Software Tools Review: FastStone Capture

Some investigator folks with whom I’ve shown this tool were impressed by at least one of its capabilities, and I will briefly describe them to you.  FastStone Capture isn’t just a screen-grabbing software, it’s actually an artist’s palette for creating any type of training or demonstration media, whether it’s pictures or video-narratives.  It is available

Will visiting someone’s Facebook page put you on their “People You May Know” List?

This question stifles many an investigator, and the official stance of Facebook is that it does not report to any Facebook user who’s visiting their Facebook page.  Furthermore, it also ensures that no third party Apps can do so either.  So the good news is no, your ex-girlfriend can’t see how many times you’re checking

Using Internet Archive / Wayback Machine for investigations

Investigators have a common question: what if I could go back in time to see what a website looked like a year ago?  Or even 3 years ago?  What about a week ago?  The Internet Archive provides just such a capability.  Inspired by the fictional WABAC machine from the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, which Professor

Craigslist Power Search upgrades

Announcing the latest Craigslist Power Search with the following changes: upgraded server for improved response time and uptime added special category “Farm / Heavy Equipment” specially suited for auto theft investigators and SIUs added Make/Model/Year search specially suited for auto theft investigators and SIUs added account creation and account management for each user improved user

Legislation and its impact on Use Tax today

The Marketplace Fairness Act is bi-partisan supported legislation recently introduced in Congress that attempts to close the major loophole allowing online retailers to avoid charging state tax on items purchased from out-of-state.  The only change required is for each state to simplify their tax laws in compliance with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement.

Purseblog: Top 5 states for avoiding sales and use taxes while online shopping

Not everybody is interested in PurseBlog, but as a state revenue department, it pays to heed what the market is saying.  The members of this blog on high-fashion apparel and accessories are highly educated about making online purchases from out of state for the sole purpose of avoiding the sales tax.  On the PurseForum, fashionistas

Auto Ad Sentry reduces illegal online classified ads by 24%

Based on a recent study conducted in a major motor vehicle sales jurisdiction within North America, Auto Ad SentryTM reduced the presence of unlicensed motor vehicle dealers (curbstoners) in online classifieds websites by 24%. The study was carried out using data gleaned from a popular online classified from June through December 2012. Curbstoners were identified