Help with doc. to catch a crook

Jason Ramsey

Jason Ramsey

Admin
Ok. So this all happened to my wife about a year and a half ago. There was an unauthorized debit on her account when we were dating.

Pissed me off. I did research. Got a copy of the "electronic check" that was apparently authorized by phone. To make a long story short. I researched and researched over a couple of week period of time. I found the guys name, address, name and address of ex-wife, when and where they were married. I have a google earth image of the fools house. The demographic and economic breakdown of his neighborhood. I found he lived in colorado. I searched the colorado business database online, and found something like 54 companies registered in his name, or under the name of some of the entities that he had formed. One of which was the bogus company that tried to take the money from my wife. Another had a phone number tied to another company, but that was on that elec. check.

He could be considered to be a major felon, being that he has businesses called "Social Security Administration" (that would be a federal crime, one would think).

He also has businesses in which he is posing as state and national banks, as well as other state and national/federal entities. Also ( I would think) federal crimes.

Anyways, my efforts to get law enforcement to do anything were fruitless. From my locals, to the locals in his area, and all the way up the chain as I was redirected into, finally, a dead-end.

So, here's the deal. I was reading the crap about "digitaldan" and it got my blood boiling again.
It has re-invigorated my desire to give this punk what he deserves. I need to do some more research, and verify that my info. is still accurate and current. Also, I want to see what other dealings he may have been involved in in the last year. I found a prescription drug scam page from him just a few moments ago, so he is obviously still "active"

I want to make a documentary of my quest to find this guy, and my quest to get law enforcement to actually do something about it.

Anyone have any ideas on what would be interesting.

Also, anyone have any connections with law enforcement.. :)

I guess my ultimate goal would be to document and expose both the perpetrator and (if necessary) law enforcements unwillingness to cooperate, and then what? Get media attention, I guess. That would probably make law enforcement do something. Maybe.

What do you think?

Jason
 
Does 'up the chain' include the FTC and the FBI? If he is perpetrating interstate fraud or doing business as an interstate bank without license, then he might make an appealing target for investigation on Federal grounds. Arrange a meeting at the Federal Building with a Field Agent, if you can, and offer them the documentation you've assembled. If you haven't tried that, already.

I'd sit down with a lawyer before distributing something which could be described as slander by its subject, until you spend a lot of time and $$$ in the court district of his choice, proving that it isn't.
 
If it ever came to fruition, I would definitely consult a lawyer. Then, withholding the perp's name in the doc. could solve any potential lawsuit, as the point would be to get law enforcement to do something by attracting public criticism.

As far as up the chain. From the local police to the district attorney in my area, on up to the FBI and beyond. The FBI told me to contact the Secret Service in my area, and gave me the number to do so. Ultimately, everyone just told me it was someone elses jurisdiction, and I began to feel like I was being given the runaround/cold shoulder. People posing as the SSA and ripping folks off isn't a big deal anymore?

Anyways, I wonder what I might do, other than showing 100 pages of research on camera, that might be interesting. Other than (hopefuly) interviews with the various branches of law enforcement, after another attempt to pursue the matter with them. Short of going to the guys house and solving the problem myself (though it would make for interesting t.v.) :)

Jason
 
Sounds like a great idea to me. My favorite docs are when the filmmaker has something personally invested in the story. I'd do a first person narrative and take it as far as you can. Have some backup when you finally confront the guy, though.
 
Sort of like 'Roger and Me,' I guess.

I once contacted the FTC, FBI, SEC and California Dept. of Corporations, regarding some seriously fraudulent and criminal activities that I had been in a position to document. All were interested, and the denoument was $2.75M in compensatory damages, $20M in punitive damages and fines, and a court order to refrain from future creation of corporate investment vehicles.

I guess the Feds' and states' priorities have shifted.
 
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I think this is very interesting! you could go the personal route and build your story or try to find some news/dateline? type place. There is so much about online scams and identity theft and fishing you would think someone would want to stop the people doing it not just warn everyone about it! If you could put it together well, you may have something here...
 
Maybe, I should drive to Colorado when I have compiled everything again, and confront the "alleged" crook. See how he reacts :)

Jason
 
Just stay out of swinging range, in case he reacts violently. Self-righteous crooks who think they have a license to steal, have been known to do that.
 
You've got the potential to make another "Supersize Me" if you approach it right. Just think big. Read the "p-p-p-powerbook" thread again, it's a wonderful story and not all that unlike what you're talking about -- vigilante internet law enforcement, taking the law into our own collective hands. The p-p-p-powerbook story was so fascinating because the internet empowered a few kids to turn the tables on a scammer. You've got the same basic concept -- with the reach of DVXUser you can get locals to get you information on him that really wouldn't have been possible (or perhaps cost effective) years ago.

I don't know about confronting him directly, at least early on, but a bit of cloak 'n' dagger with local Colorado residents sending you information about him might make for a p-p-p-powerbook-caliber story and might make for a quite interesting doc.
 
Barry_Green said:
but a bit of cloak 'n' dagger with local Colorado residents sending you information about him might make for a p-p-p-powerbook-caliber story and might make for a quite interesting doc.
Click to expand...


They only problem may be that to make this really great you may need to put yourself in a postion for him to scam "you" again. what I mean is that the p-p-p-powerbook was a good read because it was actively happening it made it feel very current. So figure out a way to interact with him that at most you would lose $100 and not give him any of your real information(identity..) Im not sure what the line is for entrapment, but it doesnt matter for the purpose of a doc... if at some point down the road law enforcement does get involved they will know...
 
Thanks for the feedback, Barry. I remember the pppowerbook. That was indeed fascinating. I hadn't thought of going in that direction. A dvxuser collaborative :)

As far as putting oneself in the position to be scammed again, sink... We never interacted with him. I still don't know how he got my wife's info. What I do know, is that he got her bank account #. The address he used on the bank draft, was an older address of hers, and one that was never attached to the bank in anyway.

I do know that the only two companies that had access to that address with that account # were a major cell phone company, and and a billing co. that received that info from the cell co.

Anyways, the point being... as far as I can tell he is stealing/acquiring peoples information. At the very least info. to draft on their accounts, if not steal their identities entirely. Though one could potentially be "scammed" by him again. I could go to this pharmacy website that I just found, that I believe is tied to him. It is recent, as far as I could tell.

Now, getting dvxer's to help sniff out the trail. That could really be interesting. It may have to be treated as more an expose', but who knows?

By the way, I still have the guys account # to one of his bank accounts, that I got verified as valid (sort of. unoficially. off the record) by a certain president of a local bank :)

Man, I type too much.
I think I need to pursue this aye? Do some research, and get my data current again, and then try to figure out how to approach it as a doc., in a dramatic way.
Interesting :)

I'm gonna need some folks to verify a couple of addresses for me soon :)

Thanks for the feedback, thusfar
Jason
 
Update:

Well, after some initial (re)research, I have found that not only is this "crook" still active, but he has branched off into more public avenues, and is getting a bit sloppy. He is starting to show up in google searches by name (he never did before). He is trying to sell stocks and prescription drugs now too. At any rate he now has public ways of being contacted, if one wanted to set up a "sting" in the future.

Also, a relative will be going on a business trip to Denver, CO in March. The fellow I am looking for lives about an hour from there (I do need to verify his current address again though). Looks like I may be needing to take that trip as well.

I will be seeking the help of Colorado based dvxer's in the future, if anyone wants to help with this thing. Anyone interested, and in that area?

Thanks,
Jason

Back to gathering all of this info. I have over 100 pages from my research last year. Now, I just need to verify it's accuracy, re-aquire it, and find the new information.
 
Evergreen'ish. I've got to make sure though. I have gotten several different addresses now. Mostly evergreen. ONe possibly Aurora. But mostly evergreen. Several po box's. and one residence in evergreen.

Jason

EDIT: I'm also looking at two new residential listings. One in Aurora. One in Littleton. I need to verify which one carries the proper birthdate though. Can't do that until I get back out of dialup land on Monday.

The interesting thing is, one of these new listings I just found, (the one in Littleton) is also the last known address for his ex-wife. I need to verify if she still lives there.

Jason
 
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