On The Lookout Investigations

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On The Lookout Voted “Best Of” By New Jersey Legal Community

Best of Private Investigator New Jersey

 On The Lookout Investigations has been voted the “Best Of” in private investigations companies in New Jersey by the legal community in the annual New Jersey Law Journal “Best Of” survey for the eighth consecutive year.

Anyone who works at a law firm is eligible to cast their vote in the survey, which covers several dozen categories of legal support service providers.

 “We know there are a number of private investigation firms in New Jersey and we’re honored to be recognized as one of the best by the legal community”, says Alana Gibson, Chief Operating Officer of On The Lookout. “We’re thrilled our clients feel supported by our experienced investigators, many of whom have an extensive legal background. They’re able to take that knowledge and apply it to the cases, getting the evidence needed and asking the right questions to guide an investigation.”
 

On The Lookout’s investigative team supports law firms and corporations in their varying needs, ranging from locating individuals, scene investigations and asset searches. With state of the art equipment, techniques and databases, On The Lookout is able to deliver quality information and results that often have a significant impact on cases.

 On The Lookout Investigations offers a full range of investigative services, including asset searches, surveillance, witness statements and social media investigations. On The Lookout’s sister company, DGR Legal, also won in the “Best Of” survey in the categories of process service and messenger service for the ninth year in a row.

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From Paralegal to Private Investigator

By Carina Yturbe
On The Lookout Investigations LLC Investigator

paralegal to private investigator

Growing up with a father who is a retired Federal Correction’s Officer and a mother who is a paralegal, I naturally developed a curiosity and passion for law. I would always listen to them talk about their experiences at work and watched endless amounts of criminal shows. I knew that I wanted to follow their footsteps and make my own career path in the legal field, especially in criminal law so I received an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Going to school for criminal justice really helped me understand the Constitution that we all live by and to understand everyone’s rights. There are many facets to this area of law such as law enforcement, the actual practice of law, court procedures and civil litigation to name a few. I became even more fascinated with the legal field and wanted to further my education. I thereafter received my Paralegal Certificate from an ABA approved program. The paralegal studies program made me realize how much I love to challenge myself and conduct research.

At the time of my graduation, I was working in the Litigation Department for DGR-The Source for Legal Support. I was responsible for reviewing documents provided by our clients and processing them in our system to be served upon the defendants in their case. I always found myself researching the court rules for service of process, constantly asking questions to ensure that each file was served properly. I wanted to be more involved in each individual case and working with individuals in the legal field appealed to me. I wanted to do more for our clients and I was ready for more responsibility. DGR’s sister company, On the Lookout Investigations, needed an investigator so I expressed my interest and was approved for the transition!

This is where I began my journey in the exciting world of investigations! I was thrilled to learn new skills that would enhance my career and complement my paralegal experience. Of course, like any other investigator, I had to complete several trainings and learn the necessary techniques that an investigator would utilize to research and obtain information. One of the most important things that I learned in conducting investigations is ETHICS! Regardless of what you may know of a defendant and/or entity, the way you obtain any information can really make or break your case in court. Using all the education and skilled training I’ve received, I put my best foot forward and entered the position as a Private Investigator.

After working on hundreds of cases, I must say that I have found my real purpose. On the Lookout provides multiple services that aid in many different types of cases which allows me to put my paralegal know-how to work. I assist attorneys and paralegals every day helping them to obtain information related to their cases in connection with collection of judgments, performing asset searches, locating a new address to serve a defendant, or preparation of witness statements which in the end will help their clients!  

When people look at me, they do not anticipate that I am a Private Investigator (”PI”) which is beneficial when I am out in the field interviewing possible witnesses and/or conducting surveillance. My litigation experience helps me interact with clients to truly understand what records and/or documents they will need in court. My paralegal skills of organization, analyzing documents, document preparation and summarizing information have all helped me remain objective in case management.  I have the honor to help change people’s lives for the better and am very thankful to DGR-The Source for Legal Support and On the Lookout Investigations for giving me the opportunity to develop into a PI. Never in a million years did I think I would ever utilize my paralegal training to become an actual Private Investigator, but I am a true living testament that if you chase your dreams and challenge yourself, you can make anything possible!

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On The Lookout Takes First Place in “Best Of” Awards

best of investigations 2019

On The Lookout Investigations has been voted the “Best Of” in private investigations companies in New Jersey by the legal community in the 2019 annual New Jersey Law Journal “Best Of” survey.

This is On The Lookout’s seventh year placing in the annual survey. Anyone who works at a law firm is eligible to cast their vote in the survey, which covers several dozen categories of legal support service providers.

“It is truly an honor to have been voted as the top investigations firm in New Jersey”, says Jerry Colasurdo, managing member and owner of On The Lookout. “Our experienced investigators all bring an extensive legal background to the table and a wide range of expertise, giving us the ability to serve our clients and get them the information they need to support their cases.”

On The Lookout’s investigative team supports law firms and corporations in their varying needs, ranging from locating individuals, scene investigations and asset searches. With state of the art equipment, techniques and databases, On The Lookout is able to deliver quality information and results that often have a significant impact on cases.

On The Lookout Investigations offers a full range of investigative services, including asset searches, surveillance, witness statements and social media investigations. On The Lookout’s sister company, DGR – The Source for Legal Support, also won in the “Best Of” survey in the categories of process service and messenger service for the eighth year in a row.

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On The Lookout Investigations Voted “Best Of” In New Jersey Law Journal Survey For Sixth Consecutive Year

For the sixth consecutive year, On The Lookout Investigations has been voted the “Best Of” in private investigations companies in New Jersey by the legal community in the annual New Jersey Law Journal “Best Of” survey.

Anyone who works at a law firm is eligible to cast their vote in the survey, which covers several dozen categories of legal support service providers.

“There’s plenty of investigators to choose from in New Jersey and we’re thrilled to be recognized as the top in our field”, says Jerry Colasurdo, managing member and owner of On The Lookout. “We’re fortunate to have investigators who are well-versed in the legal field, including former paralegals. This particular knowledge and related skills combined with our extensive tools and databases means our clients are getting the best possible service and results possible.”

On The Lookout Investigations offers a full range of investigative services, including asset searches, surveillance, witness statements and social media investigations. On The Lookout’s sister company, DGR – The Source for Legal Support, also won in the “Best Of” survey in the categories of process service and messenger service.

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On The Lookout Investigations Voted “Best Of” In New Jersey Law Journal Survey

New Jersey Investigations Best OfFor the fifth consecutive year, On The Lookout Investigations has been voted the “Best Of” in private investigations companies in New Jersey by the legal community in the annual New Jersey Law Journal “Best Of” survey.

Anyone who works at a law firm is eligible to cast their vote in the survey, which covers a broad range of legal support service providers, from litigation support to financial services to technology.

“The ability of our investigators to assess a case, determine which type of investigation will be the most helpful and efficiently execute on the decision has led us to being honored with being named the ‘Best Of’ ”, says Jerry Colasurdo, managing member and owner of On The Lookout. “Many of our investigators have a legal background and this knowledge lets them effectively decide which information is most needed to help secure a case. The diligent work and expertise of our investigators is the backbone of our organization.”

On The Lookout Investigations offers a full range of investigative services, including asset searches, surveillance, witness statements and social media investigations. On The Lookout’s sister company, DGR – The Source for Legal Support, also won in the “Best Of” survey in the categories of process service and messenger service for the sixth year in a row.

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On The Lookout Investigations Voted “Best Of” By Legal Community

best private investigationsFor the fourth consecutive year, On The Lookout Investigations has been voted the “Best Of” in private investigations companies in New Jersey by the legal community in the annual New Jersey Law Journal “Best Of” survey.

Anyone who works at a law firm is eligible to cast their vote in the survey, which covers a broad range of legal support service providers, from litigation support to financial services to technology.

“We’ve set competitive pricing , quality information and fast turn-around times as part of our foundation”, says Jerry Colasurdo, managing member and owner of DGR. “We have some great investigators who have knowledge in many areas, including many with paralegal backgrounds which can be really helpful in determining what information is needed to help win a case or settle.   With the large number of private investigation firms in New Jersey it’s an honor to be selected as one of the “Best Of” by the legal community.”

On The Lookout Investigations offers a full range of investigative services, including asset searches, surveillance, witness statements and social media investigations. On The Lookout’s sister company, DGR – The Source for Legal Support, also won in the “Best Of” survey in the categories of process service and messenger service.

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Social Media Surveillance: Low-Cost Alternative to Traditional Surveillance

social media surveillanceSocial media surveillance is one of the many pros of the digital age, providing a low-cost alternative to traditional surveillance to attorneys and their clients.

What’s the difference in cost?

Traditional surveillance can be expensive, with costs adding up quickly when minimum timeframes are imposed and especially if multiple investigators are required to properly tail a subject. But there’s a much cheaper option – powerful programs that dig through social media accounts for useful information.

Traditional surveillance: $1500 for a standard 8-hour day for surveillance with one investigator and with no guarantees the subject will even leave the house

Social media search: as little as $250.

Used by private investigators and law enforcement only, these programs can perform some serious magic when it comes to downloading profiles, authenticating and preserving potential evidence and using algorithms to search for specific keywords across profiles with thousands of pages that may be relevant to a case.

Used by private investigators and law enforcement only, these programs can perform some serious magic when it comes to downloading profiles, authenticating and preserving potential evidence and using algorithms to search for specific keywords across profiles with thousands of pages that may be relevant to a case.

For a cost that’s still significantly less than traditional surveillance, social media searches can pull entire profiles to create a social media timeline covering hundreds of sites.

Are you really going to find anything?

Consider the sheer number of people who have social networking accounts:

  • Over two-thirds of Americans
  • 74% of online adults
  • Nearly 1.7 billion people with active accounts

Don’t think you’ll only find information on younger subjects –  65% of online adults 50-64 and 49% of online adults 65 and over have social networking accounts.The databases utilized not only locate more common accounts like Facebook and Twitter, but use potential usernames, e-mail addresses and phone numbers to find accounts on hundreds of other sites like Reddit, Etsy, Yelp, hi5, Instagram and Friendster.

The databases utilized not only locate more common accounts like Facebook and Twitter, but use potential usernames, e-mail addresses and phone numbers to find accounts on hundreds of other sites like Reddit, Etsy, Yelp, hi5, Instagram and Friendster.

What if an individual’s account is private?

In order to subpoena a social media profile, Zimmerman v.Weiss ruled you need to prove there is a reason to believe there is evidence on the profile and the subpoena request is not simply a “fishing expedition”. So how do you find evidence you need to get the subpoena granted? Or at the very least find information to have ammunition going into a deposition?

There are ways around a “private” profile. By using algorithms to pull together known associates of the individual, other profiles can then be searched for evidence related to the subject.

Even if an individual isn’t active on their social media accounts, the fact they have an account means they can still be tagged in posts, pictures and more.

What’s not to like

Another bonus to social media surveillance over surveillance – ease of anonymity. What happens if you’re made while following a subject? Forget about it – now they’re onto you. With social media searches there’s the power of remaining anonymous as you browse the internet and deep web searching for pieces of information to pull together to help support or tear apart a case.

While looking through social media profiles, it can be absolutely mind-boggling how much information people share not only about themselves but their friends and family. Social media surveillance gather all that information and data to create a cheaper alternative to traditional surveillance.

 

Interested in using social media surveillance on your case? Contact us for a rate sheet!

 

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Asset Searches When Someone Owes You Money

asset searches

Does someone owe you money? In this economic climate, the answer is most likely yes.

Asset searches are a valuable tool for attorneys, investors, companies, and individual litigants.  When conducted by an experienced investigator with the understanding of applicable laws, you will not only know where assets are located, but what liabilities, bankruptcies, liens, and lawsuits are against the opposing party.

Do you know what the permissible purposes are to look for bank and brokerage assets?

As private investigators, we often find that many people don’t what the permissible purposes are.

If you’re an attorney, did you know that if you obtain information from your investigator that was illegally obtained, you can be held liable?

Whenever an asset search is being conducted, it’s important to make sure the investigator is following all State and Federal privacy laws which include the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Most importantly that they DO NOT USE PRETEXT to obtain this information.

So what are the permissible purposes? Viable reasons for conducting a bank search and/or investment/brokerage search are:

  • Debt or Judgment Collection: for use in the collection of an existing debt/judgment that is owed by, or is the financial responsibility of the search subject.
  • Authorized Matrimonial Investigation:  Only can be conducted with a Court Order.  Divorce Judgment is not permissible.
  • Authorized Estate Investigation:  Investigation for use in administration of the estate of a decedent, or a person adjudged to be incompetent, which will identify assets.  This type of search has to be requested by the executor or personal representative of the decedent or incompetent individual. Authorized estate investigations also require a copy of all applicable documents for verification, including a death certificate.
  • Tort Settlement:  for use in assessing a business transaction, such as an offer to settle a claim for injuries, damages, costs, or other expenses arising from a tort (wrongful act).  The purpose of the investigation is to assist in the determination of the economic viability of the settlement offer made by the search subject.
  •  Written permission from the subject of the search (yes, this happens as rarely as you think it does)

When looking for assets, look beyond property and motor vehicles.  These can be difficult to collect on. Look for bank, brokerage, stock, IRA’s, and retirement accounts.  Bank searches can be conducted statewide or nationwide.

How about looking for current employment so that you can garnish wages?  Or safe deposit boxes for decedents?

Whether you are looking to locate assets on a business or individual, our investigators are trained to track down assets and here to help.

 

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On The Lookout Investigations Voted “Best Of” Investigations For Third Year In a Row

best of investigationsFor the third consecutive year, On The Lookout Investigations has been voted the “Best Of” in private investigations companies in New Jersey by the legal community in the annual New Jersey Law Journal “Best Of” survey.

Anyone who works at a law firm is eligible to cast their vote in the survey, which covers a broad range of legal support service providers, from litigation support to financial services to technology.

“Since launching On The Lookout Investigations in 2010 we’ve heard great feedback from our client base”, says Jerry Colasurdo, President and owner of On The Lookout Investigations. “We work hard to make sure our pricing is competitive and clients are getting the information and evidence they need to move forward with cases, settle if possible and win trials.   We know there are plenty of private investigations companies in New Jersey and we’re honored to be recognized as one of the best by the legal community.”

On The Lookout Investigations offers a full range of investigative services, including asset searches, surveillance, witness statements and skip tracing. On The Lookout’s sister company, DGR, also won in the “Best Of” survey in the categories of process service and messenger service.

Contact Us
Phone: 973-867-3070
Fax: 973-867-3090
Email: investigations@otlollc.com
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