city directories and telephone books to find updated phone numbers, addresses, or even email addresses.
• Always cross-reference any contact info you find by searching phone numbers and emails online to uncover connections like old ads, forum posts, or pictures.
• Visual clues from photos found in classified ads or forums can also help identify locations or people connected to the subject.
• Interview people connected to places where the person worked or lived — property managers, coworkers, former employers found on LinkedIn can provide useful leads.
• If the person is a veteran, veterans’ resources or local veteran organizations can sometimes help locate them, especially if they’re homeless or transient.
• Canvassing neighborhoods or locations where the person was last seen can be helpful, even if most people don’t know them — one tip can be a crucial breakthrough.
• Look into business connections, stores frequented, medical providers (doctors, dentists, emergency rooms), and organizations like schools or churches for contacts or forwarding info.
• Legal cases may allow you to subpoena medical records or Medicare/Medicaid info which can reveal current addresses.
• File a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the DMV using the DPPA form to find where a vehicle is registered, which can provide location leads.
• Check public records such as election records, welfare records, and police arrest records that may show last known addresses or associations.
• Vital records (marriage, birth, death) can confirm if the person is alive and provide useful official info.
• Courthouse records like judgments, liens, or lawsuits often contain addresses, attorneys’ info, and phone numbers not found online.
• For more affluent individuals, memberships in social or athletic clubs can reveal whereabouts through newsletters or event schedules.
• Credit reports (with proper legal authority) can show credit activity and addresses to narrow down searches.
• The key takeaway: Don’t just rely on simple online or database searches — combine multiple sources, cross-reference data, and put in the research effort for better results.
• Proper skip tracing takes time and a multi-dimensional approach, not just pushing a button on Google or paid databases.

🔍 Episode Description:
In this episode, we break down one of the most frequently asked questions in the investigative world: How many kinds of asset searches are there? The answer might surprise you. We dive into the various types, costs, sources, and purposes of asset searches and explain how you can tailor one to your specific needs.

Key Highlights:

• What an asset search really means and why it varies so widely in cost—from $30 to thousands of dollars
• When to choose a basic online asset search vs. a fully documented investigation
• Why the purpose of your asset search (personal use vs. court use) makes a huge difference
• The importance of documentation, licensing, and admissibility in court
• Overview of the 14 different types of assets:
  • Bank accounts
  • Real estate
  • Vehicles
  • Corporate assets
  • Intellectual property
  • And more
• Why some people request only certain asset types instead of a full asset search
• Explanation of how asset records come from different sources:
  • Real estate → County Recorder
  • Vehicles → DMV
  • Corporate assets → Secretary of State
  • Bank accounts → OSINT, SWIFT, check verification, etc.
• The role of third-party data aggregators (like LexisNexis) and why their reports may not be complete
• Pros and cons of hiring a private investigator vs. doing it yourself
• Typical time and effort involved in a full, documented asset search
• Tips for civilians on how to conduct your own asset search and save money
• Understanding the difference between direct-source records vs. electronic summaries
• How to construct an asset search based on:
  • Specific asset classes
  • Level of documentation needed
  • Purpose (legal use, personal knowledge, collection)
• Why consultations with an investigator can help you find the best approach
• How courts may require specific types of asset documentation
• Final takeaway: There's no “one-size-fits-all” asset search—your needs and goals define the right method.

🔍 Episode Summary:

In this episode, we uncover the hidden dangers of forged vehicle titles — even when you're handed one in a legitimate-looking sale.

📌 What You'll Learn:

• Why receiving a vehicle title doesn't always mean you're the legal owner
• A real-life story from Hawaii: a buyer paid $10,000 for a truck — and still had title issues
• The risk of forged signatures on vehicle titles
• How to tell if the seller is not the rightful owner
• The difference between original titles and duplicate titles
• How a dealership, auction, or lender could still hold claim to a vehicle
• The danger of buying a car with an old, voided title that looks real
• How duplicate titles work and how they can void previous titles
• Tips to protect yourself when buying a used vehicle
  • Complete the transaction at the DMV
  • Use an escrow service to hold payment until the title is validated
  • Check the seller’s ID and ensure it matches the name on the front of the title
  • Avoid pre-signed titles or titles where the seller isn’t the listed owner
  • Verify the title number to ensure it's the most current and valid version

🚗 Bottom Line:
A title is a legal government document — and a small mistake or forgery can cost you thousands. Always verify before you buy.

In this episode, we cover:

• Two types of auto dealership fraud:
  • When dealerships are defrauded by others
  • When dealerships defraud the marketplace
• Real-world example featuring Auto Masters dealership in Tennessee (alleged case)
• How Buy Here, Pay Here financing works at small used car dealerships
  • Customers make payments directly to the dealership, not a bank
  • Often structured as weekly payments rather than monthly
• How small dealers finance customer loans using a line of credit from backup lenders
  • Loans are packaged and used as collateral
  • Dealers must prove loans are real and performing
• Allegations in this case:
  • Dealer obtained $30 million from a backup lender using non-performing or fabricated loans
  • Resulting risk of title problems for customers who never receive proper ownership
• How this affects consumers:
  • Dealerships may fail to secure or transfer vehicle titles
  • Customers might unknowingly drive cars with unclear or missing ownership documentation
• Behind-the-scenes financial structure of used car dealers
  • Often invisible to the public, but can lead to serious consequences
• Brief preview of the next episode:
  • How dealerships can protect themselves from fraudulent buyers using fake IDs

Episode Description:
In this episode, we break down the key differences between a vehicle title and an MSO (Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin) or CO (Certificate of Origin). Learn how these documents affect ownership, registration, and legal responsibility for your vehicle.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The purpose and definition of a vehicle title
• What an MSO (Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin) or CO (Certificate of Origin) is
• How a vehicle title is issued by the State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
• How an MSO is issued by the vehicle manufacturer as the vehicle's “birth certificate”
• The process of assigning an MSO from the manufacturer to the dealer, and then to the buyer
• Why an MSO looks almost identical to a vehicle title, including similar security features
• The risk of holding onto an MSO as a consumer without registering it
• What happens if your MSO gets damaged, lost, or altered—and why that’s a problem
• The importance of surrendering an MSO immediately to the DMV to secure a title in your name
• Why manufacturers are often unable to reissue a duplicate MSO
• The complications that arise if a vehicle hasn’t been officially titled yet
• The difference between MSO and CO—why they’re usually the same, but terminology may vary (e.g., trailers, RVs)
• Why registering your vehicle promptly ensures you are legally recognized as the owner

Episode Description:

• Flood-damaged cars from Hurricane Ian are already entering the used car market.
• Many vehicles are being sold through brokers from auctions like Copart, especially to civilian buyers who are not licensed dealerships.
• Some buyers don’t realize that having only a bill of sale or lacking a proper title may indicate the car has a Certificate of Destruction.
• A Certificate of Destruction or a non-repairable title means the vehicle can never be legally titled or registered again.
• Insurance companies sometimes issue destruction titles for liability reasons, even if the vehicle is in good condition.
• These vehicles can’t be retitled because insurance companies want to avoid legal responsibility if the car causes injury due to hidden flood damage (like rusted brakes or failed airbags).
• All 50 states, plus Washington D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico, are notified of VINs marked with Certificate of Destruction — making the designation irreversible.
• "Non-repairable" doesn’t mean the car can't be physically fixed — it means it’s legally banned from ever being titled or put back on the road.
• Many of these vehicles may look perfectly fine and even run, but are now officially parts-only or export-only.
• Even with a salvage title, roughly 50% of salvage vehicles cannot be retitled or legally driven again.
• DMV inspections can be very strict. One small paperwork mistake or unresolved dash light (e.g., check engine) may result in rejection.
• Some states require vehicles to be inspected only in the state where the salvage title was issued.
• Rebuilding a salvage vehicle requires detailed documentation of parts used, proper sourcing, and correct repairs.
• Buyers should be cautious — even if a vehicle looks clean, it could be unsalvageable due to its title history.
• If you’ve already purchased one of these vehicles or want more information, visit JunkTitle.com for resources, including how a new VIN might be possible — though that's a complex topic for another episode.

🔍 Episode Description / Show Notes:

• Even official DMV employees can be involved in vehicle title fraud.
• A real case from Illinois shows how a DMV employee and an accomplice forged a vehicle title for a 2020 Land Rover.
• They accessed the DMV database, used a fake VIN number, and processed a title for a stolen vehicle.
• While this is an isolated case, it highlights the need for caution when acquiring a vehicle title.
• Be careful with non-standard title methods such as:
  • Bonded titles
  • Court-ordered titles
  • Alternative title services
• Ensure the person or service handling your title process is using completely legitimate methods.
• There are both legal and illegal ways to obtain a title—know the difference.
• A title obtained improperly can be revoked, even after you've bought the car.
• Many people only find out the title is invalid after the purchase.
• Just because you have a title in hand doesn’t mean it’s final—its validity can still be challenged.
• Always verify that the process used to obtain your title is legal and appropriate for your situation.
• This helps you avoid legal issues and ensures long-term security of your vehicle ownership.