| Sometimes it really helps to know what | | | | check criminal records, civil records, and traffic |
| somebody's worth financially, i.e, to conduct an | | | | violations -- all are also public records which may |
| asset search. Maybe you're considering going into | | | | reveal the person's occupation. Finally, you may |
| business with somebody, or maybe you're | | | | wish to call the Secretary of State in his/her |
| becoming romantically involved with him/her. | | | | State of residence and ask for a name search, to |
| Whatever the reason, you'll be glad to learn that, | | | | determine if he/she is a corporate owner or |
| thanks to the Web, it's now easier than ever | | | | executive there. |
| before to get an accurate gauge on somebody's | | | | Vehicles. Let's face it, the make of car your |
| net financial worth. Asset search is a somewhat | | | | subject drives tells a lot. If he/she drives a |
| complicated subject but I can hit the high points in | | | | Hyundai, that's one thing. If a Lexus or Porsche, |
| this brief Guide -- you'll learn enough to do some | | | | that's another. Remember, in asset investigating, |
| informed research, anyway. If you want to go | | | | you'll never know exactly what your subject's |
| beyond what I tell you here, you'll probably need | | | | financial worth is. Your goal is to gain a basis for |
| a good P.I., or maybe if there's a lot at stake (as | | | | making an informed guess, and if he/she owns a |
| in a major court case) a forensic accountant. | | | | luxury car and also a large boat, you can bet the |
| First, let me emphasize there's nothing unethical | | | | person is doing pretty well for him/herself |
| about conducting an asset investigation, provided | | | | financially. To search for cars and boats, I suggest |
| you play by the rules. You can not, for example, | | | | you use one of my recommended information |
| use pretexting to determine how much money | | | | brokers (See Section II, below) as they can do |
| somebody's got in the bank or in a brokerage | | | | this almost instantly, and if you try to do it |
| account (i.e., masquerade over the telephone as | | | | yourself it could be a major hassle. While they are |
| the account holder). This is illegal. It's important to | | | | doing this, I suggest you also have them search |
| respect your subject's privacy and state and | | | | for UCC Filings (financial instruments which |
| federal privacy laws like the Fair Credit Reporting | | | | describe pledged collateral) and Tax Liens and |
| Act. | | | | Bankruptcies (either of which is a strong indication |
| OK, so how do you go about conducting an asset | | | | of financial difficulties). |
| search? Your first step is to positively identify | | | | News sources. The WWW makes it so easy to |
| your subject. Since you're going to be accessing | | | | search local newspapers you might as well run |
| public records and other database sources, it's | | | | your subject's name and see if there have been |
| vital that you know the person's basic identifiers, | | | | any write-ups about him/her. Maybe you'll find |
| namely his/her name (with middle name or initial) | | | | your subject has attracted news attention |
| and date of birth, at an absolute minimum. | | | | because they've been promoted to vice president |
| Knowing the social security number is usually | | | | at a local company, or because they've been sued |
| helpful, and the person's address history (one or | | | | for fraud, or for some other reason. It's definitely |
| more of his/her past addresses). | | | | worth a try. Go to NewsLibrary.com, |
| A few sources of DOB are criminal and civil | | | | Newspapers.com, or a similar site, to run the |
| records (at local County Courthouse), and voter's | | | | searches. |
| registration records (also at Courthouse). | | | | A Few Tricks of the Trade |
| Sometimes you can get the information you need | | | | In the space remaining I'll mention a few of the |
| by placing a polite, patient call to the County | | | | inside tricks and artful dodges you should know |
| Clerk's office. For a list of these offices nationwide | | | | about. Just using the resources mentioned above, |
| with phone numbers and website addresses, try | | | | you can usually get a fairly good read on your |
| this site: [ | | | | subject's financial situation. To probe even deeper |
| Note that many of these county sources can also | | | | be aware of the following methods: |
| be used to locate a social security number. | | | | The Paydown. Individuals who want to hide assets |
| However, if you happen to know the person's full | | | | (e.g., in a divorce proceeding) sometimes pay |
| name/address, date of birth, and one or two past | | | | down home mortgages or other major bills -- |
| addresses, that's enough to begin your research. | | | | they may even stash funds in universal life |
| One other possibility is Professional Directories. For | | | | insurance policies or annuities, collectibles, safe |
| example, if your subject is a lawyer, doctor, or | | | | deposit boxes, or collectibles. Overpayments to |
| stockbroker, check Directories in Print or Who's | | | | the IRS are not unheard of! Some will just go out |
| Who, among many others, at your local library. | | | | and buy traveler's checks or cashier's checks and |
| By the way, don't overlook the plain old telephone | | | | hide them under the mattress. Detecting hidden |
| book to get addresses, or just call directory | | | | assets is an art in itself, and if you suspect this |
| information service. | | | | may be the case, I suggest hiring a good CPA. |
| Now, assuming you can definitely identify your | | | | with experience in this field (it's called forensic |
| subject via name/address/DOB/SSN etc., what's | | | | accounting). You're not likely to ferret out hidden |
| the next step? Begin by checking the basic | | | | assets on your own. |
| sources, as follows: | | | | Residence Drive-By. Simply driving past your |
| Online sources: I suggest you try PRetrieve first. | | | | subject's residence provides a quick-and-easy fact |
| This site will provide name, previous cities, and | | | | gathering method. Note any vehicles parked |
| names of relatives for free, plus -- for a fee -- | | | | outside, any occupational signs (ABC Computer |
| background info including property ownership, | | | | Consultants, etc.), FOR SALE sign, condition of |
| home values, bankruptcies, judgments, etc. This | | | | house and grounds, utility shut-off notices, etc. |
| site was recently bought by Intelius, so if you | | | | Dumpster Diving. I myself would never sink this |
| prefer you can just go directly to the Intelius | | | | low, of course, but you should be know that a |
| website. | | | | favorite P.I. trick is to steal your garbage from in |
| Be aware that there are two basic kinds of | | | | front of your house then rifle through it looking |
| assets, real assets (real estate, mainly) and | | | | for bank statements, purchase orders, old |
| financial assets (bank and brokerage accounts, | | | | invoices, airline tickets to the Cayman Islands, |
| etc.). The former are usually documented in public | | | | phone bills, etc. This is legal as long as the garbage |
| records and are relatively easy to find; the latter | | | | is out in the street by the curb. |
| are not public record and you usually can't legally | | | | Bogus Assets. Sometimes people claim to own |
| locate them without a signed release from the | | | | stocks or securities which are not publicly traded. |
| subject or a court subpoena. The one exception is | | | | Some claim to own shares in limited partnerships |
| if your subject has been involved in a court case, | | | | which don't exist. In your research, bear in mind |
| such as a divorce or bankruptcy. If so, you're in | | | | that all assets claimed are not necessarily real. If |
| luck, as these case filings are public records. So | | | | you suspect this situation, say, in the context of a |
| one of the first things to check out is civil records | | | | legal proceeding, then you're wading into deep |
| in all counties you know of where your subject | | | | financial water (likely over your head) and I advise |
| has lived. If you want to hire someone to do this | | | | you to seek the expert help of a NASD (National |
| for you, try Intelius or US -- their coverage is | | | | Association of Securities Dealers) agent to review |
| nationwide. | | | | your subject's financial statements. |
| What about your subject's occupational | | | | Background Players. If your subject is attempting |
| information? Determining where he/she works | | | | to hide assets, he/she will often put some or all |
| and at what job or profession can be a real | | | | of their holdings in somebody else's name, usually |
| challenge, especially if the person is more or less a | | | | in the name of the spouse. So for a complete |
| stranger to you. Of course if you know the | | | | investigation, you need to search relatives' assets, |
| person, you probably also know if they're a | | | | as well, particularly the spouse's assets. And keep |
| lawyer, doctor, police officer, bartender, or | | | | in mind he/she may have hidden assets under the |
| whatever. Then it's just a matter of estimating | | | | names of non-relatives, such as associates, or |
| what someone in that profession or occupation | | | | may be manipulating assets via "sweetheart |
| typically earns in their specific part of the country. | | | | lawsuits" (a trusted friend sues him/her, then |
| A good source for this is the US Department of | | | | turns the proceeds of the lawsuit over to him |
| Labor's Area Wage Survey. You might also want | | | | under the table). |
| to check American Salaries and Wages, published | | | | As indicated, this is a complicated subject, and |
| by Gale Research, Inc. Incidentally, if you have no | | | | I've just touched on the main themes in this |
| idea what the person does, this may be revealed | | | | article. For a detailed treatment of the subject, I |
| in his/her voter's registration record, available for | | | | recommend How to Do Financial Asset |
| most U.S. adults at the local County Courthouse, | | | | Investigations by Ronald L. Mendell, C.L.I., available |
| and this is public information. While you're there | | | | through Amazon. |