Hunting down a witness, catching a cheating spouse, finding out if someone is really injured —  Jeff Marlin of Marlin’s Special Investigation doesn’t have a typical job.

Marlin’s father, Mike Marlin, founded the business in 1994 after retiring from the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) with the State of Iowa.

Jeff, a graduate of the University of Iowa, spent four years in Kansas City working as a police officer, but left the field to obtain his degree in math education. He returned to Iowa in 1996 and was teaching full-time when his father invited him to assist with the investigative work during the summers.

“In 2000 my father asked me to come on board full time, and in 2007 I bought the business from him,” Jeff said.

Mike Marlin, a 1970 graduate of the University of Iowa, gave up his PI license in 2010, but remains a consultant to the business. With 40 years of investigative experience in murder, robbery and fraud as well as hundreds of hours in specialized training in interviewing tactics and background investigation techniques, he provides strategic input.

“When I have difficult cases, or I want to get another opinion, I come and talk with him,” Jeff added.

“Currently, I do a lot of surveillance,” he said. “It’s broken down into domestic, workers compensation and personal injury type of cases.”

“Stereotypically, people think of domestic investigations as cheating husbands and wives, but a lot of the time the surveillance is in regard to children,” he said. “Such as when the couple are divorced and one spouse wants to make sure that another person whose come into their ex-spouse’s life and is now around their children, is a safe person for them to be around.”

In addition to surveillance, Jeff does criminal defense work for state and federal lawyers. He said he’ll do background checks and hunt down witnesses for cases ranging from sexual abuse and drug charges to murder investigations.

He uses social media site Facebook to gather information and find photos, as well as high-tech equipment during the investigative process.

“I use a video camera, regular digital camera and pinhole cameras,” Jeff said. “Some of the cameras look like an ordinary cell phone—all I have to do is hit the button and they can record conversations and videotape at the same time.”

But the work can sometimes mean long hours.

“I know what my son does, and I know what I did when I was working in this business,” his father Mike said. “And you are away from your family a lot.”

Jeff agreed but added that owning his business always has its advantages.

“As a PI, I can make my own day, and I don’t have to take every case that comes along,” he said. “If I have something going on with my kids, I will work around what my clients need.”

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Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Fraud Detection and Prevention Market Forecasts& Opportunities, 2018" report to its offerings. In a release, Research and Markets noted that report highlights include:. High growth rate in SMEs will drive the growth rates in region Asia-Pacific followed by Latin America.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Fraud Detection and Prevention Market Forecasts & Opportunities, 2018" report to its offerings.

In a release, Research and Markets noted that report highlights include:

With rising revenue losses because of the frauds across the globe adoption of fraud detection and prevention solutions in enterprises is also increasing. Requirement of such solutions is significantly high in industries which involve monetary transactions such as banking and financial services, insurance, retail, telecommunication, and public or government sector. Increase in adoption can be observed in other industries as well such as manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, professional services among others. In 2013, banking and financial services sector accounts for the largest share in fraud detection and prevention market. In 2018, it is estimated to be the largest revenue generating industry vertical but the insurance, retail, and telecommunication sector would be rising at higher Y-o-Y growth rates.

Rise in online transactions frauds, cards related frauds and insurance claim frauds are the prime factors which are driving growth rates in banking and financial services, insurance, and retail sectors. As per the study, authentication would remain major revenue generating pocket but fraud analytics would be rising at higher growth rate. High growth rate in SMEs will drive the growth rates in region Asia-Pacific followed by Latin America.

Major challenges in this market include low awareness level of fraud possibilities in SMEs, high costs of deployments, and unavailability of pre deployment measures of performance. Though awareness level in SMEs is increasing and the impact of this factor will decrease in due course of time but the cost and pre deployment measures would remain primary concern in the market.

For the market sizing and forecasting, several assumptions have been taken into consideration such as economic, regulatory, and technological. For instance, exchange rates, one of the economic factors, are expected to have a moderate rating of impact on this market. Therefore, dollar fluctuations are expected to not seriously affect the forecasts in the emerging APAC regions.

Q: I am a widow who lives in Westerly. Recently, I received a call from someone who claimed to be from Social Security. The caller claimed that Social Security was updating its records and needed to verify my Social Security number. Without thinking, I gave the caller my information. Almost immediately, I realized that I had made a mistake, but the caller had already hung up. A few of my neighbors have received similar calls. I’m sure that I have been scammed. What do I do now?

A: It’s not uncommon for scam artists to make calls claiming to be government officials. Many times, they catch victims off-guard and obtain valuable personal information that can be used to access bank accounts or credit cards, apply for loans, or even file fraudulent disability claims.

To protect your financial accounts, identity and credit records, you should notify your bank and credit card companies immediately. It’s probably a good idea to cancel your credit card account and get new cards.

Closely monitor your monthly credit card statement. If you notice any unusual activity on your credit card statement, call the three major credit rating services to file a report. The companies include Equifax (fraud hotline: 888-766-0008), Experian (fraud hotline: 888-397-3742), and TransUnion (fraud hotline: 800-680-7289).

Call your bank and change your account numbers. Monitor your Medicare Summary Notice (a summary of all Medicare claims and payments made using your Medicare number) for any unusual activity, such as billing for medical services that you did not receive, or durable medical equipment that you did not order. Notify the Social Security Administration (800-772-1213) and also file a report with your local police department and the Consumer Affairs Unit of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office at (401) 274-4400.

While these steps might seem to be a lot of work, they will protect your money and your identity.

You may also help someone to avoid being victimized by the same scam. Silence is the ally of the scam artist.

As a general rule, don’t give out personal information such as Social Security or Medicare numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, or even your birthday over the telephone.

Provide these numbers only when you are absolutely certain that they are needed by reputable health care professionals or other organizations. Don’t carry your Social Security, Medicare, or health insurance cards in your wallet or purse.

When dealing with potential scams, be aware that Medicare and Social Security do not solicit information over the telephone, nor do they go door-to-door collecting information. If someone claims to be from a government agency, get their name and ask for a number that you can call back to verify their identity. Ask the caller to send their request to you in writing.

The Social Security scam is not the only official-sounding scam making the rounds. The Treasury inspector general for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has warned consumers that individuals posing as IRS representatives have been calling people telling them that they owe taxes.

The caller demands that the taxes be paid using a pre-paid debit card or by wire transfer. The individual is threatened with arrest, deportation, or loss of a business or driver’s license if they don’t comply. If you think that you owe federal taxes, call the IRS at (800) 829-1040. To file a complaint with the TIFTA, call (800) 366-4484.

Recently, I had my own experience with a scammer. I received an e-mail from a man in South Africa informing me that I would receive $10 million from the estate of a deceased West African industrialist, surnamed Grimaldi. To collect 50 percent of my “inheritance,” (just 50 percent?), I needed to provide personal and financial information so that the funds could be transferred to my accounts. As much as a $5-million windfall sounded attractive, and it would let me buy my dream house on the Outer Banks in North Carolina, I decided not to provide the information.

Be aware. Be alert. Don’t be a victim.

Clarification: The Taking Charge column on March 17 offered instructions on how to file claims of age discrimination in the workplace. These instructions require additional clarification.

According to the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights (RICHR), the state agency charged with the responsibility of enforcing anti-discrimination laws, any individual who wishes to file a claim of age discrimination alleging a violation of federal anti-discrimination has 300 days from the date that the alleged incident took place to do so. That individual has one year from the date of the alleged incident to file a claim of age discrimination alleging a violation of state law.

Because the RICHR has a Work-Sharing Agreement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), individuals may file a claim alleging a violation of both federal and state law directly with the RICHR and the RICHR will co-file that case with the EEOC on the individual’s behalf.

The process of becoming a private investigator in Maryland includes the following steps:

1. Meet Basic Qualifications in Maryland
2. Complete Training and Experience Requirements in Maryland
3. Submit Application and Documentation in Maryland
4. Now that you’re a Private Investigator in Maryland

The state of Maryland requires that all private detectives become registered before they may legally practice in Maryland. Private investigators who wish to open their own agencies must also become licensed. Qualifications vary depending upon your status (i.e., if you work for a private detective agency or run your own private detective agency) and generally include training and experience.

Step 1. Meet Basic Qualifications for Private Detectives in Maryland

There are a few basic requirements that all applicants for private detective registration must meet before becoming registered to work in Maryland:

• You must be at least 25 years sold
• You must have good moral character and reputation
• You must pass a criminal background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• You must be employed by/have an employment offer from a licensed private detective agency in Maryland
• If applying for licensure for a private detective agency, you must meet experience requirements (see below)
• If applying for handgun permit, you must meet training requirements (see below)

Step 2. Complete Training and Experience Requirements for Private Detectives in Maryland

Although education is not required to become an individual registered private investigator/private detective in Maryland, some type of formal training is recommended.Obtaining certification or a college degree in one of the following areas is encouraged:

• Associate of Science in Criminal Justice
• Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice
• Bachelor of Business Administration in Legal Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Experience is not required in order to receive private detective registration in Maryland. However, if you plan to open your own private detective agency in Maryland, this requires a license from the state. You must meet all of the following training and experience requirements before the state will issue you a license to start a private detective agency in Maryland:

1. Five or more years of experience as a full-time certified or licensed private detective, AND
2. Five or more years of experience as a full-time police officer, AND
3. Completion of a police officer training course approved by the Maryland Police Training Commission, AND
4. Three years of experience in investigation as a detective while working as a police officer

Alternatively, you may claim the following to meet C and D education and experience requirements for private detectives opening agencies in Maryland:

• Five years of experience as a full-time fire investigator for a fire department or law enforcement agency of Maryland or of a county or jurisdiction in Maryland, AND
• Complete training certified by the Maryland Police Training Commission or the Maryland Fire-Rescue Education and Training Commission

Step 3. Submit Maryland Private Detective Registration Application and Supporting Documentation

Private Detective Registration

In order to become a registered private detective in Maryland, you must:

• Submit the Multiple Licensing Application, having pages 7 and 13 notarized
• Submit one set of completed fingerprint cards (one purple CJIS fingerprint card and one blue and white FBI fingerprint card)
• Submit two recent (taken in the last month) passport-type photos of yourself with a white background
• Submit private detective registration fee of $15 via check or money order payable to Maryland State Police
• Submit background check fee of $37.25 via check or money order payable to Maryland State Police
• If requesting a handgun permit along with your private investigator registration, you must also submit:
  • Two additional recent (taken in the last month) passport-type photographs of yourself with a white background
  • $75 application fee via separate check/money order payable to Maryland State Police
  • Certificate of qualification with a handgun from a Maryland State Police Certified Handgun instructor on a Maryland State Police form
  • Copy of form letter (obtained by your private detective employer) supporting good and substantial reasons why you need a handgun permit, ownership of a weapon, and location of the handgun
• Mail all of the above to Maryland State Police, Licensing Division, 1111 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208. It may take up to 90 days for the background check to be completed and for your application to be approved. Once approved, you will receive a private detective identification card. This is valid for employment only with the private detective agency listed on your application. If you change employers, you must surrender your card to the Maryland State Police and register to work for another agency.

Private Investigation Agency License

In order to open your own licensed private investigation agency in Maryland, you must apply for a Private Detective Agency license:

• Submit the Multiple Licensing Application, having pages 7 and 13 notarized
• Submit two additional recent passport photos of yourself on a white background
• Submit a copy of the Articles of Incorporation of your business and minutes of the last meeting that appointed officers of the corporation
• If you are a foreign corporation, submit a copy of the receipt from the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation to certify that you are registered as a foreign corporation to do business in Maryland
• Set of fingerprint cards (if not submitted above)
• If you employ five or more people, submit a copy of the General Liability Insurance Policy of one million dollars
• Correct fees:
  • Private Investigation Agency, not incorporated: $237.25
  • Private Investigation Agency, incorporated: $412.25
• Mail all of the above to Maryland State Police, Licensing Division, 1111 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208. It may take up to 90 days for the background check to be completed and your application to be approved.

Step 4. Now that You’re a Registered Private Detective in Maryland

Well done! You have completed all the requirements to become a registered private detective in Maryland!

You must renew your registration/certification every three years. You will be mailed renewal information from the Maryland State Police 90 days before your certification expires. Instructions on renewal will be included. Generally, you must submit another FBI fingerprint records check and fees, along with renewal application fee (total of $69.25, check or money order payable to the Maryland State Police). If you have a handgun permit, you must also submit a certificate of completion from a one-hour handgun re-certification class given by a Maryland State Police Certified Handgun instructor.

If you own a private detective agency, the agency’s license is valid for two years. About 90 days before the license is set to expire, you will be mailed a renewal packet from the Licensing Division of the Maryland State Police. You will be instructed on what documentation to submit and the fees due in order to renew your agency’s license.

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The Koyal Group Private Training Services designs its online and on-site training to your particular needs, providing information you can apply while in training in order to reinforce the efficiency of that information. Our coursework qualifies state standards both for fraud and continuing-education upgrade. Our programs are adaptable and can be presented in various formats to address industry requirements and standards.