11778 lines
595 KiB
Markdown
11778 lines
595 KiB
Markdown
# How to get a new Identity Ariza Research 2008
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---
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Please Note: This single
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document contains your
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“Change Your Identity” report
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plus all three bonus reports
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combined into a single
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document.
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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"How to Change Your Identity"
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By Jim and Susan Petersen
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© Copyright 2008 – Ariza Research – All Rights Reserved - ABP
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Any attempt to violate this copyright will result in aggressive
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prosecution under The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.
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Revision: 8-08
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Disclaimer:
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Do not break the law. The information in this publication is for
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 2 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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informational or entertainment purposes only. Laws regarding the
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acquisition and use of identity documents are constantly changing.
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Before attempting to use any of the techniques or tactics discussed in
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this publication, always consult an attorney who is familiar with
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applicable laws in your area. Due to recent legislation we are unable to
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provide personal assistance of any kind. We do not deal in illegal
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documents or services.
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Code: 8203f
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Table of Contents
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2008 Real ID Update 4
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Chapter #1 Recent Developments 13
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Chapter #2 The “Internet” Method 27
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Chapter #3 The “Living Dead” Method 36
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Chapter #4 The Classic “Ariza” Method 40
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Chapter #5 The “Foreign Citizenship” Method 73
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Chapter #6 The “Camouflage Passport” Method 76
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Birth Certificate Numbering System 81
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Changing Your Social Security Number 84
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Fake ID 91
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Paper Tripping 93
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Using Mail Drops 95
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Identity Theft 102
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Medical Records 103
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Old Social Security Cards 107
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Advanced Privacy Tactics 110
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College Degrees 129
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Avoiding Process Servers 130
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Working “Off the Books” 131
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Passports 134
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Buying a Car 137
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Pre-Identity Changing Planning 138
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Witness Protection Program Details 140
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Re-entering the U.S. 149
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Baptismal Certificates 152
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Employment References 154
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Banking Security 155
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Offshore Strategies 155
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Travel Considerations 166
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Irish Citizenships/Passports 167
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Adoption Tactics 168
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Wealth Mobility 170
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French Foreign Legion 175
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 3 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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How They Find Us 179
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Update 2008 - The New “Real ID” Act
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Great news! The Real ID law is on the ropes. As of later March
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2008 the entire program has been officially delayed until at least
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Jan1, 2010. But you can expect further delays or even repeal of
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the entire law before then. This is good news for any freedom
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loving American.
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If you want to change your identity – now is the time to act. Over
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the next decade states will be tightening their ID requirements so
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to wait is foolish. The sooner the better!
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Real ID Madness
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In 2005 President Bush happily signed into law a sweeping new
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law that promised to forever change the relationship between
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citizen and government.
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The law creates a series of new federal requirements for the
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issuance of new or replacement drivers licenses. In effect it would
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convert the old state-designed drivers license into a national ID
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that meets federal standards.
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The law does two things. It lays out the exact standards that state
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issued drivers license must meet in order to qualify
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After a five year introductory period the new federal ID would be
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required to open a new bank account, board a scheduled airline
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flight, apply for any kind of government benefit or even enter any
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kind of federal building. Clearly life without one of these cards
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would be quite difficult.
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How It Works
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Instead of renewing your drivers license through the mail or in the
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usual facility run by those nice kind old ladies, you will be required
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travel to a larger regional center where you will be required to
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prove your identity to the government’s new standards.
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 4 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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You will be required to produce government-issued ID documents
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such as your birth certificate and/or passport. Only government
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issued documents that can be electronically verified with the
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issuing authority will be accepted.
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Your picture will be taken and a digital picture file will become a
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permanent part of your new federal dossier along with your birth
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date and your signature.
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In addition your biometric information will be acquired and
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recorded. This will probably include an eye scan or palm scan and
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a fingerprint.
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Any documents you provide will be scanned and the images will
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be recorded in a new database indexed by your name, birth date,
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home address, social security number and possibly a fingerprint
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number.
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This document database will be entirely searchable by any and all
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government agencies and, of course, law enforcement. Any other
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information Uncle Sam may have on you (your criminal record,
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your military record, any negative information they may have on
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record) will be attached to your file for future reference.
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Does any of this make you nervous? Can you smell the foul
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stench of totalitarian repression?
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The goal here is a dual one. The government will force you into
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proving:
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1. That you are who you say you are.
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2. That you are a legal citizen who is living legally in the U.S.
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Of course, if you are a wanted criminal with outstanding warrants
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in NCIC you can expect to be arrested during the Real ID
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application process.
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The New ID Standard
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Each new federally-approved license will include a number of
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security devices that were carefully engineered to make
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counterfeiting much more difficult. The magnetic strip will include
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personal information but that data will be encrypted using a
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sophisticated algorithm known only to federal officials.
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The card will also include two sets of data. One will link the holder
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to the card using two biometric numbers, one that encodes your
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eye scan data and the second will (probably) be the data from
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your fingerprint.
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 5 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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This will link your physical body to the card making card switching
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impossible.
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Then a second set of data will be the key to your federal data file
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containing your personal documents and related information. In
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this way the card can be linked to you and the card can be
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scanned through a reader that gives the scanner full access to
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your federal file.
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To President Bush all this sounds really nifty. Problem is –
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resistance to this whole program is fierce. 21 cities have sworn to
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resist Real ID as have a half dozen states. Numerous attempts
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have been made to crush the law before it’s fully enacted.
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Groups on both the left and right are combating Real ID. The
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leftist ACLU is spending a small fortune on a nation-wide publicity
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program against the law. And on the right Dick Armey and the
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Heritage Foundation are doing the very same thing. The governor
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of Montana has been particularly strident in his opposition.
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Imagine how such a card could be used. The government could
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use it to track our every move, our every financial transaction. And
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I thought this was a free country!
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The Problems
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There are many problems with Real ID. First is the simple fact that
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the computerized systems required to verify ID documents on a
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real time basis doesn’t exist and won’t for at least another decade.
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Most of the Vital Record offices where birth certificates are stored
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aren’t in any way automated. In fact, most are dusty little holes in
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the wall where elderly ladies look up enquires by searching
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through huge drawers of rotting papers. Will these little ladies be
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able to keep up with all the new verifications required to support
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the Real ID systems? I doubt it.
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And if we want to automate them and bring them into the 21st
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century, the financial cost will be tremendous. When President
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Bush signed the Real ID bill into law did he send out the billions
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needed to build the system. No he didn’t This is yet another
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example of a federal unfunded liability.
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Some limited funding has entered the pipeline but it’s only a nickel
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on the dollar and many states are fighting Real ID for this reason
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alone. State budgets are already in deficit. Experts have predicted
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that if fully enacted Real ID will cost a whopping 11 billion –
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money the states simply don’t have.
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 6 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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And exactly how will this new license be used? If a cop stopped
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you will you be required to produce your Real ID license? If you
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don’t have it will you be thrown in jail? This harkens back to a
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black age when the words “where are your papers – you must
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have your papers” were a hallmark of the Nazi age.
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Will we be required to produce the license along with our credit
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card in order to make credit card purchases? This will help make
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credit card fraud more difficult but it will also allow the feds to
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monitor our every financial transaction. How will that information
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be used? How much do you trust the federal government?
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The Current Situation
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The Real ID program was to be introduced over a five year period
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beginning May 11, 2008. But fortunately the government’s plans
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have failed.
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Because of a lack of funding along with a lack of the computer
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systems required and because of the political pressure against it,
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the whole program has been shifted to the back burner.
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Some months ago the Homeland Security agency announced that
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it would entertain requests for extensions from states. As of April
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4, 2008 49 states have requested and obtained extensions. As of
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this writing Maine is still squabbling with the government and has
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not yet received an extension though I expect one will be issued.
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As usual, the government has tried to use spin to turn it’s failure
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into a victory. Instead of announcing the extensions as a failure,
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they’ve triumphantly announced that though the Real ID system
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wasn’t initiated as planned, most of the states have introduced
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most of the new security features to their drivers licenses so the
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whole thing is a great victory!
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Resistance to the Real ID program is still fierce. Many of the new
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security standards have been abandoned and compromises have
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been made in an attempt to make the new standards more
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palatable to the states.
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Problem is – the government is very tricky. Way back in the early
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1960s when people were concerned with being numbered under
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the social security system. To get around this resistance the feds
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issued a new rule which they promoted widely. Under the new rule
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your social security number could NEVER be used for
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identification purposes. Most of the early social security cards
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 7 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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actually had this phrase emblazoned across it in an effort to quell
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the growing resistance.
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Then when the government was certain that most Americans were
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federally numbered – they changed the rule and now the SSN is
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the standard means of identifying individuals.
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Real ID Privacy Issues
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Once the Real ID system has accumulated the 245 million records
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of drivers license holders, how secure will the database of ID
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documents be? Of course the government predicts that all will be
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protected by iron-clad security measures.
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But given past government security mistakes, it will only be a
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matter of time before some hacker will penetrate their security
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system and grab our most personal records.
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Just think of it – here will be a database that contains not only
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your birth certificate with your birth date and all the details
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surrounding your birth, but it will also contain your social security
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number, your verified and confirmed home address and a host of
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other government acquired information.
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This database would be a virtual treasure trove of information for
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an identity thief. It contains everything they need to steal your
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identity and use it to fraudulently obtain credit cards or even
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purchase vehicles in your name using your credit.
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Such a high-value source of information would be under near
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constant hacker attack.
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But there’s more. Who exactly will have access to this new
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collection of dossiers? Will private businesses have access?
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Perhaps the corporate sponsors who have supported the
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president and his party will be given free access for marketing
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purposes. Information of this sort would be potentially worth
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billions. Washington insiders would find it very difficult to resist the
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temptation to peddle the data to any and all comers willing to pay
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the price they set.
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Will every city, county, state and federal employee have full
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access to your personal file? Will any copy on the beat be able to
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view your entire life on his laptop?
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Plans include having your Real ID file communicate with all the
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other hundred or more personal files big brother is maintaining on
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you. This kind of accumulated information could form the core of a
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 8 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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whole new way of life for Americans. Some are calling it the dawn
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of the “big brother society” where 100% surveillance will be the
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norm. We would all live in a glass fishbowl where we would live
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out our lives under the constant gaze of government snoops.
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Can we trust the government with so much personal information? I
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don’t think so. Some years ago the FBI instituted a new
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investigation procedure for those who purchased guns.
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When you initiated your gun purchase the FBI would open an
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investigation to be sure you were legally able to complete the
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purchase. Under the law that information was to be maintained in
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an FBI database for no more than 30 days. After that, the law
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required that the information, in the interest of protecting personal
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privacy, would have to be destroyed.
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Did the FBI comply with this particular requirement? Of course
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they didn’t. Instead, the FBI committed a federal felony and
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decided that this data should be maintained in fully searchable
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databases for the use of law enforcement. (Those who worry
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about their second amendment rights believe that their intention is
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to build a database of gun owners in preparation for the eventual
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confiscation of private firearms.)
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The Real ID system would deeply compromise our privacy while
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providing little if any real protection. Given their sad history, you
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can rely on government to abuse all this information in ways that
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will expand the government’s control of it’s citizenry.
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Would your Real ID license be eventually required to vote? Would
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it be requir3ed to claim medical services under Medicare or
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Medicaid? Would your card be scanned just for entering a national
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park or a library?
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The Financial Cost
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Experts predict that the total cost of creating the entire Real ID
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system could surpass $23 billion. The feds have so far coughed
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up only a scant $50 million. When the congress voted on providing
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an additional $300 million, the bill went down in flames so it looks
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like sufficient funding will not materialize any time soon.
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The administrative burden would be enormous. As of now the
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Real ID system is scheduled to be initiated on Jan 1, 2010. at first
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only those aged 40 or so or under would receive priority. Their
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participation would be completed on or before 2013 while the
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older participants would follow with 2018 as their final deadline.
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But don’t hold your breath. The electronic infrastructure required
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to meet the federal guidelines will probably take many more years
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given the paltry level of federal funding.
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 9 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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Biometric Follies
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Those who are in the know will tell you that biometrics is not the
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exact science many people think it to be. Biometric indicators can
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become confused and provide false information that will,
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unfortunately, be regarded as gospel despite it’s technological
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shortcomings.
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Real ID on the Rocks
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Homeland Security while maintaining that the program is going
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forward, have lately been backing off earlier more strict
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requirements. For instance, their initial requirement called for
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these new licenses to be made of polycarbonates and be
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engraved with laser printing in an attempt to make it difficult to
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create fake documents.
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Recently the government backed off this requirement and has
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happily embraced steps taken by various states to help make their
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licenses more tamper resistant despite the fact they don’t meet
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the earlier federal standards.
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A total of 38 states have passed legislation opposing the Real ID
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law. Over 600 other organizations have gone on record opposing
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this burdensome new law including the National Association of
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Governors.
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For more on the Real ID system you can visit the ACLU’s anti-
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Real ID site at: www.realnightmare.org.
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License bureaus have no way to quickly and accurately determine
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the validity of foreign passports and immigration documents. They
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can’t even accurately verify our own immigration cards and
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papers. Many states can’t even verify driver licenses issued by
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other states.
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And if you apply for your new Real ID license in a state other than
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the one in which you were born, you will run into a problem. How
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can you get around these and other ID problems? Simple – get a
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passport. The U.S. passport is the most influential ID document
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you can carry with one exception. While your passport can prove
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your citizenship, your age, the existence of your birth certificate
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and your name it cannot help you confirm your home address.
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Under the Real ID legislation is a note that states that the U.S.
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passport meets all the standards of the Real ID requirements
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except the address requirement.
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All of this paper shuffling will cost you. Forget the old $20 fees and
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start thinking about much higher fees that might even surpass the
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 10 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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$100 level especially at first while there is no computerized
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infrastructure to provide quick low-cost verifications.
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Illegal Aliens
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Foreigners who are legally authorized to reside in the U.S. will be
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issued licenses but their the expiration date of the license will
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match the expiration of their visa. In this way the government can
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pressure illegal aliens to leave the country.
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What about the 10% of Americans who never had a birth
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certificate filed after their birth? What will become of them? Or
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how about criminals or illegal aliens who overstay their visas? This
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law will create a permanent new underclass of second class
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citizens.
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Under this new system you can forget the old adage about being
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innocent until proven guilty. Under this system you will be a
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permanent suspect who will constantly have to prove you’re
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innocent – at least during the situation at hand.
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If you have a current passport in your possession you will be able
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to board planes, enter federal buildings, apply for government
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benefits and vote. It’s your way around the Real ID system.
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But then perhaps you should also write your congressperson and
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senator and demand that they kill the clearly unconstitutional Real
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ID law.
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 11 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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Drivers License Applications
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This chart is based on information compiled in January of 2007.
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State Check Legal Online SSN Verify
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Resident
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Montana No No
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Alaska No No
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Arkansas No No
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Connecticut No No
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Kansas No No
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Delaware No No
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Louisiana No No
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Maryland No No
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Michigan No No
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Oregon No No
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Wisconsin No No
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Hawaii No Yes
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Maine No Yes
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Nebraska No Yes
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New Mexico No Yes
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North Carolina No Yes
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Utah No Yes
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Vermont Yes No
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Washington No Yes
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Massachusetts No Yes
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Minnesota No Yes
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New Jersey No Yes
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North Dakota No Yes
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Oklahoma Yes No
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Texas No Yes
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Illinois No Yes
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Most Difficult States to Obtain a Drivers License
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Alabama Yes Yes
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Arizona Yes Yes
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Colorado Yes Yes
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District of Columbia Yes Yes
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Florida Yes Yes
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Georgia Yes Yes
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Idaho Yes Yes
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Kentucky Yes Yes
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Missouri Yes Yes
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© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 12 -
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Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
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Nevada Yes Yes
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New Hampshire Yes Yes
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New York Yes Yes
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Ohio Yes Yes
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Pennsylvania Yes Yes
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South Dakota Yes Yes
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Virginia Yes Yes
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Wyoming Yes Yes
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Chapter 1
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2007 Update - Recent ID Developments
|
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The federal government is busy trying to standardize the blizzard
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of different birth certificate and drivers license formats. Buried
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deep in the 2005 intelligence bill are some provisions anyone
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concerned with privacy and individual liberty should be aware of.
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First the feds are working to develop a standard for a fraud-
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resistant birth certificate. The details are yet to be determined but
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you can expect some sort of machine readable bar code.
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Other federal committees are developing machine readable
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encoded data standards for all drivers licenses. After some period
|
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(currently proposed – the end of 2006) the federal government will
|
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no longer accept drivers licenses that don’t meet the new
|
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standard. In the past this requirement didn’t mean much except to
|
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those who would be applying for some sort of federal assistance
|
||
like welfare or ADC.
|
||
But since you now need an acceptable ID to get on a plane, this
|
||
new legislation becomes much more important. While states will
|
||
continue to issue drivers licenses, if a state fails to add the
|
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computer readable data to their licenses, their holders won’t be
|
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able to fly or apply for any kind of federal benefits. This places
|
||
extreme pressure on the states to comply and comply quickly.
|
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This is one time you don’t want to be left behind.
|
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While the pressure is great, the details on the encoding standard
|
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are still being worked out. They’ll probably want to avoid magnetic
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strips as they can be easily changed and also easily erased
|
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(either by mistake or on purpose).
|
||
No doubt the information will be encrypted using some very strong
|
||
algorithm which will make forging the data very difficult. We’ll have
|
||
to wait and see what they come up with.
|
||
The new rules forces the states to stop putting social security
|
||
numbers on their drivers licenses. This comes as no surprise
|
||
given the explosive increase in identity theft (you should never
|
||
carry anything in your wallet or purse that lists your social security
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 13 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
number). But the problem now is – what number are they going to
|
||
use in the new federal databases?
|
||
If we ever get a universal health care program in this country
|
||
(Don’t hold your breath!), we will all be issued a health ID card
|
||
with a health ID number that will be used to track our medical care
|
||
but will at the same time become a new national ID number the
|
||
feds will use to track our every move.
|
||
Exactly what data will be included on our new drivers licenses?
|
||
How and when will it be updated? How will that data be used?
|
||
How will it be used in government databases (the big question)?
|
||
The departments of transportation and homeland security will be
|
||
calling the shots on these key issues.
|
||
The department of health and human services will draft the rules
|
||
on the new standardized fraud-resistant birth certificate.
|
||
According to recent surveys the public is happy with making ID
|
||
documents more fraud-resistant. But when it comes to making
|
||
those same licenses machine readable under standards created
|
||
by government, public support turns to scorn.
|
||
Privacy advocates are howling as they predict these changes will
|
||
vaporize what little is left of our personal privacy. They also see
|
||
them as part of an ever tightening web of totalitarian control all
|
||
done in the name of “preventing terrorism”.
|
||
All but one of the 19 terrorists that were involved in the 9/11 attack
|
||
had legal drivers licenses. These new birth certificate and driver
|
||
license rules wouldn’t have prevented any of them from getting the
|
||
drivers licenses they used to board their planes. So why are we
|
||
going through all this? Good question.
|
||
Fact is, none of these rules will prevent someone from creating an
|
||
entirely new identity. It just makes the ID documents themselves
|
||
more difficult to forge.
|
||
Some privacy and freedom advocates have remarked that these
|
||
new rules move us from a state-based ID system into the realm of
|
||
a federally-controlled system with a new national ID.
|
||
As usual a wide range of organizations are opposing these new
|
||
changes. Once again we have some rather strange combinations
|
||
of groups at play here. It should come as no great surprise that
|
||
the ACLU is involved but did you ever see them partnered with the
|
||
“American Conservative Union” and the “Gun Owners of
|
||
America”?
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 14 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Other Recent Changes
|
||
- Banks now have access to a list published by the Social
|
||
Security Administration that includes the social security
|
||
numbers that have been “retired”. This makes it very
|
||
difficult to use such a number to open an interest-bearing
|
||
bank account. In order to come up with a temporary usable
|
||
social security number you’ll have to be sure it’s not retired
|
||
(Check the social security death index – if it’s not listed –
|
||
it’s probably safe) AND you’ll have to be sure the middle
|
||
two digits are right for the time of issue. The first three
|
||
digits must also be the correct ones for the area you claim
|
||
to have lived in when you started working.
|
||
- The credit bureaus also subscribe to the lists of retired
|
||
SSA numbers so if you apply for credit using one of these
|
||
numbers, you can expect problems.
|
||
- States, counties, cities and the feds are creating
|
||
reciprocal data sharing agreements very quickly these
|
||
days. Those who are behind in their child support
|
||
payments or have outstanding DUIs may find that the law
|
||
has lengthened it’s arms. Just because you’re in another
|
||
distant state doesn’t mean they can’t find you.
|
||
- When a government database contains negative
|
||
information on you (whether or not it’s true), the burden of
|
||
proof which used to be on the government – they had to
|
||
prove you were guilty. Now the tables have been turned. If
|
||
the database says you are guilty – you stay guilty until you
|
||
can prove that you are innocent. This is the single most
|
||
troubling aspect of centralized government databases.
|
||
One small mistake can ruin your entire life. And just you try
|
||
to correct that data. It will take an act of congress to set
|
||
things right!
|
||
- If you live in an urban location, it may prove easier to
|
||
obtain a new drivers license if you go through the cost and
|
||
trouble of taking a driver’s school. They will run you
|
||
through some of the paperwork and you will look much
|
||
more reasonable, even if you are over age 35 if you live in
|
||
a big city where many people use mass transit.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 15 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
- If you have a very good friend who trusts you entirely, you
|
||
can quickly rebuild your credit in your new name by having
|
||
them obtain an American Express credit card and then
|
||
apply for an additional card under their account but in your
|
||
new name and social security number. You get a
|
||
prestigious credit card (a very solid piece of ID) without a
|
||
lot of questions. Then as you use it you build up a new
|
||
credit record under your new social security number.
|
||
You might be able to pull this trick with other bank cards
|
||
but policies vary from bank to bank so check things out
|
||
before you jump. Also check to be sure they report added
|
||
cards to the credit bureaus just like AMEX.
|
||
- As the feds move us toward a national ID system, they’ve
|
||
thrown a bone to the privacy and freedom advocates by
|
||
specifically prohibiting the creation of national standards
|
||
for both birth certificates and drivers’ licenses.
|
||
- If you attempt to obtain an official copy of a real birth
|
||
certificate you may find it more difficult to obtain certified
|
||
copies. Some areas are now freely issuing non-certified
|
||
copies but restricting the more official certified copies to
|
||
those who can prove a legal need. (One lady got an
|
||
unofficial uncertified copy and just stamped “certified” on it
|
||
in purple ink!)
|
||
- The Social Security Administrations “High Group List” is
|
||
listed (at this writing) on the SSA’s web site. Use the
|
||
search function to find it as the exact page it’s on may
|
||
move from time to time.
|
||
- The Social Security Admin apparently now verifies only
|
||
those birth certificates of those who apply for new numbers
|
||
under the age of 17.
|
||
- A school ID can come in quite useful these days. Just be
|
||
sure you include the following information: the name of the
|
||
school, your full name, your age (or birth date), your
|
||
student ID number, your year of graduation and your
|
||
photo. Of course you can add some other info like
|
||
homeroom number or school address.
|
||
- I’ve heard that the social security offices in the state
|
||
capitals are somewhat easier to deal with than the local
|
||
offices. Early summer is the best time as that’s when
|
||
teenagers start their new jobs.
|
||
- Never mail out more than two or three social security
|
||
number applications to the social security office from one
|
||
address. They track addresses and will tag yours as
|
||
suspicious if they get too much mail from it.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 16 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
- Recently some colleges have begun to destroy their
|
||
archived educational records that are over 15 or 20 years
|
||
old. Cuts in federal funding have made this necessary.
|
||
- Over 40,000 people have used the social security number
|
||
on the fake social security cards that used to come in
|
||
wallets sold during the 60s through the 80s.
|
||
Whatever you do don’t use this number – 078-05-1120
|
||
unless you want some immediate attention.
|
||
- You can use a non-existent mailing address such as an
|
||
undeveloped lot or some old abandoned building. Just file
|
||
a forward order and have your mail forwarded to your mail
|
||
drop. In this way you have an untraceable home address
|
||
that can’t be easily traced. You’ll have to renew your
|
||
forwarding order each year to keep it in effect for over one
|
||
year.
|
||
- Changed your identity but lost your educational
|
||
credentials in the process? This is a common problem but
|
||
there is some good news on this front. It’s easier today to
|
||
get a new degree than ever before. You can take college
|
||
courses online at your own pace. You can take challenge
|
||
exams for credit rather than attend time-consuming
|
||
classroom classes. You can now get a great deal of credit
|
||
for your life experiences. You can also approach a college
|
||
professor and ask to take the final exam for credit. Many
|
||
instructors will allow such a deal if you can convince them
|
||
that you have the background to justify the special
|
||
treatment. Sadly you’ll still get stuck paying for the course
|
||
but you’ll get your degree much more quickly. Many
|
||
colleges have “advanced placement” policies that allow
|
||
you to take a series of exams that will accelerate your
|
||
educational progress. Independent study is yet another
|
||
way you might get course requirements out of the way
|
||
more quickly.
|
||
- The New Jersey drivers license used to be the most
|
||
widely used template but now Maine is offering serious
|
||
competition. The Maine DL is a rather simple affair with
|
||
few tamper-resistant features.
|
||
- Business banking accounts that are non-interest bearing
|
||
opened up in rural branch banks are the easiest to open
|
||
and operate. The smaller the bank the better. If you can
|
||
come up with some convincing papers that indicate that
|
||
you’ve recently put together a new business venture –
|
||
you’re in business. If you have a large check with you to
|
||
deposit in your new account – that will help grease the
|
||
wheels and impress your banker. If you show up around
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 17 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
9:50 am or around 11:50 (just before morning coffee break
|
||
or just before lunch) you may find your banker has other
|
||
things on their minds and won’t be quite so careful with
|
||
your paperwork. If you’re picked a bank you’d like to do
|
||
business with, if you have the time wait until they advertise
|
||
for new accounts. Chances are they will be processing a
|
||
ton of new accounts and yours will get lost in the rush.
|
||
- It’s much easier to open accounts and deal with online
|
||
banks. Many of these banks have become more respected
|
||
than in the past. Everything can be done online. The
|
||
requirements are the same but you won’t have to put up
|
||
with a questioning banker.
|
||
- Paypal is not a bank but instead is an online third party
|
||
credit card processor for those who have web sites that
|
||
sell stuff. But anyone can easily open an account, put in
|
||
money, get a very low fee debit card (Visa) and use it just
|
||
like a credit card. If you don’t choose the money market
|
||
interest option, they won’t even ask your social security
|
||
number. One other great benefit here is that most of the
|
||
objects for sale on eBay can be paid for through Paypal.
|
||
It’s a very attractive alternative to a more restrictive formal
|
||
bank account.
|
||
- If you vanish for seven years unless someone goes to
|
||
court and files, no one will declare you legally dead. But, if
|
||
you owe the state money and have left behind any debts,
|
||
the state may declare you dead in an effort to grab your
|
||
stuff.
|
||
- The drivers license once the exclusive domain of the
|
||
states, is now being federalized. This is the first step on the
|
||
road to a national driver’s license.
|
||
- By linking together the state databases, they’re creating a
|
||
national birth and death certificate database. This will
|
||
greatly accelerate cross-referencing of death and birth
|
||
records. (Finally, the old Paper Trip approach to identity
|
||
changing is going to die!)
|
||
- One provision under serious consideration in Washington
|
||
would have the Homeland Security Admin issue unique
|
||
new permanent identifying numbers. When a birth
|
||
certificate is “registered” with Homeland Security, the
|
||
number would be assigned and would remain with the
|
||
individual until well after death.
|
||
- Biometrics will be part of this new federally-linked driver’s
|
||
license. It’s not yet clear whether they will go with a
|
||
thumbprint, an iris scan, a palm scan or face recognition.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 18 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The choice will be made soon. IBM has been working
|
||
feverishly on the thumbprint approach. The new driver’s
|
||
licenses will contain a programmable chip that will store
|
||
the fingerprint and a whole lot more.
|
||
- The master plan will allow private bankers and other
|
||
private businesses to program your license so you can use
|
||
it as a debit or credit card, an ATM card, medical ID card
|
||
and air travel security pass.
|
||
- The new driver’s license could be suspended or
|
||
cancelled by simply making an entry in a federal database.
|
||
Anyone with a unauthorized card would find it very hard to
|
||
survive – even with the assistance of friends.
|
||
- The new driver’s license will be sold in two ways. First the
|
||
public will be told that this new card will eliminate illegal
|
||
aliens, unlawful travel, deadbeat dads who don’t pay child
|
||
support, identity theft and underage drinking. Then they
|
||
will add many convenience features that will lure people in.
|
||
Of course, obtaining and using the new license will be
|
||
strictly voluntary. Later when millions have accepted their
|
||
new license, their use will become mandatory.
|
||
- Birth certificates are becoming harder to obtain in
|
||
Connecticut, New Mexico, Iowa, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
|
||
- If you fear these new developments, now may be the time
|
||
to renew your existing driver’s license and maybe also your
|
||
passport. In this way you can avoid the new application
|
||
standards for a few more years. Renew your DL for as long
|
||
as possible under your state’s rules.
|
||
- If you have an arrest or conviction in your distant past – it
|
||
may come back to haunt you soon. Part of this new drivers
|
||
license system will fund the linking of a wide range of
|
||
databases that contain sensitive personal information. This
|
||
includes police, prison and court records that could cause
|
||
you problems in the future. One part of Big Brother’s plans
|
||
includes placing anyone who has been involved in a
|
||
violent act (that includes domestic violence) on the “No Fly”
|
||
list. These individuals would be barred from ever boarding
|
||
an airplane anywhere in the world forever! Some are
|
||
attempting to have their old criminal records cleaned up.
|
||
Imagine some cop pulling you over for running a stop sign
|
||
and having your entire life’s history right there in front of
|
||
them on their handheld computer! That’s where we are
|
||
headed!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 19 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
- In Australia the government attempted to push through a
|
||
comprehensive national ID system. It took a tremendous
|
||
amount of effort but after two years of demonstrations and
|
||
strikes, the government suddenly discovered that the
|
||
proposed system contained a fatal error and quickly
|
||
abandoned the whole thing.
|
||
The Bottom Line
|
||
The Washington insiders who run the federal government would
|
||
have us all carrying national ID cards that would have to be
|
||
produced upon demand. Armed checkpoints would be placed all
|
||
over town. We’d end up standing in long lines going through
|
||
detailed checks every time we attempted to go to a mall, a movie,
|
||
a bookstore or even the corner barber shop.
|
||
Of course, the political insiders who design this terrible system
|
||
would very carefully exempt themselves in subtle ways.
|
||
Fortunately that level of personal monitoring is unacceptable to
|
||
most Americans which keeps their nefarious plans in check.
|
||
But should the terrorists hit us again – all bets are off. We might
|
||
very well awaken some morning to ourselves living in a totally
|
||
monitored high-tech police state – thanks to Osama bin Laden.
|
||
Now is the time to protest these developments and crush this
|
||
evolving police state before it becomes a fact of life. Write your
|
||
representatives today and let them know exactly where you stand.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 20 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Post 9/11 Update
|
||
Before 9/11 Immigrant identification cards issued by the US
|
||
State Department couldn't be verified online - except by the
|
||
INS at border crossings. The INS verification process
|
||
couldn't be performed online which meant that any immigrant
|
||
could wander into a DMV almost anywhere in the country
|
||
and easily obtain a new drivers license. The clerk was forced
|
||
to fly blind.
|
||
And since high-quality immigrant identification cards are
|
||
widely available on the black market in any large
|
||
metropolitan area, immigrants could obtain drivers licenses
|
||
quite freely.
|
||
In addition, many states had a glaring loophole that the 9/11
|
||
terrorists used in the state of Virginia. Under the old rules
|
||
you could "prove" your identity by simply producing a signed
|
||
statement from a licensed resident that verified your identity.
|
||
This loophole is now history.
|
||
The good news here is that most of the new restrictions
|
||
being discussed are aimed squarely at illegal foreign
|
||
immigrants. The state department has now been funded to
|
||
come up with an online system for instantly verifying
|
||
immigrant documents.
|
||
In addition, many states are now limiting immigrant driver’s
|
||
licenses to a term of only one year. Also, the license they
|
||
issue to immigrants will be in a different format and color
|
||
than the license American citizens are issued.
|
||
This way the immigrant must appear annually and submit to
|
||
a mandatory immigration status review or lose their license.
|
||
In the past once an immigrant gained entrance into our
|
||
society through a student or work visa, they could, with
|
||
impunity drop out of school, ignore our immigration laws and
|
||
remain in the US indefinitely. No more.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 21 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
In some states immigrants may have to wait several weeks
|
||
or longer and have their licenses mailed to their home
|
||
address. This would allow time to verify their immigration
|
||
status with the INS and also help the INS keep track of their
|
||
precise whereabouts - a task that went largely ignored until
|
||
now.
|
||
The INS identity cards themselves (which resemble driver’s
|
||
licenses) are being altered also. New anti-forgery features
|
||
are being added. Though this seemed like a good idea at
|
||
first it's backfired a bit. Now there are many different kinds of
|
||
identity cards in circulation.
|
||
While the newer cards are indeed more difficult to forge, this
|
||
change has created a great deal of confusion in the minds of
|
||
those who must screen them.
|
||
When you stop to think about it - our driver’s license situation
|
||
is rather unique. Most countries have all their drivers
|
||
licenses issued from a single centralized federal authority. In
|
||
the US our drivers licenses are issued by the individual
|
||
states and each state continues to have it's own issuing
|
||
standards.
|
||
And yet the document itself is, under law, accepted
|
||
nationwide. Once you've managed to obtain a single drivers
|
||
license in one state - you're in - as you can very easily
|
||
exchange it for another license anywhere in the country.
|
||
Though there are federal laws and rules in the works that will
|
||
tighten application requirements somewhat, there still
|
||
appears to be little chance that the federal government will
|
||
impose strict national application standards anytime soon.
|
||
Many states are moving toward a points system that would
|
||
assign point values to various identity documents. Should
|
||
you have a verifiable drivers license from another state, that
|
||
would equal 100 points which means you would get your
|
||
new license no-questions-asked.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 22 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
A birth certificate might earn you fifty points, a library card
|
||
another 25, an ATM card another 20, and a signed
|
||
apartment lease might be good for another 10. If the hurdle
|
||
is put at 80 points, you simple assemble the required
|
||
documents and you're home free.
|
||
In some ways this system would actually make the
|
||
application process easier to manage. It would reduce the
|
||
previous confusion and make the application process much
|
||
more predictable.
|
||
Actually this point system is much better than the old more
|
||
intuitive system where the clerk went with their "gut feelings".
|
||
Now if you have the right documents, which earn the
|
||
required points - the clerk must accept you no questions ask.
|
||
In most cases you can get all the information on their system
|
||
online, or through a simple phone call. (Remember, you
|
||
have just returned after working for ten years plus for
|
||
Aramco Oil in the oilfields of Saudi Arabia - which explains
|
||
why you have no previous US drivers license)
|
||
Strangely, the social security number isn't much of an issue
|
||
here. Most of the 9/11 terrorists had genuine fully verifiable
|
||
social security numbers and cards. Had their numbers been
|
||
checked - they would have cleared the process with no
|
||
problems. Many states DMV clerks still can’t check social
|
||
security numbers online.
|
||
Because of new privacy laws, many states don't even bother
|
||
to ask for the numbers (several DMV clerks have been
|
||
arrested after selling personal applicant information to
|
||
identity thieves). Texas and Utah are two examples. And the
|
||
old practice of using your social security number as the
|
||
driver’s license number is slowly being eliminated.
|
||
Several other states such as Ohio and Alabama ask for and
|
||
record the social security number in their records but don't
|
||
include it on the license itself and can’t verify it online during
|
||
the application process.
|
||
Biometrics
|
||
There's been much discussion in the US media concerning
|
||
the use of biometrics on licenses. The fear is that we'll end
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 23 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
up with a system where the government can track our every
|
||
move and every transaction through the use of our
|
||
fingerprints or our facial profile. Most Americans view these
|
||
new technologies with outright horror.
|
||
Imagine a new surveillance system that's hooked up to a
|
||
wide range of different databases. A video camera atop a tall
|
||
pole detects your car’s movement, which triggers it to zoom
|
||
in on your license plate. The number is run through the DMV
|
||
records and your entire DMV record suddenly flashes up on
|
||
the monitor screen. The computer behind the cameras then
|
||
creates a “trip file” which will contain many details on your
|
||
journey.
|
||
As you leave the camera’s area, the computer prompts
|
||
another camera to track and record your movements. As you
|
||
drive your trip is carefully recorded in the computer’s
|
||
records.
|
||
When you park your car across the street from a store the
|
||
camera there watches as you leave your car and stroll
|
||
across the street. If you stop to chat with a friend, that fact is
|
||
also recorded along with your friend’s identity.
|
||
You then enter the store and make a purchase. Of course
|
||
the details of your purchase are recorded in your trip file. As
|
||
you walk back to your car your path is carefully recorded and
|
||
analyzed. Should you stop along the way the monitoring
|
||
computer may label your activity as “suspicious” and contact
|
||
the local police to send a car to check you out.
|
||
Sound like some wild science fiction fantasy from the far
|
||
distant future? Think again. The first such system is up and
|
||
running in several cities in England. Here in the US we're not
|
||
quite so comfortable with such a system so we’re going to
|
||
“go slow” on the use of such invasive technology.
|
||
In England the government loves their new system. They
|
||
claim it’s cut crime in the most heavily monitored areas by
|
||
more than half. But what they don’t tell you is that all that has
|
||
really happened is that crime has moved away from the
|
||
monitored areas. In the unmonitored areas crime has
|
||
exploded.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 24 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Privacy groups and the ACLU have pressured the federal
|
||
government to restrict such "big brother" systems so
|
||
hopefully this technology will stay across the pond.
|
||
What’s the state of the art in monitoring technologies? By
|
||
combining several different technologies the police now have
|
||
several units that can provide a level of intrusion that is truly
|
||
mind-boggling.
|
||
The cop sits in the passenger seat of a standard police car
|
||
while his partner drives. In his lap is a powerful laptop
|
||
computer with a large display. As he drives past your house
|
||
he points a large black gun-like device at the front of your
|
||
house.
|
||
An image pops up on the screen. It’s a razor sharp image of
|
||
the inside of your house. It can watch you as you move
|
||
around your house. With this breakthrough technology they
|
||
can determine if you’re committing illegal acts. They can also
|
||
watch as you have sex. They can also watch as your
|
||
daughter changes her clothes.
|
||
Not only can they watch you inside your home, they have a
|
||
system in development that can actually identify you using
|
||
facial recognition technology (FRT). With this emerging
|
||
technology they’ll be able to determine how many people are
|
||
in your home and at the same time identify them by their
|
||
facial traits!
|
||
The trend is clear. If we don’t force our representatives in
|
||
Washington to come up with an iron-clad privacy bill, it’s only
|
||
a matter of time before our entire lives are an open book.
|
||
Driver’s License Developments
|
||
But there are some changes that will make it a bit more
|
||
difficult to obtain a new drivers license. Notarized copies of
|
||
documents may not be acceptable now. Certified copies will
|
||
probably be required.
|
||
Clerks are being given updated training to help them
|
||
recognize forged documents. (but given the thousands of
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 25 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
different birth certificate formats in use - training no matter
|
||
how thorough won't help much) More anti-forgery features
|
||
will be added to newer licenses.
|
||
Mexicans are now routinely fingerprinted when they attempt
|
||
to enter the US. Should that same individual attempt to
|
||
illegally re-enter the US they will be instantly turned away.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 26 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 2
|
||
The "Internet" Method
|
||
This is by far the fastest and most effective identity changing
|
||
system around. We hate to admit it but this system is
|
||
somewhat simpler than our older original system that we’ve
|
||
been using since 1995. And it can be done without leaving
|
||
the privacy of your home!
|
||
Find an “Old” Identity
|
||
Under this new system an individual would find an online death
|
||
database for a particular state. As you will see, many people born
|
||
in one state tend to die in another. (birth and death records are
|
||
only cross referenced within individual states)
|
||
For instance, the California death index can be found at:
|
||
http://userdb.rootsweb.com/ca/death/search.cgi
|
||
(If you can’t find this particular URL – do a search in any major
|
||
search engine (Google is our favorite) under “California death
|
||
index”. The index can be found at numerous places around the
|
||
web.) From time to time the database is down for maintenance or
|
||
updating. If it won't come up, wait a day or two and try again.
|
||
A search is then done to locate a half dozen or so deceased
|
||
individuals who meet the following criteria:
|
||
1. Birth date is within two years of your actual birth date
|
||
2. Death occurred before 1988
|
||
3. Has mother’s maiden name listed
|
||
4. Is of the same ethnic group as yourself
|
||
5. Not born in California (unless you’re Hispanic)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 27 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
6. No SSN number listed
|
||
The relevant information is then written down.
|
||
Full Name (including middle initial)
|
||
1. Birth date
|
||
2. Birth place
|
||
3. Date of death
|
||
4. Death location
|
||
5. Mother’s maiden name
|
||
You shouldn’t just jump on the first few surnames you find that
|
||
begin with the letter “A”. Take the time to find others farther along
|
||
the alphabet.
|
||
Does Big Brother Know They’re Dead?
|
||
Once an individual has this information recorded, the next step is
|
||
to determine if the death of these persons has been properly
|
||
recorded. This information can be found at:
|
||
http://www.ancestry.com/search/rectype/vital/ssdi/main.htm
|
||
(Once again – if you can’t find this particular URL – do a search in
|
||
any search engine under “Social Security Index” or (SSI death
|
||
index)”. The index can be found at numerous places around the
|
||
web.
|
||
Next a search is performed in this index to see if anyone reported
|
||
these deaths to the social security administration. Discard any
|
||
names that have been registered as deceased. The social security
|
||
people were notified of their deaths.
|
||
A search is done by last name alone, then last name and first
|
||
name and then first and last name with middle initial just to be
|
||
sure they’re not recorded in the database. Sometimes the exact
|
||
name might come up blank, which can be misleading.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 28 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
On average if you start out with a list of six names two or three
|
||
won't have their deaths recorded. If not, start over again using a
|
||
different group of names.
|
||
Criminal Check
|
||
Some individuals chose to pursue other optional checks. For a fee
|
||
a criminal check could be run. They only did this with individuals
|
||
who lived to be over age 16 or so. There would be little chance
|
||
that a person younger than 16 being involved in criminal activity.
|
||
The identity of an established criminal is worthless for any
|
||
purpose.
|
||
Legal Name Change
|
||
The next step in this system involves changing the name of your
|
||
"old identity" (the name you located in the various databases).
|
||
There are two ways to approach having the name changed. We
|
||
prefer the name change “kit” approach.
|
||
These kits can be found in many places on the Internet if you look
|
||
around. Firms sell kits for all sorts of legal purposes (divorce, wills,
|
||
bill of sale etc..) This seems to be the cheapest and simplest way
|
||
to perform a legal name change.
|
||
Or you can approach a lawyer to have your name legally changed.
|
||
The lawyer will, of course, cost you more but he may be able to
|
||
help you get things done more quickly (and quietly).
|
||
There are a number of legal reasons why someone might want to
|
||
change their name. Those disowned by a recently deceased
|
||
parent may want to change their family name. Despite leaving a
|
||
substantial fortune, a disowned person receives nothing. Siblings
|
||
are often also hostile. In this situation anyone would want to sever
|
||
all family links and live out their lives under a new name.
|
||
Those who have legally changed their names have done so in
|
||
rather remote places where they haven't lived too long. Under law
|
||
the name change will remain in the court’s records. Any
|
||
investigator will have to know in exactly what location the name
|
||
was changed if they wish to locate the official legal records.
|
||
If you change your name in your hometown, you’ll be making it
|
||
very easy for a snoop to discover what you’ve been up to.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 29 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
But the cleverer name changers are those who chose to perform
|
||
the name change in some remote state where the residency
|
||
requirements are less of a problem and no one would ever think of
|
||
looking.
|
||
Of course, the legal requirements for name changes and their
|
||
rules regarding how and where records are maintained vary
|
||
widely from state to state. Some states require exhaustive
|
||
background disclosures, court investigations, minimum residence
|
||
requirements or personal references.
|
||
The laws may even require that your personal references appear
|
||
in court where they can provide their input under oath.
|
||
While other state's laws are much less restrictive. Some states
|
||
maintain a statewide database of name changes, which can be
|
||
easily searched. The states listed below that include "local records
|
||
only" would be those that afford the greatest degree of personal
|
||
privacy.
|
||
It's best to at least consult with a local attorney to be sure that
|
||
your name change will be processed without any problems and
|
||
that what you're doing doesn't violate any local laws.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 30 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Typical Legal Name Change Application Form
|
||
(Your name) (Address) (Telephone)
|
||
In Proper Person
|
||
DISTRICT COURT ______________________COUNTY,
|
||
NEVADA
|
||
In the Matter of the ), Application of : )
|
||
for Change of Name ),
|
||
ORDER FOR CHANGE OF NAME
|
||
This matter having come on for (circle one) hearing/summary
|
||
disposition in the Family Division of the ____________ Judicial
|
||
District Court, County of ____________ and the Court being fully
|
||
advised in the premises, both as to subject matter as well as the
|
||
party thereto, and that jurisdiction is proper in Nevada, and good
|
||
cause appearing therefore;
|
||
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner’s name be changed
|
||
from __________________ to _________________.
|
||
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Dept. of Vital Statistics shall
|
||
issue a new birth certificate for Petitioner with the name
|
||
of:_______________.
|
||
DATED this _______ day of __________, ____.
|
||
DISTRICT COURT JUDGE
|
||
Respectfully submitted:
|
||
(Your signature) ___________________________
|
||
(Your name) _________________________
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 31 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
(Address) _________________________
|
||
(Telephone) __________________________
|
||
To the best of our knowledge the states listed below have less
|
||
restrictions than others: (however be aware that laws can and do
|
||
change)
|
||
Most Liberal States for
|
||
Legal Name Change
|
||
State Details
|
||
Alabama Records kept at county level
|
||
Arizona Performed at each court
|
||
Arkansas Performed at each court
|
||
California Four week waiting period
|
||
Delaware Performed at district court level
|
||
Idaho Laws are unclear
|
||
Indiana Laws are unclear
|
||
Kentucky Records kept at county level
|
||
Maine Performed by probate court - Lawyer required
|
||
Performed at circuit court - Lawyer not
|
||
Maryland
|
||
required
|
||
Mississippi Laws are unclear
|
||
Performed at circuit court - 20 day waiting
|
||
Missouri
|
||
period
|
||
Montana Local records only
|
||
Nevada Performed at district court
|
||
New
|
||
Performed at probate court
|
||
Hampshire
|
||
New Jersey Local records only
|
||
Rhode
|
||
Probate court - Lawyer may be required
|
||
Island
|
||
Tennessee County or probate court - local records only
|
||
Texas Local records only
|
||
Washington Local records only
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 32 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Once the court has certified the legal name change, you can take
|
||
the papers to the social security office. The social security people
|
||
have a rather simple name change form. A computerized
|
||
statement is then generated that documents your name change in
|
||
their records. You will then be issued a new social security card.
|
||
According to social security procedures, this is a very routine
|
||
procedure that seldom causes any problems. The social security
|
||
people respect court actions and assume the court followed
|
||
established procedures so the whole thing is proper and entirely
|
||
legal.
|
||
At this point an individual would have a new name attached to an
|
||
old abandoned social security number. Those who have used this
|
||
system report that it's security rests in the fact that dead men tell
|
||
no tales.
|
||
Some individuals find it useful to have a new birth certificate also.
|
||
There are two approaches here. Some find it useful to use the
|
||
forgery techniques reported below. This tactic is fine except that if
|
||
an individual wanted to apply for a US passport at some point in
|
||
the future, a birth certificate that can be verified in the official vital
|
||
records files will be required.
|
||
Some have used the following process that can be performed
|
||
entirely through the mail. Send a letter to the vital records office.
|
||
We have received reports that the best states are Nevada,
|
||
Colorado, New Mexico and Ohio. These are the best states as
|
||
they are the only ones that "seal" the old birth certificate and issue
|
||
a brand new one. (Many other states just append the new BC,
|
||
which can get complicated)
|
||
The vital records office will have a form that is submitted along
|
||
with your court legal name change certification. A new birth
|
||
certificate is routinely issued in the new legal name. Again, this is
|
||
a normal procedure that can be easily done provided the proper
|
||
papers and forms are submitted. Some have found it useful to
|
||
have an attorney perform this function for them.
|
||
Under this system the next goal would be a new driver’s license.
|
||
Many have started by finding a local driver’s education firm where
|
||
they took some lessons.
|
||
If asked why they haven't learned to drive, they simply said they
|
||
lived in New York City (where few people own cars) or have been
|
||
working in a far off land such as Saudi Arabia. (The author of this
|
||
system reports that it's useful to have an international drivers
|
||
license issued by the AAA office to support the claim of overseas
|
||
employment.)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 33 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Some have found the drivers’ education graduation certificate is
|
||
widely recognized and respected by those who process drivers’
|
||
license applications.
|
||
What About any Possible Debts?
|
||
it's possible that someone died and left considerable debts
|
||
behind. Due to credit rating agency rules, any debt over ten
|
||
years old should be long gone and forgotten. Some have
|
||
found it useful to run a test just to be sure. Few have found
|
||
any record of debts though it's certainly not impossible.
|
||
If there is a file listing some old debts (credit agencies are
|
||
supposed to purge records more than 10 years old but
|
||
sometimes neglect to bother) those records can be
|
||
challenged and erased under the requirements of the fair
|
||
credit-reporting act.
|
||
These old debt records can usually be cleared away with a
|
||
simple phone call. This is a routine problem that is usually
|
||
quickly resolved. To be sure the requested changes are
|
||
done the law allows an individual to ask for a printed record
|
||
of the clean new credit file.
|
||
The major credit reporting agencies are:
|
||
Equifax
|
||
www.equifax.com
|
||
Report fraud: 1-800-525-6285
|
||
Order a credit report: (800) 685-1111
|
||
P.O. Box 740256
|
||
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241
|
||
Experian
|
||
www.experian.com
|
||
Report fraud: 1-888-397-3742
|
||
Order a credit report:
|
||
(888) EXPERIAN (397-3742)
|
||
P.O. Box 1017
|
||
Allen, TX 75013-0949
|
||
Trans Union
|
||
www.tuc.com
|
||
Report fraud: 1-800-680-7289
|
||
Order a credit report: (800) 916-8800
|
||
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
|
||
P.O. Box 6790
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 34 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Fullerton, CA 92834
|
||
If you look around the web you'll find several sites that will, for a
|
||
reasonable fee provide you with a computerized report that
|
||
combines credit information from all three major reporting
|
||
agencies all on one easy-to-read form. I'd give you a URL but
|
||
these outfits move around a bit.
|
||
Users of this system report that at the end you have a new name,
|
||
new social security number and a new drivers license in a new
|
||
name. If anyone checks, the social security number, birth
|
||
certificate and drivers license will all be fully verifiable and properly
|
||
recorded.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 35 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 3
|
||
The "Living Dead" Method
|
||
Today more people than ever are seeking to change their
|
||
identities, so it’s inevitable that new approaches would
|
||
emerge from time to time. Such is the case with the new
|
||
"living dead" technique. Someone spent considerable time
|
||
and effort coming up with this inventive system.
|
||
In the ebb and flow of human history situations occur that
|
||
create opportunities that are often mutually advantageous for
|
||
both the individuals involved. With this new approach
|
||
anyone who desires to obtain a new identity can simply
|
||
purchase one from an individual who is near death. Sadly
|
||
the AIDS epidemic is providing a large and growing pool of
|
||
doomed individuals that find themselves in desperate
|
||
financial straits. The purchaser gets the new identity
|
||
documents they need while the donor gets badly needed
|
||
financial help for himself and his family during his final
|
||
months.
|
||
It all starts with a classified ad similar to the following:
|
||
Wanted: Caucasian male age 30-40, dying of AIDS or
|
||
other terminal illness – Generous cash fee paid Call 555-
|
||
1234
|
||
For around $500-1,000 cash an individual can purchase a
|
||
full set of ID documents that supports an already established
|
||
identity. But like the other identity changing systems I've
|
||
reported on, there are flies in this ointment. This whole
|
||
approach has some unique advantages but also presents
|
||
some rather unique obstacles.
|
||
First is the issue of body similarity. The identity donor should
|
||
be somewhere around the same height/weight and age as
|
||
the purchaser. A few inches or years here or there won’t
|
||
matter much. Eye color is another issue though much less
|
||
important than body type. (too much variance could present
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 36 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
a problem) though small differences could be masked with
|
||
tinted contact lenses)
|
||
Obviously it would be ideal if your donor had a somewhat
|
||
similar facial appearance or at least a face with an overall
|
||
shape similar to your own. Under this system it's not
|
||
necessary to find an identity donor who looks exactly like the
|
||
purchaser. The driver’s license picture will be an entirely new
|
||
one.
|
||
The ideal donor would plan to have their body cremated and
|
||
their ashes scattered thus avoiding the existence of a
|
||
gravestone, which would allow others to share the identity
|
||
using the tired old "dead infant" system. If the identity donor
|
||
is resistant to the idea, the identity purchaser might offer to
|
||
pay for the cremation and/or even offer to scatter the ashes
|
||
in some particular spot as an incentive. (be sensitive
|
||
however that for theological reasons some religious
|
||
individuals may be resistant to the idea of cremation)
|
||
Under this system any agreement between the identity
|
||
purchaser and donor must be kept an absolute secret. The
|
||
donor's family is to know nothing of the transaction - that is
|
||
vital or the whole system falls apart. The donor must agree
|
||
from the very beginning.
|
||
The fee the purchaser provides should include the $300 fee
|
||
the social security administration routinely pays the family to
|
||
register the deceased as officially dead. (the so-called "death
|
||
benefit") Remember, no one is truly dead until the social
|
||
security says they are. Obviously it’s in the purchaser's
|
||
interest to be sure the death is never officially recorded.
|
||
The author of this system reports that the credit reporting
|
||
agencies routinely search the social security death index and
|
||
attach a note to the credit file which would then be sent out
|
||
to anyone who requests a copy of the donor's credit file.
|
||
If a family member should return any kind of official
|
||
document to any agency, it would compromise this whole
|
||
system.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 37 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The ideal donor would be born in a state different from the
|
||
state in which they die. Users of this system report that some
|
||
counties are cross-referencing birth and death records.
|
||
In most cases the donor will have a spotless legal history but
|
||
you should ask just in case. Some found it desirable to
|
||
perform a criminal records search just to be sure.
|
||
The author of this system reports that a search can be easily
|
||
done by claiming that the search is a routine pre-
|
||
employment check. (A check will cost around $50 - $100). If
|
||
the donor is a known drug dealer or has some other criminal
|
||
record, move on to other donors.
|
||
Users have reported that under this system even a few
|
||
speeding tickets could make it difficult to obtain a drivers
|
||
license. A donor should also be asked about their driving
|
||
record.
|
||
About money – terminally ill patients often let their credit
|
||
ratings fall apart as they ignore all but the most pressing
|
||
bills. The purchaser should ask (or require) that your donor
|
||
provide a recent copy of their credit report. The donor should
|
||
provide a list of all outstanding debts. Or the purchaser could
|
||
spend a few bucks and obtain a copy of the donor's credit
|
||
file.
|
||
If all goes well, the purchaser should now have a full set of
|
||
identity documents in hand. Of course the photo on the
|
||
drivers’ license is going to be the donor's. Some have found
|
||
a simple way to get around this problem. They have gone to
|
||
their local drivers’ license bureau and reported their driver’s
|
||
license as being lost. The standard policy is to issue a new
|
||
license, which will, of course, involve the taking of a new
|
||
photo.
|
||
The author reports that some driver’s license bureaus now
|
||
call up an image of the license holder and compare that
|
||
image with the applicant. Some individuals have found it
|
||
useful to have a friend go through the license replacement
|
||
process to learn the details.
|
||
Some states allow individuals to report their lost licenses by
|
||
mail or even on the phone. Many identity purchasers have
|
||
found it useful to pursue their new drivers’ license in another
|
||
state, which will probably avoid the image comparison
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 38 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
problem. As they now have a full set of ID, they should have
|
||
no problems with the replacement application.
|
||
Users of this system warn that identity purchasers should
|
||
leave all their old identity ID at home. Most government
|
||
offices now have armed guards who will retain and question
|
||
applicants if the clerk doesn’t like the look of the applicant's
|
||
ID documents, the sound of the story or the applicant's
|
||
overall appearance and attitude.
|
||
Be aware that the clerks in these places see a regular
|
||
stream of alcoholic applicants who attempt to obtain a new
|
||
license after losing their old ones due to excessive DUI
|
||
convictions. Dressing and acting like a clean, respectable
|
||
person is a necessity.
|
||
Some have found it useful to pursue another option. Once
|
||
the purchaser has been living under the donor's new identity
|
||
in a new location for a year or so, they might want to legally
|
||
change their name.
|
||
If an individual can locate a good clean donor, this system
|
||
has potential.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 39 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 4
|
||
The Classic “Ariza” Method
|
||
1. The "Quick and Easy" Way
|
||
This system involves creating a forged birth certificate and a
|
||
matching forged baptismal certificate with which other
|
||
identity documents can be obtained. While this approach is
|
||
very quick and has been used to obtain a new drivers
|
||
license, unfortunately it produces an identity that won’t stand
|
||
up to close scrutiny.
|
||
Anyone with ten bucks can discover that the forged birth
|
||
certificate is a fake. Because a verifiable birth certificate is
|
||
needed to obtain a new social security number, you won’t be
|
||
able to get a legitimate "on the books" job under your new
|
||
name. If you don’t have to work for a living or don’t plan to
|
||
travel internationally AND have money, someone else who
|
||
supports you or are employed in the cash "underground"
|
||
economy or work as a "contractor" (your wages are reported
|
||
on IRS form 1099 not on the usual W-4) then this system
|
||
might be useful.
|
||
2. The "Slow and Hard" Way
|
||
Then there’s the much more comprehensive method which
|
||
requires homework, creativity and some time. It involves
|
||
doing research to find a suitable set of parents (dead of
|
||
course) and then generates a completely new identity that
|
||
will include the issuing of a genuine, verifiable birth
|
||
certificate including it’s placement in the official records.
|
||
This method will create an entirely new identity that will
|
||
stand up to close scrutiny and will allow you to obtain a new
|
||
social security number and even a genuine passport.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 40 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
3. The "Combo"
|
||
And lastly, there’s the combo - a combination of the "quick
|
||
and easy" and the "slow and hard" approaches. With it you
|
||
do the research required to find two new parents. You then
|
||
forge a birth certificate and baptismal certificate in your new
|
||
name.
|
||
You get your drivers license quickly and then begin the time-
|
||
consuming process of getting all the paperwork going to
|
||
construct the rest of your completely new identity.
|
||
"Quick
|
||
"Slow &
|
||
& "Combo"
|
||
Hard"
|
||
Easy"
|
||
Drivers
|
||
Quick Slow Quick
|
||
License
|
||
Social
|
||
Make
|
||
Security Genuine Genuine
|
||
One Up
|
||
Number
|
||
Social
|
||
Make
|
||
Security Genuine Genuine
|
||
One Up
|
||
Card
|
||
Birth
|
||
Forged Verifiable Verifiable
|
||
Certificate
|
||
Employment Difficult Yes Yes
|
||
Credit Cards Maybe Yes Yes
|
||
THE "QUICK AND EASY WAY"
|
||
First make a copy of your genuine birth certificate. It can
|
||
then be photocopied and doctored quite easily. The larger
|
||
copy centers usually have a helpful clerk behind the counter
|
||
who can make much higher quality copies using the big
|
||
expensive systems. Even higher qualify copies can be
|
||
obtained by asking the clerk to please clean the glass before
|
||
making copies.
|
||
Some have volunteered that it's best to visit the copy center
|
||
during the slower nighttime or early morning hours as the
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 41 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
crowd is smaller and the service faster and more
|
||
comprehensive.
|
||
This section of this system comes from a professional forger
|
||
called "Nifty" (a reference to the appearance of his
|
||
documents) He advises the purchase of a bottle or two of
|
||
"White Out" or "Liquid Paper" that’s labeled "For Copies".
|
||
He also recommends using some of those sticky cover-up
|
||
strips made by the nice people at Avery label. They come on
|
||
a roll like scotch tape or in a flat pack.
|
||
Nifty prefers the flat pack with a width of around 3/16th of an
|
||
inch.(though you can buy the wider strips and just trim them
|
||
down with good sharp scissors) A very sharp knife and a
|
||
good pair of scissors will come in very handy. Most people
|
||
who attempt forgery need a good magnifying glass.
|
||
The initial goal now is to create a completely blank birth
|
||
certificate form from one of your copies. Do this by covering
|
||
up all the data typed or written into those little blocks. Use
|
||
the cover-up strips to cover both typewritten and hand-
|
||
written entries. Leave the signature on the bottom alone. If
|
||
there’s a shadow image of a raised seal, cover it up
|
||
completely.
|
||
Try not to leave any typing behind. You’ll have a real
|
||
problem matching any new typewriting to the older typeface.
|
||
According to Nifty - mismatched typefaces are the single
|
||
most obvious sign of a forgery to anyone experienced in
|
||
spotting fake documents.
|
||
You should now have an absolutely clean, blank form. This
|
||
can be tricky when some of the typing or writing crosses a
|
||
line that’s part of the form. Usually the careful placement of a
|
||
cover-up strip will do the job but you’ve got to be very careful
|
||
to make the job look professional. Don’t cover up any part of
|
||
a line that was on the original form.
|
||
You may blow the first attempt, that’s normal. That’s why
|
||
several copies of your original birth certificate may be
|
||
needed. Once in place, paint the ends of the cover up strips
|
||
with whiteout. This will help to reduce the possibility of
|
||
shadows of the ends of the strips appearing on copies of the
|
||
new blank form.
|
||
If this happens anyway, reduce the darkness level on the
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 42 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
copy machine until they disappear completely. These little
|
||
shadows are another important sign of an altered document
|
||
so you can’t afford to ignore them.
|
||
Another tip from Nifty - put a dot of the "Liquid Paper" on any
|
||
little black specks that might appear on your copy. You want
|
||
to cover up all the little dots, smears, and lines etc. that
|
||
aren’t part of the original form. Remember, we’re shooting
|
||
for the cleanest, most original looking form possible. It won’t
|
||
appear flawless but then most genuine birth certificates are
|
||
far from perfect.
|
||
Return to the copy center. (Take a jar of "liquid Paper" along
|
||
for last minute touch-ups.) This time forget the guy behind
|
||
the counter. (Privacy is important now) It's best to use the
|
||
cheaper self-service machines. Make a single copy of the
|
||
cleaned-up certificate with the darkness control set in the
|
||
middle of the range. Take a very good look at it. Hold it up
|
||
and let the light pass through from behind. Does it need any
|
||
touching up? Are there any signs of the cover up strips on
|
||
the copy?
|
||
Crank up the darkness level until your cover up work starts
|
||
to show, then back off just enough to give you the darkest,
|
||
crispest form possible with absolutely no sign of doctoring.
|
||
If your original BC was reduced to a smaller size, choose an
|
||
enlarger copier and blow up the copies as large as possible
|
||
without going off the edge of the paper. You can reduce it’s
|
||
size later after it’s been filled in with new information.
|
||
Make several copies of the new blank BC. Does it look
|
||
good? If the lines on the form are not straight and clean, try
|
||
another copier or you may have to return to the clerk behind
|
||
the counter for a higher quality copy made on one of the big
|
||
machines. Nifty says to choose a different clerk than you
|
||
used on your first trip. Going there at a different time of day
|
||
will usually assure that you’re dealing with a new crew or use
|
||
a completely different copy center.
|
||
The next step requires a typewriter - preferably one from
|
||
around the time you were born. Only use a modern electric
|
||
typewriter if you were born after the late 1960s. Otherwise
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 43 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
modern type quality would appear unusual on an older
|
||
document. If you're older than that, you’ll need an older
|
||
machine with uneven even blotchy type. Libraries usually
|
||
have old typewriters for rent very cheap. Or an older
|
||
reconditioned unit could be found at an office supply center
|
||
or one might be for rent at a larger copy center.
|
||
But many have found just the right machine at a swap meet
|
||
or flea market. On one recent Sunday we found three
|
||
suitable old manual portables at a local flea market. The best
|
||
one went for a whopping five bucks. (an Underwood from the
|
||
late 1950s). An old machine will probably need a good
|
||
cleaning and a fresh new black ribbon.
|
||
Some have simply looked in the yellow pages for the largest
|
||
used typewriter dealer in town. They often deal in
|
||
reconditioned old typewriters.
|
||
They won't be out on display but may instead be found on
|
||
some bottom shelf somewhere as they aren't all that
|
||
profitable an item for the store.
|
||
A dealer will doubtless charge more than the flea market but
|
||
you won’t have to wait for the next flea market meet. Either
|
||
way you get the old-fashioned uneven looking typestyle that
|
||
will make any old document look good. Don’t worry if one or
|
||
two of the characters don’t print just right, that’ll just make
|
||
the BC look that much better!
|
||
Nifty says that if your original BC includes a rubber stamp
|
||
that says something like "Certified Copy" or "Registered
|
||
Copy" - cover it up except for the certifying signature.
|
||
Leaving the stamp and signature "as is" is the quickest
|
||
tactic. But if you want to do it right you’ll mask out the stamp
|
||
and replace it with a more official looking "Certified Copy"
|
||
stamp in purple ink which will make your birth certificate look
|
||
even more genuine.
|
||
Any large rubber stamp store will have many of the same
|
||
old-fashioned typefaces like the stamp image on your
|
||
original BC. Again, the phone book is the best place to look.
|
||
Ask to choose the font/typeface and pick one that’s old-
|
||
fashioned looking and as close as possible to the original
|
||
stamp.
|
||
Pick up the stamp and buy a bottle of red stamp ink, a bottle
|
||
of blue stamp ink (dark blue or blue-black) and an inkless
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 44 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
stamp pad (look inside the pad - it’s surface should be made
|
||
of clean white cloth). Before you leave, ask if they sell
|
||
corporate seals. Most larger rubber stamp firms do.
|
||
Two more details to go; it’s been a common practice for
|
||
several decades to use dark purple ink for the certification
|
||
stamp.
|
||
It’s supposed to make the document more difficult to forge.
|
||
But by mixing equal portions of blue and red ink you can
|
||
create exactly the same color!
|
||
Mix the two inks well and pour the mixture over the white
|
||
stamp pad. You may have to add some black ink to the mix
|
||
to insure that the color of the impression is not too bright.
|
||
The ink on old documents often fades leaving a purple
|
||
impression rather dark.
|
||
Place the stamp at the same location as it appeared on the
|
||
original (probably above the verifying signature). If your
|
||
impression image isn't clean and crisp - it's not a problem as
|
||
most real BCs have smeared or incomplete stamps. One
|
||
note here: a completely perfect BC will seem odd and out of
|
||
place.
|
||
A birth certificate has no legal value at all without an official
|
||
"raised seal" that can be felt with the fingertips. This is
|
||
supposed to make the document impossible to forge as only
|
||
the issuing authorities have the proper seals. As always Nifty
|
||
has the answer.
|
||
The quickest and easiest approach is so simple it’s actually
|
||
funny! Go to a bank or coin store and buy an Eisenhower
|
||
dollar, Kennedy half-dollar or any other coin of that
|
||
approximate size. Be sure the coin you get is in uncirculated
|
||
condition or has little wear. Place the coin face down on a
|
||
firm surface, place the BC over the coin with the original seal
|
||
location placed directly over the coin.
|
||
Then rub the front surface of the BC with an eraser, your
|
||
finger or any other clean, soft object until a raised image
|
||
starts to appear on the BC. Keep rubbing until the full rim
|
||
and some of the center image appears. Most state laws only
|
||
require that the seal can be easily felt, not actually read. In
|
||
fact, most real BCs have very low-quality unreadable seal
|
||
images. Years of storage usually crush seal images, which
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 45 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
causes them to lose their sharpness and clarity leaving them
|
||
little more than a slightly raised smudge.
|
||
Avoid rubbing on the coin's lettering. The words "One Dollar"
|
||
would never appear on a real BC. Be sure you concentrate
|
||
only on the rim and center of the coin - this leaves a nice
|
||
round circular impression with a fuzzy image in the center.
|
||
This simple technique will create a seal that will pass most
|
||
inspections (in fact, some clerks often forget to look for the
|
||
seal at all - most clerks will give the seal only a cursory
|
||
glance so readability is seldom an issue). Several genuine
|
||
birth certificates I've seen have seal images that are a circle
|
||
of little dots with a mushy image of some sort in the middle
|
||
with no legible text of any sort.
|
||
Some people are fussier demand a higher quality job. They
|
||
go back to the rubber stamp guy. If he sells corporate seals,
|
||
he'll have a catalog of different images that are available.
|
||
If you live in a large city and the stamp manufacturer is a big
|
||
outfit, a dozen or so seals will be hanging on the wall,
|
||
available for instant purchase. Otherwise you'll have to wait.
|
||
A nice large seal with no text can usually be purchase right
|
||
off the wall. Some designs look just like state seals. The cost
|
||
shouldn't be more than 20 or 30 bucks. Birth certificates
|
||
almost never have seals smaller than a half dollar with silver
|
||
dollar sized seals being the most common.
|
||
Seals the size of a quarter are commonly used as personal
|
||
seals that would appear very unusual on any official
|
||
document. When you use such a seal, place a few sheets of
|
||
paper behind the BC so that the image isn’t too sharp. Some
|
||
have found it useful to rub the resultant seal a bit to avoid it
|
||
looking too sharp.
|
||
The typewriter (whether old or new) can now be used to
|
||
enter information in the blanks on the blank BC form. Those
|
||
who have used this system recommend not using your real
|
||
birth date. Anyone who investigates your new ID will use the
|
||
date of birth (DOB) when searching databases.
|
||
To make your new birth date easy to remember, simply
|
||
move it backward or forward one month from your actual
|
||
birth date. Also, resist the temptation to make your new
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 46 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
identity younger than you really are. I know - I know, you
|
||
look younger than your age (everybody says that!). Trust
|
||
me, this could cause you problems later should it trigger
|
||
suspicion.
|
||
Enter the data about your new parents. (More on how to
|
||
locate your new parents later in the report)
|
||
Remember old documents had phone numbers like
|
||
"Evergreen 2-1234", not the seven digit phone numbers we
|
||
use today. No area codes, no two letter state abbreviations
|
||
and no zip codes as all these only came into widespread use
|
||
in the 1970s. An address from the early 1950s might look
|
||
like "Miami 8, Florida" instead of today’s "Miami, FL 33068".
|
||
Unfortunately your new document will appear fresh and new.
|
||
To make it suitably old and weathered some have found it
|
||
useful to age the document by either leaving it out in the sun
|
||
(if it's in the summer) or lay it on a car seat or on a sunny
|
||
window sill during the day. This works well even in the
|
||
winter. Failing that you can use a sunlamp. (Don’t forget to
|
||
age both sides)
|
||
As a last resort, you can fire up your oven to around 300-325
|
||
degrees and bake your BC for about 20-40 minutes. Cook it
|
||
in until it’s suitably aged. Some people have soaked the BC
|
||
in vinegar or tea to discolor it slightly. This last trick is so
|
||
common that some experienced clerks will actually sniff a
|
||
BC to see if they can detect the odor of coffee or vinegar.
|
||
Nifty recommends one last bit of trickery - brush the
|
||
document with some very fine steel wool, which will help it
|
||
look older also.
|
||
Fold and re-fold the BC until it starts to fall apart. Fold over a
|
||
corner so that it’s "dog-eared". Carry your BC in an
|
||
envelope. It’s a valuable document (you put a lot of work into
|
||
it, didn’t you?). Go to an office supply store and buy one of
|
||
those brown paper carriers that say "Important Documents"
|
||
on the side.
|
||
Recently I was visiting an art museum and noticed
|
||
something interesting in the corner of the main reception
|
||
area. There was a tall, slender vending machine that sold
|
||
custom stamped aluminum souvenir "coins". These
|
||
machines have been around for years and are usually found
|
||
in amusement parks and penny arcades.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 47 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The machine looks a bit like a one armed robber slot
|
||
machine. It has a display area on the front and a large
|
||
handle on the right you pull down to make an impression.
|
||
You point the dial on the front of the machine to the desired
|
||
letter you want imprinted on your coin and then pull the lever
|
||
down (all the way so you get a good impression).
|
||
When you are done you turn the dial to "I'm done" and your
|
||
customized coin is dropped into a bin at the bottom of the
|
||
machine. Cost: One dollar per coin.
|
||
Why would anyone be interested in such a silly little
|
||
souvenir? The customized printing is placed in an arc around
|
||
the bottom of the coin. Wouldn't such a coin with the letters
|
||
"Department of Vital Records" or perhaps "City of St. Louis"
|
||
be interesting? If someone wanted to, they could use such a
|
||
coin to create a very official looking impression on an official
|
||
document. (Using the technique described above).
|
||
This just goes to show - you have to keep your eyes open at
|
||
all times if you want to find the best techniques!
|
||
Drivers Licenses
|
||
If you’re young enough, explaining why you’re attempting to
|
||
get a new drivers license is easy. Past age 25 or so it gets a
|
||
bit more difficult. Women have it easier here.
|
||
Complete one of those driver-training programs (bring your
|
||
graduation certificate with you) and be prepared to discuss
|
||
your personal situation if you're asked. One guy I heard
|
||
about nervously claimed he needed a new driver’s license
|
||
because he had been in prison!
|
||
One friend I knew needed a new driver’s license because he
|
||
had been overseas working in Saudi Arabia (Saw’-Dee-A-
|
||
Ra’-bia) for the ARAMCO (A-Ram’-Co) Oil company and
|
||
only had an international AAA drivers license.
|
||
At this point it may be helpful to call your local drivers license
|
||
bureau. Ask them what documents you must bring with you
|
||
to secure a new drivers license. After they run through their
|
||
short list of difficult-to-obtain documents, ask if there are any
|
||
other documents they will accept. If you carefully review the
|
||
applicable rules of several states on this - you'll find that after
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 48 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
listing a short list of hard-to-get documents (like a passport)
|
||
they will include a sentence like "or any other document that
|
||
establishes age, residence or identity".
|
||
For example, the state law in New York includes the
|
||
following: "If the required documents are unavailable, a
|
||
supervisor will examine and approve other proofs."
|
||
They will also consider any document that "states your age
|
||
or address".
|
||
The Virginia requirements accept school transcripts "or any
|
||
other document that lists your full name and date of birth".
|
||
Also, several states will willingly accept expired ID provided
|
||
it hasn’t been expired too long.
|
||
A few states will even accept an apartment lease contract.
|
||
(Black lease agreement forms can be purchased at any
|
||
office supply store) Be persistent and keep asking for other
|
||
documents they’ll accept until you get the answer you want.
|
||
These clerks are often very overworked and bored so often
|
||
their sole motivation is to get you processed and back on the
|
||
street.
|
||
In most cases a good birth certificate along with a baptismal
|
||
certificate and maybe a library card should get you through if
|
||
you look and act right. Keep in mind that some states require
|
||
an auto inspection certificate and others also require proof of
|
||
insurance. Also ask what the fee is and be sure to bring
|
||
sufficient cash with you.
|
||
2006 Update: Recently new legislation has been
|
||
proposed that would require more extensive
|
||
documentation for a drivers license application. From
|
||
our experience the states that have tried to tighten up
|
||
the application process in this way have run into two
|
||
problems.
|
||
First, any document they require can be obtained
|
||
without too much of a problem. And secondly, the
|
||
clerks in these offices are no geniuses. These new
|
||
more restrictive application requirements mean
|
||
nothing when they are administered by dimwitted
|
||
clerks who are unable or unwilling to critically
|
||
examine offered documents.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 49 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The only change that would really restrict driver
|
||
license access would be an online birth certificate
|
||
verification system which now seems at least seven to
|
||
tens years away.
|
||
Here are some details from a group down south. They prefer
|
||
to use a branch office, not the busy downtown headquarters.
|
||
They park their car where it can’t be seen from the license
|
||
bureau front window. Around back or way out in the parking
|
||
lot would be best. Lunch hour on a weekday would be a
|
||
good time. Visit the place beforehand to check it out. Drive
|
||
by and check out the line. The busier it is – the better.
|
||
Some bureaus have several security guards while the
|
||
smaller ones don't bother. They walk in and ask for the study
|
||
guide for the written test. If they need to take a written test,
|
||
they study carefully for it, failing the test would be a real
|
||
disappointment.
|
||
Also note that 47 states have formed what is called "The
|
||
Drivers License Compact" which provides for the sharing of
|
||
driving violation information between their computers.
|
||
Georgia, Michigan and Kentucky have not yet joined but still
|
||
send violation info to other states.
|
||
If you have tickets in other states, don't plan on getting a
|
||
new license until the court is ready to allow it. The clerks at
|
||
the bureau are always on the lookout for DUI offenders
|
||
who’ve had their licenses revoked in nearby states. If the
|
||
clerk suspects anything, it will be that you are a DUI offender
|
||
seeking to get around your suspension.
|
||
What did the Boy Scouts teach you? BE PREPARED. Be
|
||
sure to memorize your parent's names, birth dates, places of
|
||
birth, occupations and particularly your mother’s maiden
|
||
name.
|
||
Some clerks will pull the following stunt. The clerk will take a
|
||
BC and hold it where you can’t see it and then ask you to
|
||
recite all or part of the information on it from memory. Be
|
||
ready for this. Study your new BC until you have it all
|
||
memorized.
|
||
Dress conservatively. If you’re a man: a nice blue suit
|
||
complete with a gold cross on the lapel (indicating church
|
||
membership) or at least a clean, freshly pressed less formal
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 50 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
outfit. If your hear is long, get it cut. If you’re a woman, dress
|
||
as though you’re an office manager or you’re on your way to
|
||
a job interview. You must look respectable but low-key. No
|
||
flashy clothes.
|
||
Fit in. Your goal is to come and go without anyone ever
|
||
noticing you. If their suspicions are aroused, all they’ll have
|
||
to go by is your appearance, your behavior and your story.
|
||
It would be foolish for anyone to apply for a new license with
|
||
documents in their possession that list a different name. A
|
||
good tactic is to clean out your wallet or purse before arriving
|
||
at the bureau.
|
||
Have a baptismal certificate with you. Some have found it
|
||
useful to carry around some other "soft" ID like receipts with
|
||
your name on them; membership cards in private clubs or
|
||
other organizations. A library card is always a good bet as in
|
||
some areas it's widely respected. Receipts are another good
|
||
bet.
|
||
Here is how the bureaus usually handle social security
|
||
numbers. If an applicant were to apply using a made-up
|
||
social security number, a problem might occur. If the number
|
||
is from a distant state it won't probably cause this problem so
|
||
readily. If the applicant's social security number matches one
|
||
that's already in their database - the computer may "beep",
|
||
and notify the clerk of the match.
|
||
Users of this approach have used the following tactic. Write
|
||
down your new social security number on a slip of paper and
|
||
then store it away in your wallet or purse.
|
||
Then where the number is goes on the application form -
|
||
carefully switch the last two numbers. If the application sails
|
||
through with no number match, no problem. But if the
|
||
computer detects the match, the applicant can quickly
|
||
correct their error and complete the processing.
|
||
Most states require a social security number when you apply
|
||
for a driver’s license. A few, like New York, actually require
|
||
that you bring your social security card with you. An official
|
||
looking metal social security "card" can be purchased
|
||
through the mail.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 51 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
One lady simply reported her social security card lost and
|
||
gave the DMV clerk her application as proof of her dilemma,
|
||
which was accepted no questions asked.
|
||
Here’s an alternative to drivers’ licenses. Some states issue
|
||
official ID cards for people who don’t drive for check cashing
|
||
and general ID purposes. Some applicants suffer from
|
||
serious diseases that make it impossible for them to drive
|
||
(such as epilepsy).
|
||
This ID card has the same legal impact as a real drivers
|
||
license. The clerks seem to be less restrictive on their
|
||
scrutiny of ID documents when the applicant is only seeking
|
||
a state ID card. I suppose that's because they don't have to
|
||
worry about possible speeding ticket/DUI problems with a
|
||
simple ID card.
|
||
This tip is well known amongst Americans who live and work
|
||
overseas. An international driver’s license can be purchased
|
||
at any AAA office. This document, which looks like a little
|
||
booklet, can easily be taken apart; the name altered and
|
||
reassembled leaving the photo intact. There are those who
|
||
have used this simple document to open offshore bank
|
||
accounts and to obtain other ID documents.
|
||
Some users who ran into problems with their application
|
||
used this simple tactic to escape any further questions. They
|
||
said something like "look I can straighten this all out - I’ve got
|
||
my passport in my car, I’ll go get it for you." They move
|
||
toward the door and just keep moving.
|
||
If they try to force you into an interrogation room just mention
|
||
that you left your child (or dog) out in the car so just have to
|
||
go but you'll be right back. Unless an applicant has done
|
||
something clearly illegal you have a right to leave whenever
|
||
you like.
|
||
They might try to "urge" you to go to an interrogation room
|
||
by saying something like "come along, you’re creating a
|
||
scene". Smile warmly, look at your watch impatiently and
|
||
keep moving toward the door. If you have to, start getting a
|
||
little hysterical about your poor child baking out there in your
|
||
hot car.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 52 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
WARNING: An applicant who wanders into a license bureau
|
||
dressed in rags, looking like a bum (or a long haired,
|
||
drugged out generation Xer) and then presents the clerk with
|
||
suspicious looking ID documents can expect to be detained,
|
||
questioned and possibly arrested. None of this will happen if
|
||
you dress and act like a responsible and clean working
|
||
citizen.
|
||
The Numbers Game – The Social Security Number
|
||
System
|
||
This quick and easy system will not get you an original social
|
||
security number and a real social security card. Due to a
|
||
1984 federal anti-immigration law, all employers will insist on
|
||
seeing your genuine SSN card before you start work. If the
|
||
job includes medical benefits, the medical insurer will also
|
||
need an SSN.
|
||
Some identity changers have simply made up a fake number
|
||
and used it. But recent changes in the law can make this
|
||
illegal under certain circumstances (I'd list them for you but
|
||
they're changing so fast no one can keep track)
|
||
There are those who purchase a fake social security card on
|
||
the street in any large city. A piece on the popular CBS show
|
||
"60 Minutes" highlighted the ease with which they can be
|
||
purchased. Unfortunately the purchase is illegal and
|
||
chances are excellent that the card you get will be stolen or
|
||
just a copy of a stolen document. This approach is seldom
|
||
worthwhile.
|
||
The social security system is a typical large paper-shuffling
|
||
government agency. It may be difficult to get them to send
|
||
you a new card - but it’s not impossible.
|
||
Here is a detailed explanation of the social security
|
||
numbering system.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 53 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
A Social Security Number has three separate parts each
|
||
separated by a hyphen.
|
||
123 45 6789
|
||
Area Group Serial
|
||
Number Number Number
|
||
The first three numbers are called the "area number" and
|
||
indicate the geographical area of issue. They follow the
|
||
following scheme:
|
||
Area Numbers
|
||
001-003 NH 400-407 KY 530 NV
|
||
004-007 ME 408-415 TN 531-539 WA
|
||
008-009 VT 416-424 AL 540-544 OR
|
||
010-034 MA 425-428 MS 545-573 CA
|
||
035-039 RI 429-432 AR 574 AK
|
||
040-049 CT 433-439 LA 575-576 HI
|
||
050-134 NY 440-448 OK 577-579 DC
|
||
135-158 NJ 449-467 TX 580 VI (Virgin Islands)
|
||
468-477
|
||
159-211 PA 581-584 PR (Puerto Rico)
|
||
MN
|
||
212-220
|
||
478-485 IA 585 NM
|
||
MD
|
||
486-500
|
||
221-222 DE 586 PI (Pacific Islands)
|
||
MO
|
||
223-231 VA 501-502 ND 587-588 MS
|
||
232-236
|
||
503-504 SD 589-595 FL
|
||
WV
|
||
237-246 NC 505-508 NE 596-599 PR (Puerto Rico)
|
||
247-251 SC 509-515 KS 600-601 AZ
|
||
252-260 GA 516-517 MT 602-626 CA
|
||
261-267 FL 518-519 ID 627-645 TX
|
||
268-302 OH 520 WY 646-647 UT
|
||
303-317 IN 521-524 CO 648-649 NM
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 54 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
318-361 IL 525 NM
|
||
362-386 MI 526-527 AZ
|
||
387-399 WI 528-529 UT
|
||
650-699 Unassigned - Reserved for future use
|
||
700-728 Used by railroad workers until 1963 - No
|
||
longer used
|
||
729-999 Unassigned - Reserved for future use
|
||
Choose an area number from a distant state to avoid
|
||
duplication problems with a genuine local number that might
|
||
appear in state compute databases.
|
||
The area numbers are assigned from low to high. The two
|
||
middle numbers, the "group numbers" are assigned in a
|
||
tricky sequence as follows:
|
||
1. Odd number pairs from 01 to 09 then
|
||
2. Even number pairs from 10 to 98 then
|
||
3. Even number pairs from 02 to 08 then
|
||
4. Odd number pairs from 11 to 99 then onto the next higher
|
||
area number
|
||
Let’s take Texas as an example. They began issuing
|
||
numbers with 627-01-0001 and proceeded to
|
||
627-09-9999. After that group series (01-09) was exhausted
|
||
they moved on to 627-10-0001 to
|
||
627-98-9999. then 627-02-001 etc... Get the idea? Also, a
|
||
SSN that has any of the three groups equal to all zeroes is
|
||
invalid.
|
||
Each month the social security people publish a list of the
|
||
latest numbers issued listed as an aid to those who need to
|
||
be able to spot fake numbers. If a number is too high, it’s a
|
||
fake. Note: Before 1965 only odd group numbers below 10
|
||
and even numbers above nine were used.
|
||
If you choose a number in a low series, you will fall below
|
||
the latest number issued and you will then have a number
|
||
that appears genuine. However, the lower you go the greater
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 55 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
the chance you will be sharing someone else’s number.
|
||
You should also be aware that anything you do with
|
||
another's number could mess up an innocent person’s life.
|
||
And another problem, this other person may not be a nice
|
||
person; in fact he/she may be a wanted criminal or may have
|
||
a terrible credit history. Dead person’s numbers are re-
|
||
issued after a year’s delay.
|
||
If you desire to get a proper job or open a bank account or
|
||
safety deposit box, you’ll need a clean, new social security
|
||
number. I won’t lie to you, the government has made this by
|
||
far the most difficult part of building a virgin identity. Here are
|
||
some tactics others have described using.
|
||
Before opening a bank account you need to know that most
|
||
banks use an on-line computerized system that that confirms
|
||
the number has been issued, the year of issue, the place of
|
||
issue and if the number has been used for bank fraud or
|
||
insufficient funds use during the past five years.
|
||
CheXSystem (of Dallas, Texas) is the largest system.
|
||
They’re information is covered by the Fair Credit Reporting
|
||
Act so you can get a copy of your report directly from them if
|
||
you suspect any problems.
|
||
Here's a bit of interesting trivia. Way back in 1946 a major
|
||
wallet manufacturer began placing fake paper social security
|
||
cards in each of the wallets they made. To make them look
|
||
real they placed the SSN 078-05-1120 on each card. Over
|
||
the years over four thousand different people have used this
|
||
number!
|
||
There is little chance that a clerk or retail person will
|
||
recognize this number as a fake but any federal official will
|
||
recognize it as a fake immediately should it pass across their
|
||
desk. I use give out this number to snoopy people who have
|
||
no legal right to ask for my number.
|
||
The social security administration has requested that
|
||
commercial firms and Hollywood use numbers in the series
|
||
from 987-65-4320 to 987-65-4329 in their advertising and
|
||
movies.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 56 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Just for giggles here are two interesting social security
|
||
numbers. Please don't abuse this information.
|
||
Bill Gates (Computer Mogul): 539-60-5125
|
||
Ted Turner (Media Mogul): 253-56-8877
|
||
My Story
|
||
About a decade ago I became interested in compiling my
|
||
family history. Starting with my Grandparents, I started
|
||
collecting information by searching through birth and death
|
||
records for more information. I did it part time as a hobby.
|
||
As I became more experienced, others began to seek me
|
||
out for guidance on how they could conduct research into
|
||
their families. Over time I gradually gained a reputation as
|
||
something of an expert on the acquisition of birth and death
|
||
information.
|
||
One day, out of the blue, a co-worker approached me with a
|
||
very unusual request. She was at her wits end. She came to
|
||
me because of my experience with birth and death
|
||
documents. Her ex-husband had beaten and raped her
|
||
several times and as if that wasn’t bad enough, he began
|
||
sexually molesting their 12-year-old daughter. When she
|
||
protested, she was beaten so badly she spent a full month in
|
||
the hospital.
|
||
Now, after their divorce, he was stalking her and brazenly
|
||
threatening her life and the life of her daughter. Restraining
|
||
orders were of little use. She had him arrested several times
|
||
but he always managed to talk his way out of jail in a day or
|
||
two.
|
||
And each time she received a particularly vicious beating for
|
||
her efforts. In an attempt to lose him for good, she moved
|
||
twice in three years. Unfortunately, through the services of
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 57 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
an experienced private investigator, he was always able to
|
||
locate her through her social security number.
|
||
The last time she moved she had her lease and all her
|
||
utilities put in a friend’s name. But once again, even after all
|
||
her efforts he managed to find her in less than three months!
|
||
Problem was, she had to work for a living and each new
|
||
employer was required by law to obtain her social security
|
||
number. He ex could then find her through her work record.
|
||
But what could she do? Wherever she moved she had to
|
||
work?
|
||
Finally, in desperation, she appealed to the social security
|
||
administration for a change in her social security number.
|
||
She and her daughter sat there and wept as she told her sad
|
||
and painful story to a heartless clerk who listened with a
|
||
stone face.
|
||
Two weeks later she received a form letter. They found her
|
||
problem was "not sufficiently compelling" to allow a number
|
||
change!
|
||
Then one night, she saw a gangster movie about a man who
|
||
had "informed" on the mob. He ended up with a new identity
|
||
furnished by the federal witness protection program. She
|
||
quickly realized that the creation of a virgin identity, complete
|
||
with a new social security number was the only way she
|
||
would ever get really free of her ex. She begged me to help
|
||
her. I told her that, though I sympathized with her, I wasn’t
|
||
sure there was anything I could do for her. I told her that
|
||
such a project would be difficult and besides - I wasn’t sure
|
||
we could pull it off without breaking some laws.
|
||
Her response was simple. If she couldn’t lose her ex - she
|
||
would be forced to kill him!. She had purchased a gun, and
|
||
though she had no idea how to use it, she was determined to
|
||
protect herself and her daughter. If you could have seen the
|
||
look in her eyes you would have know, as I did, that this was
|
||
a truly desperate lady who really meant what she said! I
|
||
promised to help her if she promised not to shoot anyone!
|
||
It took us a while as we had many lessons to learn along the
|
||
way. But after she had her new identity, she moved one last
|
||
time and was finally able to permanently dump her
|
||
tormentor. Two years later she has completely rebuilt her life
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 58 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
without fear of her ex showing up on her doorstep. (She still
|
||
has her gun though!) Oh I’m sure he’s still looking for her,
|
||
but now she has a new social security number so he’s just
|
||
wasting his time and money.
|
||
Since that time we’ve helped many people in distress create
|
||
completely new identities and get a second chance at life.
|
||
This report contains everything we’ve discovered along the
|
||
way.
|
||
As each person’s situation is unique, I’ve also included some
|
||
rather unusual optional strategies that may or may not be
|
||
useful to you. I’ve even included a few ideas that occurred to
|
||
us but for one reason or another were never actually used!
|
||
On the first read-through you’ll probably find all this a bit
|
||
confusing. Be patient. After several readings it’ll all begin to
|
||
make sense. To help simplify things, I’ve summarized
|
||
procedures in easy-to-read lists.
|
||
A Lesson in Law
|
||
Nothing in this report is to be regarded as legal advice. The
|
||
laws regarding the acquisition and use of identity documents
|
||
are constantly changing. But I will provide you with one small
|
||
nugget of free legal advice.
|
||
Often the difference between a legal act and an illegal one
|
||
has to do with the individual's intent. While it may be legal to
|
||
carry a concealed gun into a bank, it's clearly a federal
|
||
felony to carry the same gun into a bank with the intent of
|
||
committing a bank robbery. The difference is intent.
|
||
According to the Supreme Court, the act of creating an
|
||
alternative identity is not, in itself, an illegal act. However, if
|
||
you're seeking to establish a new identity to evade the long
|
||
arm of the law or fraudulently apply for government benefits,
|
||
you'll be committing a very serious crime.
|
||
Banking Precautions
|
||
MSNBC recently ran an interesting report, which exposed
|
||
some very serious weaknesses in our banking system. As
|
||
part of an investigation, journalists attempted to open
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 59 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
checking accounts in fake names at several New York City
|
||
banks. One of their female employees opened accounts at
|
||
eleven out of twelve different banks using only her MSNBC
|
||
employee identification card!
|
||
Only Citibank turned her away (they said her work ID card
|
||
was a secondary form of ID and they require at least one
|
||
"primary" ID document). All the other banks offered to make
|
||
an exception and open an account for her.
|
||
The message here is simple. This lady had a good story and
|
||
looked very professional - just the kind of lady who would
|
||
work in such a place.
|
||
Eleven out of twelve bankers went ahead and opened an
|
||
account for her. These bank people were so sloppy that she
|
||
was able to open three accounts using the name "Minnie M.
|
||
Mouse"!
|
||
Also, the work ID was a slick-looking, multi-color badge that
|
||
impressed the bank officials despite the obviously silly name.
|
||
Another important factor was the woman's appearance. She
|
||
appeared to be around 40, extremely well groomed and
|
||
dressed.
|
||
She looked exactly like you'd expect the employee of a
|
||
major television network to look. A nice business suit with
|
||
some understated jewelry and a very stylish yet conservative
|
||
winter coat. She looked and acted the part so she got the
|
||
benefit of a doubt.
|
||
Then to add insult to injury, our illustrious investigator
|
||
passed a number of obviously bogus checks with ease.
|
||
Several checks were photocopies with "VOID" all over them.
|
||
Several had "Do Not Cash - This Check is a Counterfeit!"
|
||
printed across the top.
|
||
One was signed "Bill Clinton" and another "Donald D. Duck"
|
||
and still they were cashed! All of the checks (but one) were
|
||
cashed. The one teller who refused a bogus check did so
|
||
because she recognized the TV reporter and so gave her
|
||
check extra scrutiny.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 60 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Of course the real motive of the program was to justify
|
||
tightening up the entire banking system. The bankers are
|
||
experimenting with retinal scanning, fingerprint scanning and
|
||
even DNA identification. The system is pretty much wide
|
||
open these days.
|
||
Any good banker will tell you that bankers are less careful
|
||
these days because the IRS now allows banks to write off
|
||
fraud losses much more easily than in the past. And since
|
||
they don't stand to lose as much as before, they're not nearly
|
||
as careful.
|
||
Another news story involved a man who stole huge checks
|
||
from a fortune 500 company. The smallest check was for
|
||
over $18,000. The thief then sent the stolen checks to his
|
||
credit card companies as payments. What do you think
|
||
happened? Every single firm accepted the bogus checks
|
||
and credited his account.
|
||
Of course each check was made out to some other firm but
|
||
that didn't stop the banks from accepting them. Their greed
|
||
must have overwhelmed their fear.
|
||
Careful Banking
|
||
At first identity changers need to be careful about their
|
||
banking use early on. Later when their identity is better
|
||
established they can live more normal financial lives.
|
||
Those who have recently changed their identities usually
|
||
begin by opening a new bank account with around $250 in
|
||
cash. Be sure you open a non-interest bearing account like a
|
||
routine checking account. If the account earns even a single
|
||
dollar of interest the IRS will need to be notified. If the bank
|
||
clerk asks, be ready to bark out your social security number
|
||
confidently.
|
||
Any checks deposited to the new account will leave paper
|
||
trails. (When requesting birth certificates, pay with money
|
||
orders, not with checks.) At first identity changers usually
|
||
avoid visiting the lobby of the bank instead they conduct all
|
||
their banking through the ATM machines that are usually
|
||
located outside. They pay their bills with money orders
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 61 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
purchased from various sources including convenience
|
||
stores but not from their bank.
|
||
Here is a way to quickly establish some credit when you're
|
||
new in town. They open an account at a local credit union or
|
||
savings and loan.
|
||
They deposit cash and then wait two months or so and then
|
||
approach the institution for a loan fully secured by the new
|
||
account. Such a loan is almost always approved, usually
|
||
automatically.
|
||
After they've made several payments (on time) the
|
||
transactions will trigger the credit agencies to open an
|
||
account in their name and start collecting information on
|
||
their financial dealings.
|
||
This lays the foundation for later building a solid credit rating.
|
||
Finance or commercial store-front loan companies have a
|
||
bad reputation and people in the financial community know
|
||
that only low-life high risk customers would deal with these
|
||
places.
|
||
When it's time to go for an unsecured credit card, it's always
|
||
best to submit an application towards the end of November
|
||
as banks shift into high gear then in anticipation of increased
|
||
profits from holiday spending.
|
||
When the card is received, it's best to make a few
|
||
purchases, run up a moderate balance. Then apply for
|
||
another card in three months and in a year or so you should
|
||
have excellent credit.
|
||
Be Careful!
|
||
I stood behind a girl in a bank line who was opening a
|
||
checking account. She handed her application card to the
|
||
clerk who picked up the phone, dialed an 800 number, and
|
||
entered an access code and then the girl’s SSN. She
|
||
listened carefully and then stared at the girl with a stony
|
||
expression on her face.
|
||
She then put the phone down and handed the card back to
|
||
the applicant and said "thank you for your interest in opening
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 62 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
account with our bank but unfortunately we are unable to
|
||
open an account for you at this time - next!" The number the
|
||
bank lady called provides a service that provides the name
|
||
of the individual to whom the social security number was
|
||
issued. Obviously the name didn't match the girl’s name.
|
||
The "Quick and Easy" Checklist
|
||
- Obtain your own genuine birth certificate
|
||
- Buy cover up tape and liquid paper
|
||
- Mask out the original text to create blank
|
||
form
|
||
- Make copies of the new blank form
|
||
- Rent or buy an older typewriter and ribbon
|
||
- Type up new birth certificate with your new
|
||
name
|
||
- Make a copy
|
||
- Apply new stamp (optional)
|
||
- Artificially age the BC with
|
||
coffee/tea/vinegar or sunlight
|
||
- Forge a baptismal certificate (optional)
|
||
- Make up a new social security number from
|
||
a distant state
|
||
- Use your BC to get a new DL
|
||
The "Slow & Hard" Way
|
||
The users of this approach say it's much more difficult and
|
||
time-consuming but creates a new virgin identity that will
|
||
withstand even the most intensive scrutiny. Just try to think
|
||
of all this as a challenging game in which you’re going to
|
||
"beat the system".
|
||
If you need to obtain a new social security number and/or
|
||
need a passport in your new name, this is the only method
|
||
that will achieve those goals. I've heard of people getting
|
||
new social security numbers with forged birth certificates and
|
||
faked parents but if you attempt it, I’d bet against you and
|
||
know that you'll be breaking several rather serious laws.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 63 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Until recently passports were only issued after the
|
||
applicant's birth certificate was verified with the issuing
|
||
authority. According to US State Department officials this
|
||
practice is being abandoned.
|
||
Given the dramatic increase in the number of international
|
||
travelers and the low-tech nature of most vital records
|
||
offices, several identity-changers have reported that they've
|
||
obtained US passports using forged birth certificates that
|
||
couldn't possibly pass any kind of verification. Several recent
|
||
articles have appeared in the media that seemed to verify
|
||
this trend though I expect requirements to be tighter over the
|
||
next few years.
|
||
First, make up a new birth date for your new identity. Do not
|
||
use your actual birth date! Doing this would create too
|
||
obvious a link between the two identities.
|
||
The next step involves the location of a new set of parents
|
||
(deceased of course). There are several ways to locate
|
||
these new parents. We’ll start with the easiest method.
|
||
Finding Your New “Folks”
|
||
The information users of this system need can be found
|
||
either in a small local cemetery or in the obits in your local
|
||
paper. Next to the obits should be a column of ads under the
|
||
heading of "burial plots" which provides a list of cemeteries.
|
||
Try to find the smallest, most remote one you can find that
|
||
has been burying people for the last few decades.
|
||
Remember, old historical cemeteries full of dead people are
|
||
of interest only to historians.
|
||
The next step is to do some simple math.
|
||
Your Birth Year 1968
|
||
Minus 40 1928
|
||
Minus 17 1951
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 64 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
So a new mother must have been born between the years
|
||
of 1928 and 1951 and have lived until your new birth date.
|
||
Now for good old Dad:
|
||
Your Birth Year 1968
|
||
Minus 55 1913
|
||
Minus 17 1951
|
||
Your new father must have been born between 1913 and
|
||
1951 and have lived until 9 months before your new birth
|
||
date.
|
||
Your Birth Mother’s Father’s Birth
|
||
Date Birth Range Range
|
||
1980 1940-1963 1925-1963
|
||
1970 1930-1953 1915-1953
|
||
1960 1920-1943 1905-1943
|
||
1950 1910-1933 1895-1933
|
||
1940 1900-1923 1885-1923
|
||
1930 1890-1913 1875-1913
|
||
Unfortunately, finding new parents is much easier if you’re
|
||
older rather than younger. An 18-year old will have a
|
||
considerable problem finding suitable parents.
|
||
It's best to visit a cemetery wearing good walking shoes on a
|
||
dry day if possible. The best names can usually be found
|
||
near the largest monuments where family plots can be
|
||
found. Find three sets of new parents whose births and
|
||
deaths fall within the ranges you calculated.
|
||
When you do, write down all the information the headstone
|
||
contains. Complete names including full middle names are
|
||
better than names with middle initials only. The ideal plot will
|
||
be a small family plot well away from the main path would be
|
||
best.
|
||
Many cemeteries have overgrown areas where, sadly, no
|
||
visitors have come to clean up their graves. A completely
|
||
overgrown headstone that is buried under weeds would be
|
||
best.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 65 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Users of this system report that common surnames are best
|
||
and they avoid oddball highly ethnic last names like
|
||
"Kramarzinski". Names that were in common use around the
|
||
time of your childhood would be more credible. For example
|
||
twenty years ago "Jennifer" became a very popular first
|
||
name due to a popular TV show.
|
||
If your ethnic origins are obvious, you’ll have to limit your
|
||
search to surnames that match your face. Try to find a
|
||
cemetery that contains as many of "your people" as
|
||
possible. Perhaps a cemetery in a matching ethnic
|
||
community would be best.
|
||
Each cemetery has an official "record-keeper". Their records
|
||
are often so comprehensive and complete that all the
|
||
information you need can be obtained right there on the
|
||
spot, or they may be completely useless, continually
|
||
unavailable or just plain uncooperative.
|
||
Those who are doing family research often search out record
|
||
keepers for more detailed information. They may hint that a
|
||
contribution would be appreciated so please be generous. (I
|
||
once had an old-lady smugly wave an empty pickle jar
|
||
labeled "Contributions" in my face when I asked for
|
||
information!)
|
||
Be warned that the record keeper may launch into a sales
|
||
pitch for burial plots. Get whatever info you can but keep in
|
||
mind that the key piece of information you need at this point
|
||
is your new mother’s maiden name.
|
||
Another system for discovering a deceased woman's maiden
|
||
name is as follows. Drive to the largest library you can find.
|
||
A smaller suburban library may have everything you need.
|
||
Call them and ask if they have the biggest newspaper in
|
||
town on microfilm and do their records go back to your new
|
||
parent’s birth period.
|
||
When you get there, ask the reception librarian where the
|
||
newspaper records are kept. Pull the microfilm rolls for the
|
||
death dates of each of your prospective new parents. Take
|
||
plenty of small change with you so you can make copies of
|
||
the obits you find. You will not find all the obits you seek.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 66 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
People die and are shipped across state lines all the time.
|
||
This is why I asked you to get several sets of prospective
|
||
parents.
|
||
Getting Help – from a Church!
|
||
Grab your yellow pages and look under churches - yes
|
||
churches! Find the nearest Mormon Church. It may be listed
|
||
under "Churches of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" Yes,
|
||
those nice Mormons are going to help you get a new ID! Call
|
||
them up.
|
||
Ask them if they have a "Family History Center" in their
|
||
church. If not, find out where the nearest "Family History
|
||
Center" is and pay them a visit. Take a pad, a pen and a
|
||
pocket full of dimes and quarters for the copy machines.
|
||
Once again your appearance is important. Dress nice and
|
||
act nice. Go during the day on a weekday to avoid the rush.
|
||
The place can be a real zoo evenings and Saturdays. It’s not
|
||
uncommon to have to wait an hour or more just to get
|
||
access to one of the viewing machines. If you arrive mid-day
|
||
on a weekday you should have the whole place to yourself.
|
||
What you need will probably take several hours to find so
|
||
arrive early after a full meal. (I usually take some cookies to
|
||
munch on in a paper bag in my brief case!)
|
||
When you get there chat with the volunteer (usually a nice
|
||
old lady) on the information desk. They can be quite helpful.
|
||
Tell them you’re doing a little genealogy research (checking
|
||
up on your family roots). Ask to see the family histories.
|
||
These are family trees compiled by professional
|
||
genealogists and can be as useful as a cemetery when
|
||
seeking new parents.
|
||
All the same birth and death time frames apply. Scan the
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 67 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
family trees for the most recent ones. Again old information
|
||
won’t help us a bit.
|
||
The previous two methods are easier than searching the
|
||
death records but many have found the following useful so
|
||
I’ve included it. Ask to see the death records (not the social
|
||
security death records). The Mormon Church has, over the
|
||
years, assembled the largest death record database in the
|
||
world.
|
||
Their death files are organized by state. Search one state
|
||
until you find what you need. Then grab another state etc..
|
||
This - will - take - time! The records are huge and most of
|
||
these people lived far too long ago to be of use to you.
|
||
Avoid searching the most populous eastern states and
|
||
Nevada, Colorado and California. The other western and
|
||
plains states are best. They have fewer and easier
|
||
restrictions on issuing new birth certificates.
|
||
Getting a new BC issued in New York City or Los Angeles is
|
||
all but impossible. In the large cities you can expect to find
|
||
the public records sealed to all but attorneys and
|
||
professional licensed genealogists. Of course the excuse
|
||
given for these illegal restrictions is their desire to limit
|
||
welfare cheating.
|
||
Cruise the records looking for a married couple who were
|
||
wed a year or two before you were really born. When you
|
||
find a suitable pair, make a copy to capture the information
|
||
and be sure the copy is fully readable. Go on to the next
|
||
state’s records.
|
||
Make up your new name complete with your new last name
|
||
taken, of course, from your new parents.
|
||
Mail a hand-written note to the bureau of vital records for the
|
||
states/counties where your new parents lived. Tell them that
|
||
you need a BC as you need it to apply for a government
|
||
security clearance.
|
||
This is a common request. Ask them to please hurry as you
|
||
can’t start work until you get your BC. People who request a
|
||
BC because they are "doing some family research" will often
|
||
find themselves at the bottom of the stack priority-wise.
|
||
Several professional genealogists have told me that it can
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 68 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
take three to six months to get a BC that way! If they offer
|
||
rush service for a few bucks more, use it.
|
||
Let Us Pray!
|
||
Here is some interesting information on the Mormon religion.
|
||
Pay attention, you may need to know about this stuff.
|
||
Federal law considers all birth certificate records public
|
||
records.
|
||
The Mormon religion allows Mormons to list their relatives
|
||
going back three generations on a form and perform what
|
||
they call "Ordinances For the Dead".
|
||
They believe that this ritual will, in effect, yank these
|
||
relatives from the bowels of hell and instantly transport them
|
||
to heaven. (This is no joke - the Mormons are very serious
|
||
about this stuff). And they are a very rich and powerful
|
||
organization. So you can see that the local officials who are
|
||
seeking to seal the records regularly come into conflict with
|
||
Mormons seeking BCs for religious reasons.
|
||
The vital records clerks fear the Mormon church because the
|
||
Mormons are in the habit of sending in teams of lawyers
|
||
when a church member is denied the BC of a relative. A
|
||
number of clerks and managers have actually been
|
||
terminated and fined for illegally restricting access.
|
||
The Mormons have challenged restrictions in courts
|
||
numerous times and have never lost. (After all, you wouldn’t
|
||
want Grandma to spend eternity in hell just because you
|
||
couldn’t get a slip of paper from some uncooperative clerk
|
||
now would you?)
|
||
Most identity-changers request a birth certificate via rush
|
||
service by specifying that it's for a pre-employment security
|
||
clearance. This usually gets fast service. If you are denied a
|
||
BC for some phony reason, send them back a note
|
||
mentioning the Mormon temple you belong to. I had one BC
|
||
Federal Expressed to me at no cost when I used this trick.
|
||
The clerks really fear the Mormon Church.
|
||
Each state has it's own unique birth certificate request form.
|
||
Fill them out requesting that they search for a copy of your
|
||
new identity BC. They should cost around 5 to 10 bucks
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 69 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
each. Send a money order, not a check. Users suggest
|
||
requesting the birth certificate in a new name when you
|
||
know for sure it doesn't exist.
|
||
After the search, they will return two forms. The first one will
|
||
be a simple form with a box checked indicating that their
|
||
search was unsuccessful.
|
||
The second form will be an application for "delayed record of
|
||
birth". They assume that if you’re alive and breathing, you
|
||
must have been born.
|
||
And if they don’t have a record of your birth – they’ll want to
|
||
add you to their records. Besides, you'll need to do whatever
|
||
you have to get a birth certificate - no birth certificate equals
|
||
no security clearance equals no job!
|
||
With this form you can create a new birth certificate and
|
||
have an official, verifiable birth certificate entered into the
|
||
official records. Unfortunately, they will require some
|
||
documentation to substantiate your claim but some of the
|
||
documents they recognize aren't all that difficult to come up
|
||
with. (See the list below)
|
||
They will provide you with a list of documents that they will
|
||
accept as proof of your birth claim. Some states require all
|
||
sorts of extremely difficult-to-obtain notarized documents
|
||
while other states are much less demanding. And the rules
|
||
are constantly changing which keeps it interesting.
|
||
ID Documents Accepted by Some States
|
||
(to qualify for a delayed birth certificate)
|
||
Church Records
|
||
Medical Records
|
||
Baptismal Certificate/Circumcision Certificate
|
||
Military ID or Discharge Papers (DD-214)
|
||
School Transcripts
|
||
Voter Registration Card (ridiculously easy to obtain)
|
||
Marriage license (or completed application form)
|
||
Census Record
|
||
Social Security Number Confirmation (from SSA) or SSN
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 70 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Application
|
||
Insurance Application
|
||
Lease Contract or Application
|
||
Your Child's Birth Certificate
|
||
Newspaper Notice of Your Birth
|
||
Family Bible Record
|
||
Employment Record
|
||
Sibling Birth Certificate
|
||
College Records/Transcripts
|
||
Employment Application
|
||
Union Membership Card
|
||
Note: Some states require that these documents be at least
|
||
five years old or that they were issued after your fifth or tenth
|
||
birthday. Ask for details.
|
||
As you can see - there's plenty of room to maneuver here.
|
||
Some of these documents are much easier to obtain than
|
||
others. One particularly interesting document they will accept
|
||
is a signed statement from someone who was present at
|
||
your birth. Some have reported that such a statement can be
|
||
easily forged. A close friend of your mother's might very well
|
||
have witnessed your birth.
|
||
Did you know that almost a third of the people walking the
|
||
streets never had their birth recorded? It’s true! Births were
|
||
not recorded for a variety of reasons. Some parents
|
||
belonged to religions that actively discouraged registering an
|
||
infant's birth.
|
||
Some children were born in such poverty that the paperwork
|
||
was the last thing on the parent's mind. Some were born in
|
||
remote areas where access to government was severely
|
||
limited.
|
||
During the free-love 1960s many unmarried couples had
|
||
kids and had no interest in filling out "big brother's" forms.
|
||
Some babies were born in cults who discouraged such
|
||
registration. And some were adopted which leads to a host
|
||
of birth registration problems.
|
||
Some births were never recorded because of strong
|
||
religious objections. Quakers and others refused to register
|
||
their newborn babies. If someone's parents were religious
|
||
Quakers it would easily explain why there was no record of
|
||
their birth.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 71 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
One lady used the following approach. She obtained a
|
||
newspaper from the town nearest the place of birth. She
|
||
scanned the obits and found a local deceased lady who was
|
||
born around the same time as their mother. Here is a lady
|
||
who could have been present at your birth. Any statement
|
||
she signed just before her death would be legally yet very
|
||
difficult to verify. Her home address would be the nursing
|
||
home in which she last lived. Her signature would be shaky
|
||
and a bit weak due to her advanced age.
|
||
But you should scan the list of required documents and
|
||
decide for yourself which documents will suit your purposes.
|
||
Sometimes a lesser document combined with a letter of
|
||
explanation will do the trick.
|
||
Again, if your request looks honest and respectable they will
|
||
probably cut you some slack and issue your BC. If you fail at
|
||
your first attempt, don’t give up – try again elsewhere.
|
||
To substantiate your new identity, you may need one or
|
||
more notarized documents. Like any group of people, some
|
||
notaries are more professional than others.
|
||
While most notaries are careful, if you shop around you may
|
||
be able to find one that is not too bright or is too rushed to be
|
||
careful. With some patience you can get almost anything by
|
||
them. There are those notaries who are much more
|
||
interested in their fee than the document's they're asked to
|
||
verify.
|
||
The "Slow and Hard" Checklist
|
||
- Find three sets of parents
|
||
- Make up three new names
|
||
- Send off requests for your non-existent BC to each state
|
||
- When forms arrive: Choose the state that requires the
|
||
least difficult proof - Then Apply for a "Delayed Record of
|
||
Birth"
|
||
- Receive new BC
|
||
- Use the new BC to get a drivers license
|
||
- Apply for a new social security number
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 72 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 5
|
||
Foreign Citizenship Method
|
||
Recently ABC news reported on a new government program
|
||
designed to discover and identify Americans who live
|
||
overseas and don't bother to file tax returns with the IRS.
|
||
Under this new program, when American expatriates go to a
|
||
US embassy to renew their US passports, they are asked for
|
||
their social security number. The number is then checked
|
||
against a growing database of expatriate tax dodgers.
|
||
Remember, under IRS rules ANY money you earn anywhere
|
||
in the world, be it through wages, dividends or corporate
|
||
profits, is fully taxable by the IRS no matter where in the
|
||
world you live and no matter what local taxes you are
|
||
required to pay! The US is the only major country on the
|
||
planet that is arrogant enough to make such a ridiculous
|
||
demand. I doubt that Adolf Hitler would have considered
|
||
making such an obviously unenforceable demand!
|
||
Many ex-pat tax avoiders now simply let their US passport
|
||
expire and then replace it with one from a new country. (one
|
||
that doesn't bother to track and tax their citizens outside their
|
||
own borders.)
|
||
Many countries have programs specifically designed to meet
|
||
ex-pat Americans' special needs. They offer "economic
|
||
citizenships" or "economic development citizenships". The
|
||
newest entrant in this game is Grenada. By purchasing a
|
||
Granadian citizenship you get a passport that is accepted in
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 73 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
over 60 countries without having to bother with entry or exit
|
||
visas.
|
||
Many tax dodgers have their own businesses incorporated
|
||
(anonymously) in Panama, Belize or Grenada. These
|
||
countries have very low, or non-existent taxes on small
|
||
businesses.
|
||
And their governments couldn't care less about foreigners’
|
||
travels or business activities as long as they don't draw any
|
||
international attention. You can't be sued. (No one can find
|
||
out exactly who owns your corporation as it's registered only
|
||
in your agent's name)
|
||
You can travel without being tracked (provided you book
|
||
your tickets outside the US) and Uncle Sam will have no
|
||
idea where you are or what you're up to. You'll drop right off
|
||
the IRS's radar!
|
||
And keep in mind that there are very few extraditions to the
|
||
US for tax or business reasons no matter where in the world
|
||
the suspect lives.
|
||
Your new citizenship can usually be arranged without having
|
||
to pay a personal visit to "your" new country. (This is a
|
||
problem as the government will be fully aware of if you travel
|
||
on a US passport and arrange your trip through a US travel
|
||
agent).
|
||
If you take this route be sure to ask if you can change your
|
||
name at the same time. Most countries will ask for a "police
|
||
statement" proving that you are not wanted by the authorities
|
||
in your home country and are not a fugitive fleeing justice.
|
||
They may also ask for a similar Interpol clearance. A written
|
||
statement from a friend or clergyman attesting to your good
|
||
character may also help move things along.
|
||
Once the required documents have been received (reports
|
||
have surfaced that some applicants have used forged
|
||
documents rather than go through the hassle of procuring
|
||
the genuine items), you get your new passport, citizen's
|
||
identification and local drivers license, all in your new name.
|
||
From there it's simple to open a bank account that provides
|
||
a MasterCard or Visa debit card (and ATM card) that
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 74 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
provides you with untraceable worldwide access to your
|
||
funds no matter how far you wander.
|
||
A Russian friend recently obtained a Granadian citizenship
|
||
and has transferred his family savings into a Panamanian
|
||
bank. He then set up an anonymous Panamanian
|
||
corporation to run his new business. Rumor has it that the
|
||
Russian government is planning on confiscating the
|
||
passports of it's wealthiest citizens to help slow the flow of
|
||
capital out of the country.
|
||
Could something like this happen here in the US? Several
|
||
billionaires have recently moved to the Bahamas taking their
|
||
considerable fortunes with them.
|
||
Numerous outfits have appeared on the Internet that can
|
||
quickly and easily transfer your funds to offshore locations.
|
||
All we can say for sure is that Uncle Sam is extremely
|
||
worried about this rapidly growing trend. (According to a
|
||
recent US State Department study there are now over
|
||
200,000 American ex-pats now living in London, England
|
||
alone!)
|
||
Recent US federal laws have been passed aimed at
|
||
reducing or eliminating the death taxes that many of these
|
||
rich expatriates are objecting to in an effort to reverse this
|
||
tide of rich refugees.
|
||
The US Congress is currently reviewing the laws and
|
||
regulations regarding the transferring of funds offshore. You
|
||
can expect legislation to be passed during the next few
|
||
years that will drastically increase the penalties for
|
||
transferring funds out of the US.
|
||
If you do choose to deal with an offshore bank - be sure to
|
||
pick one that has NO branches or other operations within the
|
||
US. If they have some business here, the US government
|
||
can gain access to their records by dragging them into a US
|
||
court and threatening to close down their US operations.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 75 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Chapter 6
|
||
Camouflage Passport Method
|
||
Just when you think you’ve heard of every possible way to create
|
||
a new identity – a completely new wrinkle pops up. We get a lot of
|
||
very interesting feedback from our readers and over the past few
|
||
months we’ve been hearing quite a bit about an entirely new
|
||
approach to creating a new identity.
|
||
Americans who travel overseas have a very real problem. When a
|
||
terrorist hijacks an airplane they usually seize the passports of
|
||
their captives in an effort to single out the Americans and Israelis
|
||
for murder or torture. Let’s face it, for whatever reason Americans
|
||
are high-priority targets.
|
||
This need has given rise to a whole new type of product. – enter
|
||
the camouflage passport. For a fee there are several firms that
|
||
advertise widely on the internet who will sell you a fake passport
|
||
which you can carry with you during your travels. This fake will
|
||
appear to be issued by some small, unimportant country that no
|
||
longer exists or never did (your friendly terrorist won't have any
|
||
way to verify a passport’s validity). It will also include some very
|
||
official looking exit and entry stamps that appear to document your
|
||
recent travels
|
||
If your plane is grabbed, you simple give the terrorists your fake
|
||
passport instead of your US version, which avoids you being
|
||
identified as an American. Carrying one of these beauties can
|
||
quite literally save your life. US intelligence agencies both civilian
|
||
and military have long used this approach and have been happily
|
||
issuing their key people alternative identity travel documents for
|
||
this same reason.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 76 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Buying one of these phony passports is completely legal as
|
||
they’re issued in the names of small colonial countries that no
|
||
longer exist - at least not officially. Some of them are very well
|
||
done and look very official. One of the more popular passports is
|
||
the old red Soviet one. Did you know that there are over six million
|
||
Russian citizens who still carry an old-style red Soviet passport?
|
||
The Russian government wants to replace them but money is very
|
||
tight in Russia these days so it will probably take a decade or
|
||
more to update them all.
|
||
These passports can be purchased bearing the following
|
||
national identities:
|
||
British West Indies (never existed – is a group of English
|
||
speaking Caribbean islands. Including British Virgin
|
||
Islands, Cayman Islands, The Turks and Caicos Islands
|
||
and Montserrat – This passport would appear to be British
|
||
and would appear to be issued by islands that are still
|
||
officially British owned)
|
||
British Honduras (Now Belize)
|
||
British Guiana
|
||
Soviet Union (Now Russia)
|
||
New Hebrides
|
||
Dutch Guiana (Now Surinam)
|
||
Netherlands East Indies
|
||
South Vietnam
|
||
Spanish Guiana
|
||
Eastern Samoa
|
||
New Grenada
|
||
Republic of Zanzibar
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 77 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
You can get your new passport in any name you choose (of
|
||
course the name should match your new nationality and your
|
||
ethnic appearance) and most of these firms also include a driver’s
|
||
license (both national and international versions are available) and
|
||
a resident identity card to support your new identity. One throws in
|
||
a very impressive employee ID for a major international
|
||
corporation.
|
||
Of course using a camouflage passport to attempt to enter or
|
||
leave a country would be very unwise and completely illegal. But
|
||
from what we hear there are a number of brave souls out there
|
||
who have done just that.
|
||
If you attempt to travel in Europe using your new Soviet passport,
|
||
you will most certainly run into problems. Could someone use a
|
||
camouflage passport from a Latin American nation to get into a
|
||
south pacific island? Or perhaps you might get into a South
|
||
American nation using your new Soviet passport.
|
||
We've even heard of those who have used their new identity
|
||
documents to obtain a new social security number/card. The
|
||
clerks at drivers license bureaus have no way to verify a foreign
|
||
passport and will usually just get rid of you as fast as possible.
|
||
Only the INS and the cops can verify a green card. Everyone else
|
||
is left to guess.
|
||
Do you look or sound like a foreigner? If you do – so much the
|
||
better! And even if you look like a sheet-white corn-fed Methodist
|
||
from Nebraska, there are always those old British colonial
|
||
countries where English is the official language. If you look a little
|
||
like an eastern European, you might want to consider the Soviet
|
||
passport. If you’re Hispanic you might take a look at a Central
|
||
American version. An oriental might want to consider a South
|
||
Vietnamese passport.
|
||
A reliable source has informed us that there are several tens of
|
||
thousands of Hispanics living (and working) in California who are
|
||
using exactly this approach.
|
||
If you can learn to speak a bit of Dutch, you might pass yourself
|
||
off as a resident of Dutch Guiana. When Dutch Guiana became
|
||
the independent nation of Surinam, the locals were offered full
|
||
Dutch citizenship if they moved to Holland. Some citizens decided
|
||
to stay and retain their old passports and other identity
|
||
documents.
|
||
Blacks should look into either a Dutch Guiana or British West
|
||
Indies passports, as many of their citizens are black as they're
|
||
descendents of African slaves.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 78 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
When British Honduras became the independent country of
|
||
Belize, many citizens chose to keep their old passports so there
|
||
are still many of them around. Of course English is the official
|
||
language so all you’ll need to learn is how to drink warm beer!
|
||
The group of south pacific islands formerly known as the New
|
||
Hebrides became Vanuatu, which is fast becoming one of the
|
||
premier offshore banking centers of Asia. (If you hunger for real
|
||
personal and financial privacy, you might find Vanuatu very
|
||
interesting.)
|
||
You should also know that the much-forged “green card” can be
|
||
obtained quite easily on the black market. (60 minutes
|
||
demonstrated just how easily when they bought one on the streets
|
||
of Los Angeles in a half hour or so.)
|
||
They're widely sold in the border areas along the Mexican border.
|
||
Green card forgery is fast becoming big business wherever illegal
|
||
aliens are found. Besides, there are so many different versions of
|
||
the green card out there that no one really knows a forgery when
|
||
they see one.
|
||
You can find many varied sources for camouflage passports by
|
||
doing a quick search on any of the major search engines (I prefer
|
||
google.com as it's quite comprehensive) under "camouflage
|
||
passport". Prices run from around $195 to over $600 so shop
|
||
around for the best deal.
|
||
Update: November 2005: A mail-order firm called NIC Law
|
||
Enforcement Supply sells a nice camouflage passport for
|
||
$249 (a very good price given the quality). You provide two
|
||
passport style photos (in different clothes and perhaps
|
||
different hair styles so they look like they were taken on
|
||
different dates). They provide a handmade camouflage
|
||
passport and a matching drivers license.
|
||
They also provide entry and exit stamps to make the
|
||
passport look used. Your passport/drivers license can be
|
||
issued in any name you like. You can also specify a new
|
||
date of birth. Two supplemental ID documents are provided
|
||
(one is a drivers license while the other might be a resident
|
||
ID or a national ID card of some sort). Unfortunately NIC
|
||
doesn't allow you to chose which country you prefer. Instead
|
||
they ask you which part of the world you'll be traveling in and
|
||
then promise to provide a passport from a distant part of the
|
||
world.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 79 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
They even provide a home address in your new country. You
|
||
can also list a wife and children.
|
||
They also sell a nice variety of ID products including some
|
||
very useful holograms, seals and a ton of official looking
|
||
badges for collectors. NIC Law Enforcement Supply can be
|
||
reached at 1-888-642-0007. Ask for their latest catalog.
|
||
Their address is:
|
||
NIC Law Enforcement Supply
|
||
500 Flournoy Lucas Road Bldg. #3
|
||
Shreveport, LA
|
||
71135-5950
|
||
You might at this point be asking yourself why those in
|
||
power would allow these passports to be sold so openly?
|
||
Official looking documents like these are obviously very
|
||
useful to freedom loving types so why don't they just ban
|
||
them? The answer is simple.
|
||
The rich and powerful elite in the US use them all the time
|
||
and find them quite useful (for protection during highjackings
|
||
and for opening offshore bank accounts) so they remain on
|
||
the open market even though their use may violate several
|
||
federal laws.
|
||
A quick note here: I can't seem to find anything specific on
|
||
the subject but one camouflage passport site has shut down
|
||
due to "the new government regulations regarding
|
||
camouflage passports".
|
||
As of 7-04 here are some active camouflage passport sites:
|
||
(I cannot endorse these firms nor their products however)
|
||
http://www.privacyworld.com/auto/campp.html
|
||
http://www.immigration-world.com/interest/haki-eng.shtml
|
||
http://www.finor.com/en/camouflage_passports.htm
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 80 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
http://www.expatworld.org/book8.htm
|
||
http://australianz.topcities.com/camouflage.htm
|
||
http://www.republic-of-lomar.org/information/procedure.htm
|
||
http://www.maildropnet.com/dlidpp/camel.htm
|
||
http://passports.netfirms.com/camouflage.html
|
||
http://www.vienna.cc/networld/camou.htm
|
||
Some of the sites above list a wide range of other ID products but
|
||
I'd be very skeptical of their quality claims. Any firm located inside
|
||
the US will certainly be peddling garbage (or they'd quickly end up
|
||
in jail).
|
||
Birth Certificate Numbering
|
||
There’s one small hitch here. There are scads of sites out
|
||
there selling blank birth certificates and templates. Avoid this
|
||
mass marketed junk. Big brother is on to you and has
|
||
provided their clerks with books full of samples of these
|
||
clunky fakes. Anyone who attempts to use one will soon end
|
||
up in a world of trouble.
|
||
A quick note concerning the numbering of birth certificates:
|
||
The first digit is always a one for those born in the USA.
|
||
Then there is a dash and a second number, which is the
|
||
two-digit year of birth. This is followed by a random group of
|
||
numbers assigned locally by the issuer. When you create a
|
||
"new" birth certificate, be sure the number follows the
|
||
following rules:
|
||
If the registration number is:
|
||
#1-73-54898
|
||
The code breaks down as follows:
|
||
1- -Born in the USA
|
||
73- -Born in 1973
|
||
54898 -Random registration number
|
||
In the past a good story and a single document such as a
|
||
birth certificate and/or a baptismal certificate (or if you're
|
||
Jewish a circumcision certificate is more or less the same
|
||
thing) would get you through. Now you'll need more.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 81 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
You'll need to assemble a collection of what used to be
|
||
called "wallet stuffers". The kind of lower quality ID that's
|
||
much easier to come up with yet still helps establish your
|
||
identity and support your story.
|
||
So what's the bottom line here? You'll have to be prepared
|
||
more thoroughly than before. More planning and careful
|
||
execution will be required. But for the time being not all that
|
||
much has changed.
|
||
Keep in mind that as of the summer of 2004, there’s still very
|
||
little cross-referencing of birth and death records across
|
||
state lines. But stay tuned as legislation passed and signed
|
||
into law in early 2004 provided $350 million for just that
|
||
purpose. But if you stop and think about it – it will take years
|
||
before even part of the records are correctly updated.
|
||
But how could they ever know where the man was born or
|
||
where his birth certificate is recorded? They could perform a
|
||
state-wide search within Alabama but what would they do if
|
||
no birth record could be found? With over 7,000 national
|
||
offices authorized to create birth certificates, how could they
|
||
ever hope to locate his birth certificate?
|
||
At some point in the distant future all these records will be
|
||
computerized under (you guessed it) your social security
|
||
number. Then nation-wide searches will be both fast and
|
||
simple and the records will be 100% cross-referenced. But
|
||
given a lack of funding and pressure from civil rights groups,
|
||
those days are easily a decade away.
|
||
Another little tip regarding birth certificates – certified copies
|
||
are easier to obtain in the following states: California,
|
||
Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska,
|
||
New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont,
|
||
Washington and Wisconsin. The rest restrict access to birth
|
||
records in some way. If you run into a problem in one state,
|
||
move on to another. Some states still regard their vital
|
||
records to be public property and open to anyone who asks.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 82 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
National ID Update
|
||
In the new "Homeland Security" bill you'll find the following
|
||
rather interesting language:
|
||
"Nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize the
|
||
development of a national identification system or card."
|
||
Here's some more good news. The current administration
|
||
has expressed their disinterest in establishing a national ID
|
||
card on many occasions. But of course there's no guarantee
|
||
that future administrations will see things in the same way.
|
||
Talk about strange bedfellows. This issue has so inflamed
|
||
privacy advocates that the conservative Eagle Forum and
|
||
the liberal ACLU joined forces to fight any attempt by the
|
||
federal government to establish federal standards for the
|
||
issuance of state drivers licenses.
|
||
They view this approach as an attempt to transform our
|
||
driver’s license into a national ID card. According to these
|
||
two groups federal interference in the issuance of drivers
|
||
licenses "would be a severe hit to basic privacy rights in
|
||
America".
|
||
This whole subject is so politically sensitive that the White
|
||
House itself told it's minions that they are never to use the
|
||
term "national ID card" nor are they to enter into any kind of
|
||
debate on the subject. The entire subject is strictly taboo.
|
||
But there will be changes ahead that will reduce our privacy
|
||
and increase government monitoring and control of our
|
||
movements. In the year ahead the aviation industry will be
|
||
establishing a "trusted traveler" system. The plan now on the
|
||
table would make the system completely voluntary and will
|
||
be run by a private firm.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 83 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
You fill out a comprehensive application that includes a
|
||
wealth of personal information. The security company will
|
||
then check you out by verifying as much of the information
|
||
as possible. Verification will be the rule - they will take little
|
||
or nothing at face value.
|
||
Only after the information you’ve provided has been carefully
|
||
verified would your new card be issued. With it you bypass
|
||
the long security lines at the airport and zip through a quick
|
||
scan of your card and you're quickly off to your plane while
|
||
the other passengers stand on those long slow lines.
|
||
Since the system is entirely voluntary, you could choose to
|
||
not apply and choose to stand in line. The choice is yours.
|
||
This system is already in pilot operation in some airports.
|
||
Could this kind of "trusted" system expand into other areas
|
||
of public life?
|
||
Way back in 1961 former President Dwight D. Eisenhower
|
||
warned us that the greatest challenge to our freedom would
|
||
come from a combination of military contractors and the
|
||
pentagon which he labeled "The Military-Industrial
|
||
Complex". Are we now entering Eisenhower's nightmare?
|
||
Only time will tell.
|
||
In this edition we have several new systems to report on. I
|
||
want to thank those who have provided feedback and taken
|
||
the time to share their experiences. We know you'll find the
|
||
details as interesting as we did.
|
||
Social Security Bureaucrats Finally Give In!
|
||
Update: I had an interesting chat with a social security
|
||
worker recently. He revealed that in 1999 the social security
|
||
administration had issued only 155 new social security
|
||
numbers under the program discussed below. In the year
|
||
2000 the number grew to over 1500 and this year the
|
||
number will be much higher. When I asked how high, he said
|
||
"at least ten times the 2000 levels". This radical change in
|
||
policy should be used by anyone who can qualify.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 84 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
For far too many years the bureaucrats at the social security
|
||
administration have steadfastly refused to allow individuals
|
||
to change their social security numbers no matter how dire
|
||
their personal circumstances. Several women and children
|
||
have recently been murdered simply because they were not
|
||
allowed to change their social security numbers (and thus
|
||
escape their pursuers).
|
||
But it looks as though all the dead bodies and bad press are
|
||
at long last having an effect. The social security
|
||
administration has now announced a new policy that should
|
||
be of interest to those who can qualify.
|
||
Now for the first time the bureaucrats will actually let you
|
||
change your social security number if you can prove that
|
||
you’ve been the victim of identity theft. (An individual could
|
||
qualify for a number change and then later legally change
|
||
their name)
|
||
Of course the paper-pushing bureaucrats will require that
|
||
you document the theft of your identity. At first the
|
||
requirements may seem strict and difficult, but they're not if
|
||
you examine them in detail.
|
||
To qualify under this new policy, you'll need a credit report
|
||
that shows that you've had your identity stolen, usually for
|
||
financial reasons. Someone has submitted a credit card
|
||
application using your name and their address.
|
||
They usually use the address of a unsuspecting friend, or
|
||
they hire a secretarial service to provide an address or they
|
||
rent one of those commercial mail boxes using a fake id.
|
||
Once they have a new credit card in your name, these
|
||
criminals start spending. Once they start using the card, their
|
||
payment history is going to pop up on your credit report. This
|
||
is the proof that identity theft is going on. Once your credit
|
||
file has several of these unauthorized cards on it, you may
|
||
qualify for a new social security number.
|
||
(Several especially creative (and dedicated) individuals have
|
||
actually created all the signs of identity-theft in their own
|
||
credit records in order to get a new social security number
|
||
though I'm sure some aspect of what they've done is illegal.)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 85 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If this happens to you, call your credit-reporting agency and
|
||
report the violation immediately. Ask for a copy of your
|
||
current credit file. Check with all three major credit-reporting
|
||
agencies to be sure you have them all. Assemble all the
|
||
documentation you can find. You might even want to talk to
|
||
a lawyer, as they may be able ease the social security
|
||
number change process along.
|
||
Here are some details on identity theft, which should help
|
||
you protect yourself against this growing problem. If you live
|
||
in an apartment identity thieves often pry open individual
|
||
mailboxes in order to obtain banking and other mail that will
|
||
give them the personal information they need to steal your
|
||
identity.
|
||
After a break, you may have noticed that your mail flow was
|
||
suddenly restored but you did notice that your normal
|
||
monthly bank statement didn't arrive as usual. Identity
|
||
thieves file change of address forms that interrupt their
|
||
target's mail for three or four day. This is the usual story for
|
||
victims of identity theft.
|
||
If you feel that you now qualify for a number change but can't
|
||
get the SSA clerk to agree. Politely ask for their supervisor
|
||
and see if they will be more sympathetic. If they refuse, take
|
||
the whole matter to your senator or congressman. It's their
|
||
job to help you in your struggles with government agencies.
|
||
Though they will never admit it, government bureaucrats
|
||
deeply fear letter writers and complainers. As long as no one
|
||
complains to a higher authority, these clerks can get away
|
||
with murder (which is what they've been doing for some
|
||
years now by ignoring abused spouses) but when you get
|
||
someone with some real power involved, the whole situation
|
||
can rapidly change. They know that one well-worded letter
|
||
can land an entire agency in hot water.
|
||
If your clerk is still refusing you help, don’t direct your anger
|
||
toward the clerk but instead keep reminding them of how
|
||
much grief this identity thief has put you through and how
|
||
badly you need some relief. Demand that the clerk provide
|
||
you with the official document that details the provisions of
|
||
the new identity theft policy. Information is power and a
|
||
careful review of their policy will give you the ammunition
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 86 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
you need to prove your claim. Also demand information on
|
||
the Social Security Administration's appeals process.
|
||
Armed with solid documentation and some Washington
|
||
influence, you should be able to win yourself a new number.
|
||
Here are the Social Security Administration's notes (taken
|
||
from their official manual):
|
||
1. You must prove to their satisfaction that someone else is
|
||
actually using your social security number to:
|
||
1. Illegally apply for government benefits (welfare,
|
||
food stamps, unemployment compensation, and
|
||
educational loans).
|
||
2. Obtain credit/credit cards (in your name).
|
||
3. Obtain employment (illegal aliens, fugitive
|
||
criminals).
|
||
4. Pursue other illegal activities (obtaining benefits
|
||
under workers' compensation).
|
||
5. Hide income from lawful taxation.
|
||
6. Evade lawful prosecution for past crimes.
|
||
7. Harass and/or stalk you.
|
||
8. Cash in government bonds (taxes are due from the
|
||
person cashing in the bonds, not the purchaser)
|
||
9. File fraudulent income tax returns (claiming non
|
||
existent refunds)
|
||
2. Whatever problems you are having, they must not be the
|
||
result of your actions.
|
||
3. You should be armed with documents from third parties
|
||
supporting your claim. (police reports, letters from credit
|
||
agencies or credit card banks, bill collectors)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 87 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
4. Your credit status must be negatively affected.
|
||
5. You must be "significantly affected".
|
||
You will be turned down flat if:
|
||
1. They conclude that you are seeking a new number
|
||
to escape the legal consequences of your own acts.
|
||
2. If your poor credit record is the result of your own
|
||
lack of financial responsibility
|
||
3. You're seeking to escape problems caused by a
|
||
past bankruptcy
|
||
4. You desire to be issued a particular number
|
||
5. Others used your social security number in a lawful
|
||
way
|
||
6. Your proof is insufficient or your story is not
|
||
sufficiently convincing
|
||
There is an alternative approach that has worked for many
|
||
others. If you claim that someone is stalking you with intent
|
||
to do you harm, (and you can somehow document your story
|
||
- preferably with police reports), you may be successful. But
|
||
your story must be believable and you must have some
|
||
impressive proof. Taking along a witness can work if they
|
||
are willing to sign a sworn statement.
|
||
The use of duplicate social security numbers was not much
|
||
of a problem until the passage of the Immigration Reform
|
||
Law of 1986, which required a worker to supply a new
|
||
employer with a copy of their social security card before they
|
||
could begin employment. This law triggered an explosion in
|
||
the use of duplicate numbers as illegal aliens struggled with
|
||
the new restriction.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 88 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Additional Notes:
|
||
The Social Security Administration is now running TV ads in
|
||
an effort to spread the word about their new policy regarding
|
||
domestic abuse. Anyone who can document domestic abuse
|
||
(either male or female) can now obtain a new social security
|
||
number.
|
||
I don't have the latest details on this one yet as my local
|
||
social security office only has an announcement that the
|
||
policy has been changed but is still waiting for all the details.
|
||
This could be very useful for those who can qualify. Check
|
||
the official social security website for the latest details on any
|
||
of these new programs as they may change.
|
||
Social Security Loophole
|
||
When a private business asks for your social security
|
||
number, it's almost certain that they have no legal authority
|
||
to make such a request. They're just trying to get away with
|
||
something. Most Americans are sheep and will provide their
|
||
number without giving it a thought, almost as a reflex. But
|
||
you're different.
|
||
A useful strategy is to ask for their legal authority, as they
|
||
scratch their head in confusion (very few people challenge
|
||
any kind of request for personal information in our open
|
||
society), mention that in the past you had your identity stolen
|
||
and have no intention of going through that again! Add that
|
||
your attorney has given you strict instructions to only release
|
||
your social security number to those legally entitled to it. No
|
||
exceptions!
|
||
But there's another interesting loophole in the laws regarding
|
||
social security number usage. There are those amongst us
|
||
who believe that the bible predicts our future. In one part of
|
||
the book of revelation it says something about the antichrist
|
||
taking over society and requiring that each of us be given the
|
||
"mark of the beast" without which no one will be allowed to
|
||
buy or sell.
|
||
Could the social security number be that long anticipated
|
||
mark? I don't know but plenty of folks believe it is and that's
|
||
all that matters. The result is a special allowance for those
|
||
who have a "religious objection" to using their social security
|
||
numbers.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 89 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Our friends in the government have actually come up with a
|
||
special form for such holy individuals. You state your
|
||
religious objection to providing your number and request
|
||
they provide you with the appropriate form. You fill it out and
|
||
a separate number is used in your records.
|
||
Does this work? Yes, it does and it works because it's official
|
||
government policy. It will work even for those who apply for
|
||
federal or state welfare programs, though you can expect
|
||
that it will raise a few eyebrows.
|
||
A quick phone call before you visit will let you know if the
|
||
people you're about to deal with are up to date on this new
|
||
regulation.
|
||
A Quick History of the Social Security Number
|
||
When the social security system was first introduced there
|
||
was a good deal of concern that the numbering system it
|
||
used would lead to each of being numbered by the
|
||
government. Of course the government promised that they
|
||
would never use this number for any other purpose than to
|
||
track your retirement account.
|
||
The first social security cards included a note on the bottom
|
||
to that effect. It said "Not for identification". The government
|
||
rules also barred the social security administration from
|
||
placing other personal ID type information on the card. Only
|
||
the name and number could appear. Until recently there
|
||
were federal laws that blocked any government agency from
|
||
collecting personal information on individual citizens.
|
||
Of course that rule was completely crushed by the so-called
|
||
Patriot Act. Now as you read this the feds are busy building
|
||
centralized dossier files on each of us which leaves our
|
||
freedoms at jeopardy.
|
||
Now the number is being used to track every aspect of our
|
||
lives. It's now your employee number at work, your account
|
||
number on most forms of insurance, your official taxpayer
|
||
identification number with the IRS, your voter registration
|
||
number, your drivers license number (in some states), your
|
||
student ID number at almost any kind of school and let us
|
||
not forget how the credit reporting industry tracks us with it!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 90 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Though there are new laws that will threaten people with
|
||
drastic new punishments for using a fake social security
|
||
number, there are many brave souls who have used them.
|
||
Because this is now illegal, I can't endorse such an act.
|
||
Fake ID
|
||
Fake id is a bad deal. There are new laws in almost every
|
||
state that make it a serious crime to even use a fake drivers
|
||
license. Sadly the good old days when you could carry
|
||
around several fake ids in your pocket that you could use
|
||
with impunity are sadly gone. After 9/11 things got even
|
||
tighter as the drivers license has taken on a whole new role,
|
||
particularly when you try to fly through an airport.
|
||
When applying for a certified copy of your birth certificate,
|
||
you’ll need a photocopy of your driver’s license. One clever
|
||
soul has reported that it's very easy to doctor a black and
|
||
white photocopy of your genuine license.
|
||
Before you send off your hard-earned money to some slick
|
||
fake id outfit you saw on the web, take the firm's name and
|
||
do a search using your favorite search engine. Chances are
|
||
you'll find numerous complaints from those who have been
|
||
ripped off by the site.
|
||
Though I have no direct knowledge, a company called
|
||
"Promaster" advertises widely on the web but we've noticed
|
||
a slew of complaints from suckers who never received their
|
||
ID. Our favorite search engine for investigating these outfits
|
||
is google.com.
|
||
Homemade Fake ID
|
||
The single most common need for a fake id comes when you
|
||
rent a mailbox (from one of those commercial mail box
|
||
companies). These outfits don't have any way to verify the
|
||
license you provide so you can usually get away with using a
|
||
not-quite-perfect DL.
|
||
Some have found the following useful. Today's PC
|
||
technology has provided us with some useful tools. Today
|
||
you can buy a high quality color scanner for around $100. If
|
||
you want one of the top models (look around CNET for the
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 91 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
latest equipment reviews) you'll have to shell out somewhere
|
||
around $250. USB scanners are best as they transfer data to
|
||
your PC much faster than the old units that connected via
|
||
the printer port.
|
||
You simple scan your existing genuine driver’s license into
|
||
your computer, change the typed personal information and
|
||
then print out the result. You'll need some good graphics
|
||
software and a good, high-qualify printer. The result will be a
|
||
new license that isn't all that bad. You could never hand it to
|
||
a cop or today even a bouncer, but it can certainly get you a
|
||
new post office box.
|
||
Be careful though - the overall image quality (resolution)
|
||
should be 2,400 dpi. This includes the scanner, software and
|
||
the printer. Anything less will provide a "fuzzy" looking
|
||
product that will instantly arouse suspicions.
|
||
Today, making a reasonable good-looking fake drivers
|
||
license is easier than ever before. But if you want a really
|
||
good-looking license that will pass even a comprehensive
|
||
examination - You'll have to be a technical genius to crank
|
||
out such a license on your home PC. The few people who
|
||
still deal in fake id have sophisticated systems complete with
|
||
expensive software and very expensive and hard-to-find
|
||
high-resolution printers
|
||
If you do manage to find some fake id on the web, it will
|
||
probably disappoint you.
|
||
One clever individual came up with this sneaky idea. The
|
||
magnetic strip on the back of a fake id can be added quickly
|
||
and easily by simply cutting up some good old cheap VHS
|
||
video tape. He just cut up several inches of tape until it
|
||
looked right.
|
||
Also, if you check around the web you'll find plenty of places
|
||
that offer to sell "templates" of genuine blank licenses. Of
|
||
course the quality varies widely so be careful not to spend
|
||
too much for them.
|
||
Unfortunately the best graphic software packages are rather
|
||
expensive though 30-day trial versions are usually available
|
||
for free download. Templates of New Jersey licenses are
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 92 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
usually of very low quality and outside New Jersey, their
|
||
licenses are often very carefully examined for this reason.
|
||
(Update: the feds have been cracking down on the open
|
||
distribution of DL templates so they're harder to find.
|
||
Paper Tripping - Adopting the Identity of a Deceased
|
||
Child
|
||
Perhaps you’ve heard about people who’ve assumed the
|
||
identities of deceased children by obtaining identity
|
||
documents using the information from their cemetery
|
||
headstones. If you think this approach sounds inviting, go
|
||
rent the movie "The Coneheads" and watch what happens to
|
||
Beldar Conehead when he attempts to "share" an identity
|
||
with one "Donald R. Decicco".
|
||
He quickly pops up on a computer along with about a dozen
|
||
other people who are using the same identity and social
|
||
security number. The immigration authorities have a good
|
||
laugh recalling all the losers that have used the Decicco
|
||
identity over the years.
|
||
The result - Mr. Beldar is immediately arrested. If you use
|
||
this grossly overused technique, you'll be breaking the law
|
||
and can expect to be sharing your "new" identity with several
|
||
other people. Think about it - is that really what you want to
|
||
do?
|
||
The problem with adopting another’s identity is that you can
|
||
never be sure exactly who you’re sharing the identity with.
|
||
There is simply no way that you can know how many others
|
||
have visited the same gravestone you have. Do you really
|
||
want to take the chance that you’ll be sharing an identity with
|
||
one of the FBI’s ten most wanted criminals? Or perhaps you
|
||
might like to share an identity with a cop-killer? Or an
|
||
international terrorist based in the Middle East?
|
||
One lady I know borrowed an identity from a gravestone only
|
||
to find a dozen cops surrounding her motel room 10 minutes
|
||
after she checked in! Though she had done nothing illegal,
|
||
she spent two days in jail while the FBI checked out her
|
||
story and eventually cleared her. It seems like someone else
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 93 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
(a criminal wanted for a murder and bank robbery) had
|
||
visited the same gravestone she had!
|
||
Recently several new reports have appeared that attempt to
|
||
resurrect this useless approach. They now claim to have
|
||
perfected methods that will assure that a particular infant’s
|
||
identity hasn’t yet been used. Don't believe them.
|
||
Even if you could be sure your infant’s identity is a virgin
|
||
one, how can anyone know who will attempt to share the
|
||
identity at some point in the future?
|
||
Now go rent the excellent movie "The Shawshank
|
||
Redemption" and see how a properly created new identity
|
||
can give someone (and his friend) a second chance at life.
|
||
A TRUE STORY
|
||
A friend thought that he had found a new way to resurrect
|
||
and use the identity of a deceased infant without having to
|
||
share it with anyone. I warned him about the dangers of the
|
||
classic dead infant "Paper Tripping" system but undeterred
|
||
he ventured out into a remote rural area where he found a
|
||
small church cemetery that looked as though no one had
|
||
visited it for years.
|
||
It was covered in thick vines and weeds. With considerable
|
||
effort, he managed to hack through the heavy grass that had
|
||
grown over a small grave in a remote area of the cemetery.
|
||
He was sure that no one had been there for ages. Surely no
|
||
one had ever found this grave before!
|
||
Using the information on the headstone, he easily located
|
||
the obituary in the local newspaper (at the library) which
|
||
gave him all the information he needed to get the death
|
||
certificate.
|
||
But when he finally requested the birth certificate, all he got
|
||
for his efforts was a form letter informing him that no birth
|
||
certificate would be forthcoming due to "excessive requests"!
|
||
Even though the gravestone was extremely difficult to find,
|
||
somehow others (many others) had requested copies of the
|
||
birth certificate in the recent past.
|
||
Our friends in the genealogy business publish books that
|
||
contain the inscriptions on headstones from all over the
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 94 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
country. Perhaps several identity-changers are using these
|
||
books so even abandoned and overgrown grave markers
|
||
aren't safe these days.
|
||
You should also know that many states are busily cross-
|
||
referencing their birth and death records (Canada has
|
||
already done this). The cross-referencing process here in
|
||
the US won't be completed for a decade or more.
|
||
If your target's birth and death have been cross-referenced,
|
||
you will be rewarded for your effort with a birth certificate
|
||
with "DECEASED" stamped across it in inch-high letters in
|
||
bright red indelible ink. Also, anyone who attempts to verify
|
||
the certificate (like the Social Security Administration or the
|
||
passport people at the US state department) will be promptly
|
||
informed that you are dead. Clearly, such a document is
|
||
useless.
|
||
Using a Mail Drop
|
||
Most identity changers start out by obtaining a new “home”
|
||
address where mail can be received. They usually use one
|
||
of those storefront PO box outfits. They avoid using an
|
||
official US post office box. The best units are the ones that
|
||
provide 24-hour access to the rented box. This way a box
|
||
renter can pick up their mail late at night when no one is
|
||
around.
|
||
They phone and request an application. They pay in cash or
|
||
with a money order. Most box renters use the boxes for
|
||
routine business mail as they don't have a local office. When
|
||
the box has been secured, they request some catalogs or
|
||
other routine looking mail. Receiving too little or too much
|
||
mail might cause problems.
|
||
The National ID Problem
|
||
Some elements in the federal government are seeking to
|
||
create a highly-fraud resistant, easily verifiable national ID
|
||
card in several different ways. The first approach would have
|
||
the Social Security Administration transform the current
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 95 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Social Security Card into a sophisticated passport-type
|
||
document that would include a digitized photograph printed
|
||
right into the paper (instead of the more easily altered glued-
|
||
on photo), sophisticated high-tech features like bar-coding
|
||
and enciphered magnetic coding.
|
||
The card would probably include fingerprints in a format that
|
||
can be easily verified through the FBI's new online fingerprint
|
||
system. Such a document would be virtually impossible to
|
||
alter or counterfeit. Draconian new laws would include huge
|
||
penalties for anyone who attempted to use the document in
|
||
an unauthorized manner.
|
||
In addition, this new card would contain a chip into which a
|
||
wide range of personal data could be entered and then
|
||
retrieved and viewed by anyone who had access to the card.
|
||
The federal government is working feverishly to organize
|
||
and cross-index various databases in an effort to assemble
|
||
huge databases of personal data on US citizens.
|
||
Commercial interests are getting into the act also as several
|
||
airlines have proposed a "privileged traveler" system that
|
||
would link dozens of federal databases with the airline
|
||
reservation system. The system would allow frequent
|
||
business flyers to bypass long security lines and stroll
|
||
directly onto waiting planes without the usual scrutiny and
|
||
delays.
|
||
Many different bills are sloshing their way around
|
||
Washington that all have a common cause - to make it more
|
||
difficult to obtain any useful form of personal identity
|
||
documents. Criminals and Illegal immigrants have long
|
||
known that the southern states have less demanding
|
||
application requirements and since anyone can apply for a
|
||
license in any state, they flock to the more lenient states.
|
||
If they need a license in a more restrictive state, they simply
|
||
obtain a license in the easiest way possible and then use it
|
||
to obtain a new license in their desired state. This weakness
|
||
is now well known in Washington and there legislators are
|
||
looking at how best they can tighten up the application
|
||
procedures on a nation-wide basis.
|
||
Many states are training their clerks so they can more readily
|
||
recognize phony ID documents, particularly birth certificates
|
||
and fake drivers licenses. The government has created
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 96 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
bound volumes with images of the most widely sold
|
||
documents. For this reason anyone tempted to purchase
|
||
blank ID documents on the web should think again.
|
||
The most successful identity changers prefer to use
|
||
documents they created themselves on their own computers.
|
||
Following the same basic design as a genuine document
|
||
seems to work best.
|
||
In a decade or so you can expect the feds will standardize
|
||
US birth certificates and drivers licenses so they will all look
|
||
alike though there is considerable resistance to the idea. If
|
||
and when this occurs, the current hodge-podge of birth
|
||
certificate forms will be history. But for now the whole system
|
||
is based on a confused conglomeration of different
|
||
document designs.
|
||
Most of these new issuing restrictions will be focused on
|
||
foreigners so those who look, act and speak like typical
|
||
Americans shouldn't have any real problems. But those who
|
||
look even a bit like an Arab will have constant problems.
|
||
INS verification of resident alien identification is being
|
||
upgraded so that instant online verification can be achieved.
|
||
Right now a two to four hour verification delay is usual and
|
||
the databases involved are notoriously inaccurate and poorly
|
||
coordinated. This will soon change.
|
||
A new database of temporary residence visas and green
|
||
cards is being assembled and will soon be available to
|
||
driver’s license bureaus all over the country. Foreign driver’s
|
||
license applicants will be carefully screened. If they're not
|
||
here legally, not only will they not get their license, they will
|
||
face immediate deportation. A system like this could have
|
||
identified the 9/11 terrorists and exposed their whole
|
||
operation years earlier.
|
||
Even if a foreign applicant passes the INS check, they'll be
|
||
issued a license that's only good for one year and is of a
|
||
different color and design than those issued to US citizens. It
|
||
will also include data on the holder's visa/green card status.
|
||
That would require them to return to the license bureau and
|
||
re-apply each year.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 97 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Their licenses will be mailed to their home address, the one
|
||
that the INS has on record even in states that issue licenses
|
||
on the spot (this would make it much more difficult for foreign
|
||
agents to slip into the US and move around freely without
|
||
any fixed US address).
|
||
This will force aliens into carefully maintaining their resident
|
||
status to avoid problems. Any policeman who stops them
|
||
would be able to instantly determine their right to be in the
|
||
US and trigger a deportation if their status is not completely
|
||
legal.
|
||
Soon all states will have online verification of applicant social
|
||
security numbers. Some do today but many don't have the
|
||
funding or motivation. Under new federal legislation they
|
||
may soon be required to set up the required systems.
|
||
Since 9/11 California has instituted restrictive new rules that
|
||
make it very difficult for foreigners to obtain drivers licenses.
|
||
Their social security number and resident status must be
|
||
verified (through the use of paper documents) with SSA and
|
||
INS by mail before a license can be mailed out.
|
||
As a result, police there now report vast numbers of aliens
|
||
driving around without licenses or insurance. For this reason
|
||
(and others) some states have recently stopped asking for
|
||
social security numbers. They include Texas, North Carolina
|
||
and Utah. These states have a lot of illegal residents and
|
||
don't want to land in the same mess as California.
|
||
Washington has made it illegal to use a person's social
|
||
security number as their drivers license number. Some
|
||
states like Ohio and Alabama ask for the number but don't
|
||
display in on the license and is not verified. Does all this
|
||
sound confusing? It is!
|
||
Some states have found the idea of using biometrics like
|
||
fingerprints or retinal scans unacceptable from a privacy
|
||
standpoint. There are problems with these systems, which
|
||
reduce their reliability. But other states have started down
|
||
that road. Hawaii, Texas, California and Colorado collect
|
||
fingerprints from drivers license applicants though they have
|
||
no way to verify them immediately at the present time.
|
||
From now on you can expect the kinds of documents they're
|
||
willing to accept to become more restrictive. In the past the
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 98 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
baptismal certificate was a useful ID document but it's likely
|
||
to fade into history as regulations are tightened.
|
||
Notarized copies used to do very well but you can expect
|
||
that they'll now insist on only certified copies.
|
||
Does your state do online social security number
|
||
verifications? It's easy to find out. Just go online and go the
|
||
state government site. There you will find a link that will
|
||
provide the needed information. Or you could call the license
|
||
bureau personally and just ask. Ask them exactly what
|
||
documents they'll accept.
|
||
If you've just moved to town and your personal papers are
|
||
still in transit, you'll need to know what the rules are in detail.
|
||
Then pump them for information until you get the answers
|
||
you want.
|
||
If you have a suspended or revoked license from another
|
||
state this fact will quickly be discovered if you're applying
|
||
using the same name and birth date. The NDR (National
|
||
Driver Register) will trip you up.
|
||
Funny thing here is that while the good old baptismal
|
||
certificate is now recognized as being almost worthless,
|
||
another ID document has more or less taken its place. The
|
||
voters registration card gets far more respect than it
|
||
deserves.
|
||
It's ridiculously easy to obtain. Under new rules designed to
|
||
encourage us to vote, the application procedure is almost
|
||
comical. They hand you a card. You fill it out. They take it
|
||
and say thank you. The card is then mailed to you. The only
|
||
requirement is that you have a mailing address. You'd think
|
||
a clerk would laugh at such a document, but instead they
|
||
accept it with deep respect.
|
||
Other proposed legislation would bar anyone from opening a
|
||
bank account, buying an airline ticket, boarding a plane,
|
||
starting a new job, buying a firearm or even making a retail
|
||
purchase without first presenting this new document for
|
||
online verification. By monitoring the times and locations of
|
||
your online verifications, the government could effectively
|
||
track your each and every move.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 99 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
And worse, anyone who performed an online verification
|
||
would have instant access to every bit of info the federal
|
||
government has on you in all their various databases.
|
||
Information abuse could never be adequately avoided
|
||
despite the government's claims to the contrary.
|
||
If the police pull you over for any reason (and they no longer
|
||
need a reason - they can now pull you over just because you
|
||
meet a particular "profile") you'll be legally required to
|
||
produce this new document and undergo the online check.
|
||
If you are unable to produce your verifiable card, you'll be
|
||
detained or arrested until access to your files can be
|
||
restored and verified.
|
||
But if you think about it, the document itself is only important
|
||
as it contains your fingerprint data. Police cars will be
|
||
equipped with online FBI fingerprint verification systems. A
|
||
cop swipes your card through a card reader, you press your
|
||
thumb on a small sensor and your entire life's history pops
|
||
up on the computer screen in a few seconds. (Actually the
|
||
police can call up your file before they pull you over by
|
||
running your license plate number through their new
|
||
dashboard laptop computer).
|
||
Does all this make you nervous? It should scare you to
|
||
death! Our hard-won constitutionally guaranteed freedoms
|
||
are rapidly being devoured by what is fast becoming a high-
|
||
tech police state.
|
||
The second approach to a national ID involves our driver’s
|
||
licenses. Until now drivers licenses have been completely
|
||
under the control of state governments. Each state created
|
||
licenses with unique designs and various combinations of
|
||
security features. States like Michigan produce high-tech
|
||
licenses that are all but impossible to forge or alter while
|
||
Tennessee is at the other end of the spectrum with a low-
|
||
tech license they give out with few restrictions or scrutiny.
|
||
Under new legislation the states would surrender control to a
|
||
centralized federal system in Washington, DC. Washington
|
||
would then dictate exactly what information the card must
|
||
include and also it's format and color. Only those driver’s
|
||
licenses that meet the federal standard will be accepted by
|
||
the feds when citizens apply for benefits, employment or
|
||
travel.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 100 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
States that don't "buckle under" to the new requirements will
|
||
be very heavily penalized and their citizens will pay a price
|
||
through federal harassment. Some federal funds for highway
|
||
construction and other uses might also be curtailed for states
|
||
that don't quickly comply with the new federal restrictions.
|
||
Fortunately for us, these well-oiled plans are way behind
|
||
schedule. The Social Security Administration has flatly
|
||
refused to become involved in the photographing and
|
||
fingerprinting of tens of millions of people.
|
||
Money is a problem also as the cost of all this has exceeded
|
||
previously established limits for unfunded new programs so
|
||
the bills have been shelved until new funds can be found.
|
||
Also, the federal demand that all drivers’ licenses bear the
|
||
holder's social security number; have been dropped for now
|
||
due to rampant identity theft. Many states allow applicants to
|
||
specify whether or not they want their SSN on their licenses.
|
||
A $10 million dollar research program was passed in early
|
||
January of 2002, which seeks to identity the biological
|
||
factors that could best be used in a new national ID card.
|
||
(IBM has created a workable online fingerprint verification
|
||
system)
|
||
Other legislation seeks to standardize both the US birth
|
||
certificate and the US state drivers licenses in preparation
|
||
for the creation of a nation-wide current drivers license
|
||
database.
|
||
The overall goal is to create an ironclad national ID card that
|
||
could be quickly verified online against DMV, NCIC (crime),
|
||
INS (immigration), IRS (taxes), vital records (birth certificate)
|
||
and gun-control databases. Any such card is at least 15
|
||
years away but you can expect big brother to steadily move
|
||
in that direction starting with a standardized drivers license,
|
||
which could appear within a decade.
|
||
Thankfully the Bush administration has voiced opposition to
|
||
the entire idea of a national ID card and the ACLU is doing
|
||
all it can to oppose the entire concept.
|
||
On 2/19/02 news stories surfaced that outlined a new
|
||
government program aimed at starting the national ID
|
||
process with truck drivers. In the interest of road safety the
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 101 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
federal government is working on a national ID system with
|
||
an online verification service based in Washington, DC. The
|
||
plan is then to expand the system to include train
|
||
conductors, airline pilots and other employees who are in
|
||
positions of public trust. Is this the thin edge of the wedge?
|
||
Social Security Number Verification
|
||
During the last year the following states have begun to verify
|
||
the social security numbers of all applicants in real time
|
||
before issuing a drivers license.
|
||
Alabama, Arizona, Washington DC, Idaho, Maine, Maryland,
|
||
Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada,
|
||
New York, Ohio, S. Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia,
|
||
Washington and Wyoming.
|
||
If you have more recent information on this trend, please
|
||
drop us a note and keep us up to date. Thanks.
|
||
Identity Theft Problems
|
||
Unfortunately, identity theft is exploding. To help combat this
|
||
new crime, many states have recently allowed applicants to
|
||
request that their drivers’ licenses not display their social
|
||
security numbers. So if you have your wallet or purse stolen,
|
||
the thief will not have your ssn.
|
||
This trend flies in the face of the new federal legislation,
|
||
which, of course, requires that the driver’s licenses include
|
||
the social security number in readable, magnetic and bar
|
||
code formats.
|
||
Currently there are two different sets of federal laws that are
|
||
on a collision course. One federal law requires that all
|
||
driver’s licenses include social security numbers within two
|
||
years while a different federal law requires that drivers have
|
||
the option of omitting their ssn from a new drivers license.
|
||
The states are very confused about their future plans.
|
||
What's the bottom line on all this? Though their original effort
|
||
has been thwarted for the present, don't expect our "friends"
|
||
in Washington to abandon their repressive plans. You can
|
||
bet they will continue to work behind the scenes. And when
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 102 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
they're ready, they'll "roll out" the new card under the guise
|
||
of fighting crime, drugs, child molesters and terrorism and
|
||
everything else people fear.
|
||
After our government and corporate controlled media have
|
||
fanned the flames of mass anxiety to a fever pitch, the
|
||
American people will drop to their knees and beg for the new
|
||
ID without giving a thought to the terrible effect this will have
|
||
on our hard-won freedoms.
|
||
Avoiding the Dreaded MIB
|
||
The US insurance industry maintains a centralized patient
|
||
database that they use to screen insurance applicants. This
|
||
information (usually negative) is used to deny them
|
||
insurance or services. Most of the information it contains
|
||
was obtained from insurance application forms so you
|
||
should carefully consider what you should or shouldn't write
|
||
down.
|
||
Say you ask your doctor to do some blood tests. As a matter
|
||
of routine he throws in an HIV test just to be sure. To
|
||
everyone's surprise it comes back positive. Of course you're
|
||
shocked but you are also soon to be uninsurable.
|
||
When your diagnosis hits the MIB computer, any insurance
|
||
company you apply to will have access to this information
|
||
and will quickly deny you coverage. Your existing insurer
|
||
may also soon find that you no longer belong to the target
|
||
group your present class of insurance was intended for.
|
||
In short, your insurance will soon be cancelled and
|
||
replacement insurance will be unavailable. In America only
|
||
the healthy get insurance. This insane system has got to
|
||
change!
|
||
Information is retained for a period of seven years and can
|
||
be reviewed by patients. You can get the details by phone
|
||
at: (617) 426-3660. Strangely, their records are not
|
||
organized by social security number.
|
||
If the data they have is incorrect (this has been known to
|
||
happen on occasion) - let them know and demand that they
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 103 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
correct their information. Threaten to launch a web site with
|
||
all the details of their abuse of your file if they won't make the
|
||
change. Or perhaps a threat of legal action will be required
|
||
to clear the logjam.
|
||
When you seek medical care, you may be handed a routine
|
||
form to sign. Somewhere near the bottom will be one or two
|
||
signature lines that will authorize them to "release medical
|
||
information to any and all that may request it".
|
||
Wow - this is a blanket authorization you really should avoid
|
||
signing. If you leave the signatures blank you can expect
|
||
some pressure to be applied (Sorry - but we can't treat you if
|
||
you don't sign here and here).
|
||
I've found the following to be the best course of action. On
|
||
each signature line write something like "release not
|
||
authorized". If you scribble it a bit, the clerk won't notice that
|
||
it's not a genuine signature. I've done this twice with no
|
||
problem at all. And if you pay cash (extremely rare these
|
||
days), you can tell the clerk that there's no need for
|
||
signatures, as you have no insurance. (Don’t forget to ask
|
||
for cash discount!)
|
||
College Towns are Great
|
||
Wonder where’s the best place to live? What kind of town
|
||
would be best? Generally speaking a new resident will stand
|
||
out in any rural setting. Also, small towns tend to be hot beds
|
||
of gossip. Everyone seems to know everyone else's
|
||
business and new arrivals are a favorite subject for the local
|
||
gossip mill.
|
||
Then there are those who want to flock to tourist areas. Here
|
||
there is a rapid turnover in people so new people should be
|
||
able to blend in and get lost. But you run the risk of running
|
||
into someone you know from home. Such an encounter
|
||
could be a complete disaster. They also tend to be
|
||
expensive places to live.
|
||
Looking at all the factors the best overall place to live would
|
||
be in a nice medium sized college town. These towns are
|
||
generally pleasant places with just the right turnover in
|
||
population. Each year a class graduates and departs while
|
||
another arrives. Also some part of the faculty changes each
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 104 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
year. As a result the locals get used to seeing plenty of new
|
||
faces on a regular basis. There are usually very few tourists.
|
||
Also, during economic downturns the economy of a college
|
||
town will usually remain relatively steady and unaffected.
|
||
Social Security Numbers
|
||
Up until five years ago or so, the obtaining of a new social
|
||
security number was not all that difficult but sadly things
|
||
have changed. You used to be able to apply for a new card
|
||
entirely through the mail. Today anyone over the age of 20
|
||
must appear in person and go through an "interview".
|
||
Though it is illegal to sell forged social security cards, some
|
||
companies get away selling metal cards that look like the
|
||
original, stamped with the name and number of the holder.
|
||
The social security administration does not prosecute these
|
||
companies. Some people who don’t know better will accept
|
||
them as ID if you simply say that your original is kept in your
|
||
safety deposit box.
|
||
One of these manufacturers is: Walter Drake, 5186 Drake
|
||
Building, Colorado Springs, CO 80940 - (719) 596-3853.
|
||
They sell a nifty solid brass "card" (item number P4004 -
|
||
Social Security Plate - $3.99 plus $2.95 shipping). If this firm
|
||
is no around, look around the web under "aluminum social
|
||
security card".
|
||
Most SSN applicants are infants whose parents must obtain
|
||
a new number in order to claim them as dependents on their
|
||
taxes or teenagers who need the number so they can start
|
||
working. Men over the age of 20 are going to have a tough
|
||
time qualifying for a new social security number. Women
|
||
who were recently divorced commonly apply for new
|
||
numbers as they claim they never needed one before. This
|
||
interview should present no problem for a woman,
|
||
particularly if she has recent divorce papers with her.
|
||
An old friend who lived overseas for many years came up
|
||
with the following. He was an oil worker who worked in the
|
||
oil fields of Saudi Arabia. When he was 35 years old he
|
||
returned to the U.S. and had to apply for a SSN. He strolled
|
||
into the social security office and was promptly interrogated.
|
||
He explained his situation and produced documents
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 105 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
supporting his story. He promptly got his new SSN number.
|
||
He was treated well and had no problems.
|
||
The social security people will verify your BC (If you’re over
|
||
age 17) and may even verify your new parents’ birth
|
||
certificates. No problem there. Also, the application requires
|
||
a local phone number (which they may trace to find your
|
||
address and real name) should the application run into any
|
||
problems. Before you leave their office ask if you can phone
|
||
in for your new number rather than waiting for their snail-like
|
||
bureaucracy to grind out a card.
|
||
Some commercial post box rental stores offer a "stand-alone
|
||
voice-mail" system that will allow you to record a recording
|
||
using your own name and voice.
|
||
This will create a good image should the social security
|
||
people call. Such a number is not easily traced. You might
|
||
want to rent a PO box at the PO box rental store. This will
|
||
allow you to use a PO box while providing a street address
|
||
that looks like an apartment address. (Example: 123 Main
|
||
St. Apt 456 instead of PO Box 456)
|
||
A note about forged social security cards: In the late
|
||
seventies there were a slew of mail order firms that sold
|
||
blank social security cards for two bucks each. No longer. A
|
||
new federal law makes it a federal felony to make or sell
|
||
forged SSN cards.
|
||
In major cities there are sleazy-looking characters strolling
|
||
around the streets offering to get you any kind of ID you
|
||
want. They demand cash up front and guess what happens -
|
||
they run off never to be seen again. it’s a neat crime as the
|
||
customers never report the crime. Let the buyer beware!
|
||
This gem comes from numerous sources. Simply write up a
|
||
request for a SSN application in pen on a sheet of notebook
|
||
paper. Make the letter look like a sixteen-year-old girl wrote
|
||
it. The social security people receive tons of these letters
|
||
everyday. You apply as if you are only sixteen. (Your new
|
||
parents will have to have lived long enough to raise you
|
||
however.) You then submit your application, get your new
|
||
SSN and use it no matter your age.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 106 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Update: The technique above may still work but recent
|
||
changes to social security regulations are intended to restrict
|
||
the issuance of new social security numbers to small
|
||
children only.
|
||
It's clear that big brother is moving toward a system where
|
||
only newborn babies will be issued new numbers. But there
|
||
are still millions of small children out there who don't have
|
||
numbers issued to them yet.
|
||
The best strategy now is to submit an application for what
|
||
appears to be your child - under age 5. Find the "social
|
||
security online" site (you can find it using any major search
|
||
engine). Carefully read up on the latest rules regarding
|
||
childhood applications.
|
||
Once the number is issued it can be used in almost any way.
|
||
The social security people won't care, as they have no
|
||
reason to launch expensive investigations. On your
|
||
application you can simply transpose two numbers in the
|
||
birth date which throws it open for you to, at some future
|
||
date, claim that a typographical error was made.
|
||
And since the age of the applicant appears to be under age
|
||
18, there is no need for the dreaded "mandatory personal
|
||
interview".
|
||
Old Cards - New Cards
|
||
The social security card is a funny sort of document. When
|
||
the cards first came out many people were concerned that
|
||
the government would use the social security number to
|
||
track citizens. To help reduce these fears early cards had
|
||
"Not for Identification Purposes" stamped across them in
|
||
red.
|
||
Those old fears were well founded. Today when you give
|
||
someone your social security number you are providing
|
||
them the key to all your computerized records private and
|
||
public. Worst of all, you have no way of controlling who
|
||
views what.
|
||
Those early fears are why the social security card contains
|
||
so little information. Only your name and number appear.
|
||
This makes it a very unusual form of ID. By itself it's almost
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 107 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
worthless. But used in conjunction with the most important
|
||
primary form of ID, a driver’s license, you have the magical
|
||
combination that can open many doors.
|
||
You can't get a job without one. It's taken as defacto proof of
|
||
US citizenship, you'll need one to open a bank account and
|
||
your drivers license number may (or may not) be your social
|
||
security number. The IRS (since 1961) and schools use the
|
||
SSN for their records. The card may not provide much
|
||
information, but it's an absolute necessity for new identity
|
||
changers.
|
||
Very Best Names
|
||
The very best first names for our purposes are those that are
|
||
not gender-specific such as Francis, Pat, Terry, Rob (Robert
|
||
or Roberta) or Dana. This adds yet another confusion factor
|
||
to confuse anyone interested in your new name.
|
||
Before 9/11 almost any name would do but today it's best to
|
||
stick to American sounding surnames. Names like Hamilton,
|
||
Peterson, Anderson, Sullivan and Smith are typical names
|
||
that anyone would rapidly identify as being American.
|
||
Muhammad al Tarif is an example of a name you would want
|
||
to carefully avoid these days.
|
||
Forging a Social Security Card
|
||
In 1983 the social security administration came out with a
|
||
new social security card. It's printed on a special tamper
|
||
resistant stock that is held in a single vault in Maryland.
|
||
Take a good look at it and you'll see that the background is
|
||
marbled in a very tricky way and that the red insignia is
|
||
intertwined with the text. This makes it very difficult to forge
|
||
or modify. In addition, a new law forbids holders from
|
||
laminating the card. (Lamination makes it all but impossible
|
||
to detect tampering)
|
||
That's the bad news. Now for some good news: The older,
|
||
easier to alter cards are still valid. So if your working history
|
||
started before 1983, the older less tamper-resistant card is
|
||
still very useful. The old card was printed on plain old white
|
||
card stock and was very often laminated.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 108 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
You should also know that foreigners who live or do
|
||
business in the US are issued special social security cards
|
||
that look like the others except they bear a warning "Not for
|
||
Employment Purposes" across their face. Under IRS rules
|
||
foreigners must pay US taxes for any income they earn while
|
||
here even though they are citizens of some other country.
|
||
These cards are used to help track their earnings and be
|
||
sure they pay their US taxes.
|
||
There have been those who have used this information as
|
||
foreign birth certificates come in a bewildering variety of
|
||
colors and shapes.
|
||
The social security administration issues these foreign cards
|
||
without much fuss, as they are only good for paying taxes.
|
||
Perhaps you know someone who was born overseas and
|
||
has their original foreign BC.
|
||
How to Verify a Social Security Number
|
||
An employer can verify a social security number by calling:
|
||
1-800-772-6270 (7am to 7pm EST).
|
||
You'll need the following information:
|
||
1. The social security number
|
||
2. First and last name
|
||
3. Date of birth
|
||
4. Gender
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 109 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
92 Advanced Privacy Tactics
|
||
1. Checks should never be cashed at a local bar. Those
|
||
dives are monitored by local law enforcement. Reports of
|
||
arrests made in local neighborhood bars appear in the paper
|
||
on a regular basis. They know that if the man they’re after
|
||
isn’t in one of these crappy local bars, someone there will
|
||
probably know where he is.
|
||
2. Make all phone calls from a pay phone and change which
|
||
pay phone you use from time to time. If you would rather call
|
||
from home, purchase one of those "Caller ID blockers"
|
||
boxes from Radio Shack. It's a little plastic box that connects
|
||
between your phone and the line outlet on the wall. They
|
||
cost about $20 and are well worth the price as they block
|
||
any attempt to retrieve your number when you make an
|
||
outgoing call. Some come with a little on/off switch that you
|
||
can use to enable caller-id if you need to. When you lift the
|
||
phone the box lets you know it's working by giving you three
|
||
little beeps. The phone company in most areas provides a
|
||
free way to turn off your caller-id but it isn't as effective as
|
||
the Radio Shack box.
|
||
3. At work avoid giving your fellow employees too much info.
|
||
Don't let the gossip mill get interested in you. Give them a
|
||
minimum of info in a way that satisfies them but avoid giving
|
||
them too much grist for the mill.
|
||
4. Drop any magazine or newspaper subscriptions you may
|
||
have. If you miss your favorite magazine, buy copies from a
|
||
newsstand for cash. Don't order special magazines through
|
||
a stand or bookstore. If you really need to get a copy of a
|
||
hard to find magazine, call the magazine and ask them for
|
||
the address of the nearest retail outlet that carries their
|
||
magazine or visit your local library.
|
||
5. Avoid attending any sort of religious services. If you feel
|
||
the need, read your bible and pray at home. If you must
|
||
attend a church, be sure to provide them with a phony name.
|
||
Make donations in cash only. Do not provide other church
|
||
members with any personal information. They can be real
|
||
nosy gossips, especially in small towns. In the south church
|
||
members spend half their time praying and the other half
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 110 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
gossiping about the newest arrivals in town.
|
||
If a snoop knows that you are a religious Catholic, they'll
|
||
check around with the Catholics in any area they suspect
|
||
you might be living.
|
||
And if you're a dedicated member of some smaller faith, it
|
||
makes the snoops job easier as there are fewer churches to
|
||
search.
|
||
6. Keep your personal schedule as varied as possible. Don't
|
||
come and go like clockwork. You don't want to be too
|
||
predictable at this stage. Your daily personal movements
|
||
should match the story you give your neighbors as much as
|
||
possible. If you told them you have a job, they'll expect you
|
||
to leave early each morning and arrive back home in the
|
||
early evening. Don't give them any reason to doubt your
|
||
truthfulness.
|
||
7. No matter how difficult it might be - carefully avoid
|
||
arguments. Your new neighbor may be the worst idiot you've
|
||
ever met, but no matter how insane his actions or
|
||
comments, avoid getting involved in arguments with him. Be
|
||
nice and swallow your anger. Don't throw parties, keep your
|
||
music down low, don't keep pets, keep your lawn clean and
|
||
live the life of a monk at least for the immediate future. If
|
||
you're forced into putting a neighbor in his place, speak to
|
||
them man to man and be very sure you're alone. Speak in
|
||
low tones to be sure you're not overheard. Tell him that you
|
||
killed better men than them in Vietnam (or if you're younger -
|
||
the Gulf War).
|
||
Unless he's a man of substance and character (and there
|
||
are damned few of them around these days) - he'll cave in
|
||
and keep his distance. (I pulled this stunt once and the guy
|
||
was so terrorized he packed up his whole family and moved
|
||
out of state the very next week!) If he calls the cops and they
|
||
come to visit, be as nice as you can be. Deny that you
|
||
threatened him in any way and stick to your story. Try to
|
||
appear as reasonable and clean cut as possible. Do not get
|
||
angry. Do not raise your voice. Deny everything. With no
|
||
witness they'll have no probable cause to arrest you. When it
|
||
comes down to his word against yours - the cops will leave
|
||
you be if you look credible. The police are experts at making
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 111 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
on the spot decisions and they'll almost always side with the
|
||
most credible looking of the two parties.
|
||
8. Never deposit a check in an account that bears your
|
||
name. Instead take the check to the issuing bank and cash it
|
||
there. If the checks are regular paychecks, try to vary which
|
||
bank branch you visit along with the time of day and day of
|
||
the week. Don't make small talk with the teller. Always stay
|
||
low key.
|
||
9. Pay your bills in cash whenever possible. Money orders
|
||
can also be used but be sure to leave the payer line blank.
|
||
Money orders, particularly those from smaller firms sold
|
||
through convenience stores are your best bet. They're
|
||
tracked by their number not by your name. Never attempt to
|
||
buy a money order for more than $700 as the issuing firms
|
||
are required to submit a report to big brother on large
|
||
transactions.
|
||
10. If you have to visit a doctor or dentist, be careful about
|
||
providing genuine information. Pay in cash. Remember,
|
||
medical records are wide open to snoops and insurance
|
||
companies. What you tell your attorney is confidential but
|
||
what you tell your doc might as well appear on the front page
|
||
of the newspaper! Later when you have your new identity in
|
||
place, you can use a new doctor to help build your new
|
||
identity. If you have an unusual medical problem or need
|
||
unusual medications, snoops can use this information to
|
||
locate you.
|
||
11. Be careful about having anything delivered to your new
|
||
home. Your neighbors may notice any unusual deliveries. If
|
||
you're not home, a delivery service may automatically ask
|
||
your neighbor to receive and hold your package for you. This
|
||
would cause some raised eyebrows. Don't feed the rumor
|
||
mill.
|
||
12. Avoid joining any sort of group. A new membership will
|
||
provide a snoop with a direct link to you if the group is
|
||
involved in activities you enjoyed in your old life. Also, your
|
||
fellow members will be asking questions and talking about
|
||
you behind your back. Why expose yourself needlessly?
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 112 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
13. Never sign for a certified or registered letter or package
|
||
unless you know exactly what it is and who sent it. Skip
|
||
tracers love to use certified mail, as it's a cheap and quick
|
||
way to locate someone. They'll send a letter out via certified
|
||
mail to an address they suspect you may be using. If a
|
||
mailman appears on your doorstep, go to the door. If the
|
||
item is addressed to your old name - say "who?" and them
|
||
tell him that no one by that name lives at this address.
|
||
Or if your situation warrants it, you might want to send your
|
||
pursuers on a wild goose chase by saying that the
|
||
addressee used to live here but left last month when he got
|
||
a two-year contract to do some wilderness photography or
|
||
"mission work" down in Argentina. Skip tracers may also
|
||
send a letter to someone you don't know (probably a made
|
||
up name) and send it “in care of" you. They hope this will
|
||
cause you to lower your guard, as you would naturally want
|
||
to help a friend.
|
||
Or they may make the letter look like a check (a favorite
|
||
stunt). Don't fall for their tricks. If it arrives in the mail, write
|
||
"Addressee Unknown" or "Deceased" on it and drop it in the
|
||
nearest mailbox.
|
||
Be aware that when you get suspicious mail you just may be
|
||
in for a personal visit from a snoop. Be sure to notify anyone
|
||
that knows your true whereabouts not to forward ANY mail,
|
||
no matter the situation. Warn them that a snoop may pose
|
||
as an attorney who has a large check for you (from the
|
||
estate of an old friend of yours that recently died) and just
|
||
wants to know where to send the money so they can close
|
||
their books. It's an old trick that often still works.
|
||
14. Don't agree to accept the charges on a person-to-person
|
||
collect call. Just hang up. If you have a home phone, go
|
||
down to Radio Shack and buy one of their "Caller-ID
|
||
Blockers". An answering machine would also be a good
|
||
investment. Have your recording answer the phone with your
|
||
new name. "Hi this is Sam - I'm away from the phone right
|
||
now - Please leave a message and I'll get back to you as
|
||
soon as possible - thanks". This will throw off anyone who
|
||
calls looking for someone named Bill. You might also want to
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 113 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
mask your voice a bit also. Don't include any other info in
|
||
your recording.
|
||
15. Be very careful what you tell your new neighbors. It's
|
||
best if you can provide the usual type of info. No more, no
|
||
less. If the information you provide is too vague or if you're
|
||
unwilling to share any info at all, it will raise a red flag with
|
||
your new neighbors and their gossip will shift into high gear.
|
||
So just have a story down pat and provide them with what
|
||
they expect. Always remember, your new neighbors are your
|
||
enemy. Don't confide in them, no matter how nice they
|
||
seem. Snoops may well give them a call. And since they
|
||
have no stake in your situation, they'll cooperate and spill the
|
||
beans. And be especially careful with lonely old lady
|
||
neighbors. Smile and be extremely nice to them.
|
||
Little old ladies are a paranoid bunch who will call the cops
|
||
at the drop of a hat if they dislike you or disapprove of your
|
||
lifestyle. Your dog barks - they call the cops. Your stereo is
|
||
too loud - they call the cops. They hear loud voices - they
|
||
call the cops. And they can make up some really wild tales
|
||
that will have the local police all over you. With the exception
|
||
of a lover, a neighbor is the second most likely person to
|
||
"blow your cover".
|
||
16. If you need a prescription filled, be very careful. Take
|
||
each prescription to a different pharmacy. Be careful about
|
||
providing a pharmacy with too much genuine information. If
|
||
you have an ongoing need for a particular drug you might
|
||
consider using one of those mail-order pharmacies. They
|
||
can ship you three months worth of your medicine right to
|
||
your doorstep. Always ask your doc if there is a generic
|
||
version of the drug you need as you won't have any
|
||
insurance so will need to pay full price. Some drugs can get
|
||
extremely expensive when you're paying full retail. If you
|
||
need a rare medicine you should know that snoops can use
|
||
this info against you. They can "flag" drug company
|
||
computers to notify them of all purchases of low-volume
|
||
medicines.
|
||
17. No matter what situation might arise, always be prepared
|
||
to provide a believable story as to who you are, where you
|
||
are coming from and where you are going to. Investigators
|
||
can smell a lie so you'll need to be so well prepared that you
|
||
can lie smoothly. (Just pretend you're a politician!)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 114 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
18. Avoid taking long walks or drives at night. To do so
|
||
would expose you to the unwanted attentions of the police
|
||
that come out at night.
|
||
19. Always drive the speed limit. This should be obvious but
|
||
then it's the obvious things that are the ruin of most identity-
|
||
changers. Strangely, the state troopers that patrol the
|
||
freeways will become suspicious if a car is driving exactly at
|
||
or just below the post speed limit. So just blend into the
|
||
traffic flow (which is usually moving along at around 5mph
|
||
over the limit).
|
||
20. Maintain a lower middle-class standard of living. If you're
|
||
too poor or too affluent you'll attract attention. Your car can
|
||
cause you problems if it's too expensive and so doesn't fit
|
||
into the story you provided your neighbors.
|
||
21. If you feel the need to "blow off steam" by partying - do it
|
||
somewhere else. Try a tourist spot or at least another city
|
||
(preferably in another state). How about Las Vegas or
|
||
Atlantic City? Don't do it anywhere near your home.
|
||
22. Cut your hair. Neat, clean and conservative is the look
|
||
you're shooting for. Shorter hair also makes you look
|
||
younger. Investigators can, with incredible precision, pick the
|
||
criminals out of a lineup simply by their long hair, odd
|
||
beards, cryptic tattoos and gaudy clothing. Above all you
|
||
need to blend in with your community and appear as though
|
||
you really belong there.
|
||
23. Become invisible. I had a friend who worked for the CIA
|
||
as an intelligence officer. He told me that part of his training
|
||
involved becoming invisible. To learn this art he would walk
|
||
around the downtown area of a major city visiting various
|
||
stores. He wore bland colored clothes, no personal jewelry
|
||
except for a plain looking Timex watch with a plain black
|
||
band. As he moved around he would avoid making eye
|
||
contact with anyone.
|
||
He would walk slowly and as quietly as possible. He would
|
||
keep his mind concentrated on distant places. He would
|
||
keep his left hand in his coat pocket and let his right swing
|
||
free. He kept his head tilted slightly down, his face
|
||
expressionless, his arms close to his sides and spoke in low
|
||
tones. He would not respond to loud sounds. When he made
|
||
a purchase he would say nothing to the clerk and would
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 115 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
keep his eyes focused on something twenty or thirty feet
|
||
away.
|
||
After a few weeks of practice he could walk into a store
|
||
spend a half hour there, make several purchases and leave
|
||
without being noticed at all. When the sales staff were
|
||
questioned about him, they could accurately describe the
|
||
other customers in the store at the time but drew a complete
|
||
blank on my friend! They remembered him being there but
|
||
couldn't come up with anything like an accurate description.
|
||
He had become truly invisible. Whenever your walking
|
||
around in public, keep this in mind.
|
||
24. If approached or arrested by a law enforcement type say
|
||
nothing. If you do speak, tell the truth (though you don't have
|
||
any obligation to tell the whole truth). Lying to a cop is a
|
||
crime, which might get you arrested but being silent, isn't.
|
||
Remember, cops will test your truthfulness by asking a
|
||
question they already know the answer to.
|
||
Check the ACLU's web site. They have a nifty little card that
|
||
summarizes your legal rights when you're arrested. Get one
|
||
and memorize it. If they take you in for questioning the first
|
||
words from your mouth should be "I have nothing to say until
|
||
I talk to a lawyer". In most states the interrogation must, by
|
||
law, come to a complete halt until you've consulted with your
|
||
attorney. Anything you say after asking for your attorney will
|
||
probably be of no use in a court of law.
|
||
They may tell you that it's in your interest to cooperate (let a
|
||
lawyer confirm this before you speak). If they continue to
|
||
question you - ask to go to the bathroom. If they refuse to let
|
||
you go, keep asking. Ask for a doctor if you're sick (all this
|
||
stress is probably giving you a headache - right?) or have
|
||
been injured. If they ignore your demands keep repeating
|
||
them. Take special note and report their actions and exact
|
||
words verbatim to your attorney. They can be quite useful
|
||
later in court. Above all stay cool and ignore their verbal
|
||
assault.
|
||
Bluffing is a very common tactic. They may something like
|
||
"We know everything so you might as well spill the beans"
|
||
when they're really completely in the dark. Or "you friend told
|
||
us everything so you might as well come clean". It's called
|
||
"fishing". Think thoughts that are relaxing. Think of an old
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 116 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
girlfriend; think about baseball or a walk you took in the
|
||
woods. Don’t let them get under your skin. Oh, another thing
|
||
- start watching the TV program "Law and Order".
|
||
You'll learn a lot about how the law works. Always
|
||
remember, you have rights but it's a sad fact that you and
|
||
you alone will have to protect them.
|
||
25. Stay completely clear of illegal drugs. A single joint can
|
||
get you arrested and completely blow your cover. Stay away
|
||
from people who use drugs and be especially careful to
|
||
avoid people who sell them. Using illegal drugs at this point
|
||
is a really fast way to get busted. If you're new in town, that
|
||
nice guy who sells you drugs may well be an undercover
|
||
cop. Or you might get involved in a drug rip-off transaction,
|
||
which is worse as you may get shot. And when you're in the
|
||
can for that stupid joint you had hidden in your wallet - they'll
|
||
just take a few moments to run you through their little
|
||
computer. If you just have to get high, stick with my old
|
||
friend Jack Daniels.
|
||
26. Avoid pursuing any business or hobby that might attract
|
||
undue attention. Maybe you just love to make porno movies
|
||
or try your car out at the local drag races but trust me - now
|
||
is not the time. Applying for any sort of official license will get
|
||
your personal info entered into several easily searchable
|
||
government computers.
|
||
27. During the first year you should avoid being
|
||
fingerprinted. Avoid applying for sensitive or government
|
||
jobs as they almost always involve fingerprinting. When
|
||
applying for jobs listen carefully for any mention of a security
|
||
clearance being necessary.
|
||
Ask if you'll have to get one and if they say it's required by
|
||
the job, say "no problem" and quietly move on to another job
|
||
opportunity. The fingerprint that some states now require for
|
||
the issuance of a drivers license can however be ignored (at
|
||
least for the immediate future). The prints are retained on file
|
||
but are not sent off to the FBI. They're just trying to
|
||
intimidate you.
|
||
Most people are unaware that getting a useful fingerprint is
|
||
actually quite difficult. The finger must be pressed down with
|
||
just the right pressure. The finger must not rotate at all as
|
||
even the slightest rotation will render the print unusable. Add
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 117 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
to this the fact that most fingerprint takers are poorly trained
|
||
idiots (except those found in police departments) so you
|
||
know what to do.
|
||
Press down too hard and rotate your finger slightly to
|
||
produce a useless print. It can take even an experienced
|
||
finger printer several attempts to get a good set of prints.
|
||
28. Avoid attending parties where you suspect illegal
|
||
activities may occur. That includes drugs, hookers etc. Being
|
||
caught up in a drug bust would be foolish right now.
|
||
29. Avoid public demonstrations or activist activities that
|
||
might expose you to mass arrest and screening.
|
||
30. If you need to have utilities installed, be very careful
|
||
about revealing too much personal information. Very few
|
||
utility companies have online verification available. Utility
|
||
records are an open book to snoops both private and official.
|
||
Anyone who recently lived overseas would lack the usual
|
||
utility references. They'll probably want a larger deposit as a
|
||
result. Pay it, it's a good investment.
|
||
31. Avoid applying for any sort of license if you can. Want to
|
||
go hunting? Do it in another state.
|
||
32. Create a new personal address book. Buy a brand new
|
||
one, transfer all the names in your present book in and then
|
||
code the phone numbers so that only you can make sense
|
||
of them. Make sure your code is tricky enough to fool an
|
||
experienced investigator. Just adding the number 3 to each
|
||
digit is far too simple. Adding three to the first digit and then
|
||
subtracting three from the next might work. Or make up a
|
||
new book and load it with random names and numbers
|
||
taken from the phone book. Then keep your real address
|
||
book in another carefully hidden location.
|
||
33. If you use the services of a "working girl", be sure to
|
||
keep her in the dark. These gals can be very dangerous
|
||
indeed. Pay her in cash and if she asks, give her some
|
||
phony personal story. She's used to this as most men don't
|
||
want a hooker to know anything about their personal lives.
|
||
Or use the old story "my wife doesn't understand me!". No
|
||
matter how nice she seems - she is not to be trusted! If you
|
||
plan to leave the area or stop using her services, whatever
|
||
you do - don't tell her in advance.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 118 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
On your last visit just show up as usual and depart leaving
|
||
her thinking that she'll be seeing you again real soon. She
|
||
sees you primarily as a source of income and people tend to
|
||
get cranky when they lose their meal ticket. Once she knows
|
||
you're gone, her loyalty to you is finished and she'll readily
|
||
reveal everything she knows about you to the first person
|
||
that asks. But she can't reveal what she doesn't know.
|
||
34. Make small financial deals. When you must do business
|
||
with a bank be careful as transactions over $800 are now
|
||
recorded on special forms the data from which is widely
|
||
distributed in the law enforcement community. If you get to
|
||
know a teller well enough, she'll tell you that every bank
|
||
branch is now required by federal law to maintain a
|
||
"suspicious transaction" list where they record any strange
|
||
looking transactions. Always try to manipulate your financial
|
||
dealings so as to leave you with the most cash possible and
|
||
keep a substantial bankroll with you at all times. Keep some
|
||
other cash carefully hidden in your car and residence.
|
||
35. Pay your taxes. The best approach here is to pay taxes
|
||
on all the income you earn on your job. If the income you
|
||
claim seems about right for the job title you list, you have a
|
||
very small chance of being audited. The quick and easy IRS
|
||
form 1040-EZ as it' so simple there's very little for the IRS to
|
||
be suspicious about. Don't claim dependents you don't have
|
||
as this is the one area they might want to investigate. Keep
|
||
any deductions verifiable. This short form almost guarantees
|
||
you won't be audited.
|
||
How much tax you pay on any other income you might have
|
||
is up to you. This approach is more popular than you might
|
||
think. Any IRS auditor will tell you about the business owners
|
||
they audit who claim consistent business losses year after
|
||
year yet manage to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous.
|
||
One guy I used to know down south owned a gas station
|
||
and claimed a paltry salary of only $15,000 per year.
|
||
Yet he lives in a large comfortable house in a prestigious
|
||
older neighborhood, drives a new Lincoln, has an extensive
|
||
collection of rare coins and vacations in exotic foreign
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 119 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
places. Could it be that he's "skimming" cash from his cash
|
||
register each night?
|
||
36. Need help with your resume? Employment can be a
|
||
tricky subject for a recent identity-changers. The attached
|
||
resume report will help you cover unemployed periods and
|
||
past firings.
|
||
37. If you rent a place, quietly have the front door lock
|
||
changed. Don't tell the landlord. If you do they'll immediately
|
||
demand a copy of the new key. Just quietly change the
|
||
damned thing even though your lease will probably forbid it.
|
||
Call one of those mobile locksmith outfits and have them do
|
||
it one Saturday or Sunday night as late as possible. I once
|
||
rented a deluxe apartment in one of those modern high-rise
|
||
buildings. When I came home one night I found that my TV
|
||
was warm. Was someone watching my TV during the day
|
||
while I was at work? I set up a trap.
|
||
I left a copy of Penthouse magazine on my coffee table. I
|
||
made a small almost invisible pencil mark on the table top
|
||
and then laid the magazine down with it's left edge aligned
|
||
precisely on the line. The next day I returned to find my
|
||
magazine had magically moved several inches and was at a
|
||
different angle. Privacy is often very hard to come by when
|
||
you live in a rented apartment.
|
||
Landlords can be very sneaky and snoopy. Keep this in mind
|
||
and change that key! If your landlord informs you that they
|
||
know you changed the lock and now wants a copy of the
|
||
new key. Ask them "why did you need to get into my place?"
|
||
Tear their excuse apart and humiliate them if you can. If they
|
||
insist, provide them the new key. Let them test it and then
|
||
quietly change the lock once again several weeks later. He'll
|
||
get the idea. It's a war he can't win. Or if your apartment
|
||
allows pets, why not consider getting a rather territorial dog?
|
||
(Dobermans are a good choice) That might keep the
|
||
landlord away from your door.
|
||
38. If you suspect someone is entering your apartment
|
||
without your permission try this tactic. Take one of those little
|
||
six inch long flexible plastic rulers with you as you leave your
|
||
apartment. After you've closed your front door slide the ruler
|
||
in between the top of the door and the door jam. Push it in all
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 120 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
the way. You should just be able to see the end of the ruler
|
||
when you look up. Make a mental note of where it is relative
|
||
to the side of the door (or even mark it's location lightly with
|
||
a small pencil mark)
|
||
When you return home before you stick your key into the
|
||
lock - look up. Is the ruler still in just the right place? A snoop
|
||
won't see the ruler and will walk right in. One of two things
|
||
will happen. He will either not notice that the ruler has fallen
|
||
behind the door or if he's an observant snoop he'll see it and
|
||
want to return it to it's original place. But where exactly was
|
||
it? And best of all, he will know that you set a trap and he's
|
||
been busted! He won't be around again anytime soon.
|
||
39. Place sensitive documents and your cash in a high-quality lock
|
||
box and hide it very well. Buy another small safe or lockbox, put
|
||
junky documents in it and place it in an obvious place where a
|
||
thief would look. Many rich people buy two safes.
|
||
One they place in the wall in their living room behind a picture
|
||
where a burglar would be sure to find it while the other one is well
|
||
hidden in a dark corner of the basement. A thief will seldom take
|
||
the time to search for a second safe. They'll spend some time
|
||
working on the easy-to-find safe and never both to look further.
|
||
40. Experienced identity-changers advise recent changers have
|
||
cable installed and plan to spend most of your time indoors until
|
||
the new identity gets firmed up. This is a tricky phase and needs
|
||
special attention. Every time you step out your front door you're at
|
||
risk. There's no place like home.
|
||
41. Visitors to your home should look like they belong in your
|
||
circle of friends. A "normal" kind of guy wouldn't have unsavory
|
||
bikers and whores hanging around. Any guests should dress well
|
||
and blend in with the whole neighborhood. Unusual visitors get
|
||
noticed. Be a boring neighbor and be sure your guests are boring
|
||
too.
|
||
42. If you attempt to make a credit card purchase be sure - very
|
||
sure - that your card is good. If it's a secured card call the issuing
|
||
bank's toll-free number to be sure what your balance is just before
|
||
you leave the house.
|
||
Do the same with a regular credit card to be sure your remaining
|
||
balance will allow you to make purchases. If the card is refused
|
||
simply say "Oh that stupid bank, this is the second time this month
|
||
their computer system has been down!"
|
||
I recently had a brief conversation with a sales clerk at Sears who
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 121 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
told me that she gets a dozen or more card refusals a day (usually
|
||
for exceeding credit limits) but the clerks don't really trust the code
|
||
the cash register provides so will usually just hand the card back
|
||
with a smile (if you look like an normal person). Ten years ago a
|
||
refused card was a rare and embarrassing event.
|
||
43. Voter registration records are fully available for public review
|
||
and are sold on CD/ROMs for private investigators or anyone else
|
||
who has the purchase price. But keep in mind that with so few
|
||
people voting these days, it's very easy to get a voter registration
|
||
card in any name you want with almost no ID required. I went with
|
||
a friend recently who registered to vote in Colorado and didn't
|
||
even have to provide any ID at all. She just filled in a simple form.
|
||
44. Don't enter contests of any kind. Businesses build their mailing
|
||
lists by offering contest prizes. (many are never really awarded
|
||
anyway)
|
||
45. If you must get married, you might want to get hitched while
|
||
overseas. The Caribbean would be a good spot.
|
||
46. Be careful to avoid getting on junk mail lists. Don't' send in
|
||
warranty cards or answer consumer surveys.
|
||
47. Call your local phone company and sign up for caller ID
|
||
blocking if you didn't get the Radio Shack blocker box.
|
||
48. Don't register for and then use "preferred customer" cards. All
|
||
of the largest national book stores push these cards and now
|
||
many other retail outlets are using this ploy. Stay clear. If they get
|
||
pushy, just say that you live overseas so getting on their list is a
|
||
waste of time for you.
|
||
49. Don't contribute to charities or political campaigns. Once you
|
||
do either, you will get on a ton of mailing lists which can be
|
||
searched by interested parties.
|
||
50. Don't buy a boat, plane or other item that requires licensing.
|
||
51. Don't include you name on any corporate charters. If you must
|
||
set up a corporation, do it out of state. FYI - the best states for
|
||
incorporation are Nevada or Delaware. Most of the largest
|
||
companies in the US are Delaware corporations. Low taxation,
|
||
restricted access to corporate records and friendly courts are the
|
||
primary reasons.
|
||
52. Don't get behind on your bills. Pay everything on time if you
|
||
possibly can.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 122 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
53. Even with caller ID disabled and a radio shack blocker
|
||
installed, anyone you call using a toll free number can access your
|
||
number. So don't call toll free numbers unless you don't mind
|
||
them getting your number.
|
||
54. Don't use your bank ATM or debit card to purchase items
|
||
(unless it was issued by an offshore bank). Even off-shore based
|
||
credit cards are being monitored by the government these days.
|
||
55. Don't file for building permits as they are usually public
|
||
records.
|
||
56. Don't put any identifying information on your car. No
|
||
bumper stickers, window stickers or anything else that is
|
||
visible from outside the car. Well, maybe a small "just say no
|
||
to drugs" or "support your local police" bumper sticker
|
||
wouldn't hurt.
|
||
57. If you must get documents notarized, have it done in another
|
||
county.
|
||
58. Be careful when asked about your occupation. Don't just
|
||
automatically list your real field. Change it from time to time. I like
|
||
"engineer". It's harmless and very non-specific. "Administrative
|
||
Assistant" is another safe title. They won't raise any eyebrows. Or
|
||
just mumble "I work for Acme Furniture". People who have
|
||
working-class blue-collar jobs would rather say where they work
|
||
than admit they're really a janitor or garbage man.
|
||
59. Avoid having a garage sale as a local license or permit may be
|
||
required and it might feed the rumor mill to have all kinds of
|
||
personal items spread out in full view for everyone to see.
|
||
60. Be very careful what you say using a cordless phone. It would
|
||
be best to avoid using them altogether as even the best of them
|
||
isn't as secure as an old-fashioned corded phone. If you must
|
||
have one, be sure to buy the latest model that operates on a
|
||
higher frequency (900Mh) and uses multiple frequencies ("spread
|
||
spectrum"). A regular old corded phone is much more secure and
|
||
a whole lot cheaper.
|
||
61. Be sure to tell your family and friends to be careful with callers.
|
||
Investigators will use all sorts of ploys like "I'm an attorney that
|
||
needs to settle an estate and need to send John a certified check
|
||
for $25,000, can you help me find him?" They may even pose, as
|
||
an old friend who is dying and just wants one last chat before they
|
||
expire. Tell them to expect the unexpected and be very skeptical
|
||
of any calls.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 123 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
62. Avoid having an outstanding judgment listed against you. If
|
||
you lose a case in court, pay off the judgment as quickly as
|
||
possible.
|
||
63. Most banks request your mother's maiden name for security
|
||
purposes. Make up a new one and always avoid using your real
|
||
mother's maiden name. This tip is just good common-sense
|
||
security. Identity thieves usually assume that your mother's actual
|
||
maiden name was used on bank accounts. Don't make it easy for
|
||
them!
|
||
64. Use cash deposits when you open an account with a
|
||
videotape rental store. Give them as little information as possible.
|
||
If they ask for a larger deposit than usual - cough it up as it's a
|
||
sound investment in your privacy.
|
||
65. Avoid putting your name on your mailbox if you can. If you
|
||
must, write it sloppily in very small letters so that no one can read
|
||
it. Also use a single initial for your first name. "J" is the best first
|
||
initial for a man as it's so popular and difficult to guess (Jack,
|
||
John, Jim).
|
||
66. Consider having a phone line installed in a friends home and
|
||
then have calls forwarded using "call forwarding".
|
||
67. Avoid making personal calls or revealing anything personal on
|
||
a phone at work. In most states your employer can now legally
|
||
monitor your phone calls, Internet activity (stay away from internet
|
||
pornography) and email.
|
||
68. If you can, pay for prescription drugs with cash instead of
|
||
using insurance. Insurance claims are filed online and your new
|
||
address will appear in their database. Carefully control how much
|
||
information you provide your pharmacist. Various snoops have
|
||
access to these databases, which they can easily search.
|
||
69. Don't subscribe to new magazines. Subscription databases
|
||
are sold and shared all over the place.
|
||
70. You simply must sell your car and then buy a new one (with
|
||
cash) if you're to be a successful identity changer. If you keep
|
||
your present car and change your name on the title, anyone
|
||
looking for you can very easily run a check on your vehicle's
|
||
unique "Vehicle Identification Number - VIN" which will list all the
|
||
people who have ever owned the car. Both your old and new
|
||
names and addresses will appear right there together on one
|
||
sheet of paper.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 124 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The best bet is to buy a car you wouldn't usually consider driving.
|
||
If you've always driven a flashy luxury car, perhaps this is the time
|
||
to buy a used Japanese sub-compact, or the other way around.
|
||
Experienced identity-changers report that their passion for a
|
||
particular make or model of car trips up far too many people.
|
||
71. If you must accept a check, instead of opening up a checking
|
||
account or going to one of those storefront "we cash any check"
|
||
places (stay away from them for sure as they enter all your
|
||
information in several different easily searched databases) you
|
||
simply take the check to the issuing bank and cash it there.
|
||
72. Successful identity-changers advise signing a new signature
|
||
until it becomes second nature. Some identity-changers have
|
||
accidentally signed their old names to an important document.
|
||
Only by repeating the signature over and over can it become
|
||
almost automatic. Sit with a pad signing over and over. Then
|
||
promptly throw the paper in the trash. You should practice signing
|
||
an illegible signature. It can come in handy when you sign for
|
||
deliveries.
|
||
73. If you need to take a drivers test to get a new drivers
|
||
license, borrow a car from one of those driving schools. (Pay
|
||
any fee they may ask) Do not take your car or a friend’s car,
|
||
as the testing officer will record the license number.
|
||
74. When you hit a new town start reading the local paper from
|
||
front to back. This will give you the lay of the land. In particular
|
||
notice where arrests are made. Avoid any bars or other
|
||
establishments where regular arrests take place. In particular
|
||
avoid any place where drug arrests are common. If the police
|
||
come up with wanted criminals each time they "sweep" a bar,
|
||
they'll get in the habit of running sweeps on a regular, random
|
||
schedule.
|
||
75. The best time to apply for a new social security card is March
|
||
or April. This is the peak period for applications as many
|
||
taxpayers discover that in order to claim their kids on their taxes,
|
||
they must first obtain social security numbers issued for them.
|
||
76. State issued birth certificates have a coded number on them. If
|
||
the number does not decode properly, you'll never get anywhere
|
||
with it. Just be careful to change only the last three or four digits
|
||
and leave the front of the code intact. If you change your state of
|
||
birth you'll have to alter the entire number.
|
||
1st Digit is always a one.
|
||
2nd and 3rd Digits are the state code number: (New York is 31)
|
||
4th and 5th Digits are last two number of year of birth (1979=79
|
||
Last six digits - random sequence
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 125 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
77. Your new identity will become much firmer after the first year.
|
||
During the first year you have no real history, which will look
|
||
suspicious to anyone who checks on you. Submitting an
|
||
application for a passport, for instance, will be a problem if all of
|
||
the ID is relatively new. (Clerks are trained to spot fresh ID) A
|
||
driver’s license that is over a year old is best.
|
||
78. When you get a new phone number, insist on an unlisted
|
||
number. Be VERY careful about who you give this new number to.
|
||
Instruct those you do give the number to be very suspicious of
|
||
anyone who asks for the number. They will tell all sorts of lies to
|
||
get that number. Tell them to just take a message. If possible, do
|
||
not give the number out to anyone.
|
||
Also, most phone companies will now allow you to list your
|
||
number under another name for no additional charge (this is
|
||
usually cheaper than paying for a formal unlisted number). If they
|
||
allow it - use it. List your new number under something like "R.
|
||
Miller".
|
||
Also, when someone calls and asks for "Mr. Miller" you'll know
|
||
they're just another telemarketing fool. Some phone companies
|
||
now offer new privacy services.
|
||
It works like this: someone calls you. If their number is on your
|
||
"approved" list, the call rings through as usual. But if the number
|
||
isn't in your list, the call is forwarded to a voice mailbox where the
|
||
caller can leave you a personal message, if they want. The bottom
|
||
line is this: if the phone number they're calling from isn't on your
|
||
list - the call doesn't ring through.
|
||
79. Get an answering machine and use it. Screen all your calls
|
||
through it. Make a recording like "Hello, you have reached 555-
|
||
1234. Leave a message and I'll/We'll get back to you soon." Do
|
||
not mention even your first name.
|
||
Do not provide any other information. If you are single and living
|
||
alone say "we'll get back to you soon". If you are married or
|
||
shacking up, say "I'll get back to you soon". Why hand out
|
||
information you don't have to?
|
||
80. Avoid the temptation to live in a nice little rural area, or return
|
||
to your old stomping ground. You will never find anonymity in
|
||
Mayberry. (Remember how Sheriff Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife
|
||
used to sit around exchanging gossip all afternoon?) To avoid
|
||
undue gossip and attention, you'll need to live in at least a medium
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 126 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
sized city. Anyone trying to find you will call directory assistance
|
||
and ask for your listing. If there is no listing or your number is
|
||
unlisted the caller may ask for any other listings in that area with
|
||
the same last name.
|
||
If your last name is Przbylowicz - they will immediately call any
|
||
other Przbylowiczs in town. But if your last name is miller and you
|
||
live in Chicago - they will be confronted with a list of a several
|
||
hundred different Millers, which makes follow-up all but
|
||
impossible.
|
||
81. If a third party bill collector contacts you by phone or mail to
|
||
collect a debt, if the debt is real - pay it off immediately without any
|
||
further dealings. But if the debt isn't valid - immediately respond to
|
||
the letter by certified mail insisting that the debt is invalid. This will
|
||
cause the bill collector to stop and re-evaluate his plan. Always
|
||
deny everything. The bastards will either give up or at least the
|
||
tactic will postpone payment long enough for you to get the
|
||
required cash together. If the creditor employs the caller, don't try
|
||
this tactic. There's a great book on this subject entitled "The
|
||
Check is in the Mail".
|
||
82. If you are living with a child either your own or someone else's
|
||
be sure to carefully train them not to reveal information to anyone
|
||
either by phone or in person. Children are very trusting little souls
|
||
and many freedom lovers have been exposed by the comment of
|
||
an innocent child.
|
||
83. By using an official US post office box you will delay or
|
||
confuse anyone searching for you. I prefer the private corporate
|
||
boxes available from Mail Boxes Etc.. And other similar store front
|
||
operations. Either way these outfits will reveal your listed home
|
||
address to anyone who requests it so always be careful about
|
||
how much information you provide them.
|
||
Since the post office requires a fee for revealing this information,
|
||
requests must be mailed in and the information is not available
|
||
over the phone. Many bill collectors won't bother with a request.
|
||
84. Institutions of higher education are famous for giving out
|
||
personal information on their students. You should always list a
|
||
PO box address on any paperwork you give them. Many schools
|
||
will now allow alumni to change the official record number their
|
||
transcripts are recorded under from their social security number to
|
||
some other random figure. Identity thieves depend on the use of
|
||
your social security number for finding all kinds of records.
|
||
85. Libraries keep records on what books you read and new laws
|
||
require them to surrender those records to government snoops.
|
||
(Especially since the Patriot Act was passed.) Avoid getting a
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 127 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
library card in your new town. Or if you do feel the need, be
|
||
careful about the information you provide them.
|
||
86. It's extremely important that you keep your work phone
|
||
number to yourself. Do not give it out to anyone. Get a "stand-
|
||
alone phone mail" number instead. (For around $15 a month you
|
||
get your own new phone number which is not in any way
|
||
connected to your home phone. It operates just like an answering
|
||
machine and you pick up your messages by calling a number from
|
||
anywhere in the world and entering your secret password)
|
||
If an investigator stumbles on your work phone - you're finished.
|
||
They know you have to be there so they have you either to grab or
|
||
contact via phone whenever they want. Guard that work phone
|
||
like a hawk. If your number is discovered and you get a call, you'll
|
||
be forced to consider changing jobs.
|
||
87. When answering a suspicious phone call - call from a
|
||
payphone as far from your new home as possible. It's the only
|
||
way to be sure they won't get your number. But such a call would
|
||
reveal the general area you're living in.
|
||
88. If you have to make a payment to a collection agency - always
|
||
pay with a money order. Never, ever send them a personal check.
|
||
A check contains far too much personal information. Once they
|
||
have all that banking information they can cause you all sorts of
|
||
problems.
|
||
If you have an outstanding judgment against you out there
|
||
somewhere, the sum will soon vanish from your account without
|
||
any notice at all.
|
||
89. When you move, never file a change of address card with the
|
||
postal service. Instead notify any individuals that you want notified
|
||
(but keep this list to a bare minimum)
|
||
90. Your landlord can be a real problem for you. An investigator
|
||
who has your address but no phone can use the local tax records
|
||
to locate the owner of the property. They will contact them by
|
||
phone. Unfortunately most landlords are very open about sharing
|
||
information as they expect others to return the favor for them.
|
||
They have no reason to protect your privacy.
|
||
91. Since Sept. 11, 2001 the legal climate has changed. Under the
|
||
new rules the government can tap your phone or mail without
|
||
having to go to the bother of obtaining those pesky warrants. Our
|
||
constitutional rights are becoming but a distant memory. Read the
|
||
paper and keep yourself up-to-date on the latest developments or
|
||
your privacy will vanish.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 128 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
92. Be very suspicious of any unexpected checks you may receive
|
||
through the mail. If you can cash the check at the issuing bank but
|
||
be careful about giving them your home phone or address. If this
|
||
doesn't work for you, you can always endorse the check and use it
|
||
to pay a bill or debt owed to another party. But whatever you do,
|
||
don't endorse it and deposit it into any bank account you want to
|
||
keep private. Remember, the person who wrote the check will get
|
||
their cancelled check back with your account number and bank
|
||
name on the back.
|
||
The GED Follies
|
||
One of the really serious problems identity changers run into has
|
||
to do with educational qualifications. How can you take your
|
||
academic credentials with you without "blowing your cover?"
|
||
One quick way around the problem comes through the
|
||
popular GED system. You can earn GED certificates at
|
||
either the high school or college level. You register, take a
|
||
few classes and sit a test. If you score high enough in
|
||
enough different categories and you get your credit and
|
||
credential.
|
||
The best angle here is that the registration process is very
|
||
lax and doesn't require any really serious ID. Just be sure to
|
||
study up enough that you'll have no problem with the test. If
|
||
you can provide a copy of your DD-214 showing an
|
||
honorable discharge, many states will also issue you a state
|
||
high school diploma, which every employer in the state is
|
||
legally required to accept.
|
||
Bogus College Degrees
|
||
The following Internet outfits are well-known diploma mills and
|
||
should be avoided:
|
||
Columbia State University (Louisiana)
|
||
La Salle University (Louisiana)
|
||
Chadwick University (Alabama)
|
||
American State University (Hawaii)
|
||
American International University (Alabama)
|
||
Columbus University (Louisiana)
|
||
Monticello University (Kansas)
|
||
Frederick Taylor University (California)
|
||
Pacific Western University (Hawaii)
|
||
City University (California)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 129 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Kennedy Western University (Hawaii)
|
||
Trinity University (Great Britain)
|
||
Most employers know these degrees are phony so don't
|
||
waste your money!
|
||
Avoiding Process Servers
|
||
Process servers can be very pesky indeed. Here are some
|
||
strategies for avoiding being served that others have found useful.
|
||
First it's important to know that process servers are extremely
|
||
underpaid which works to your advantage. The server is usually
|
||
private employed as a sort of independent entrepreneur. He pays
|
||
out of his own pocket for gas and other costs and then relies on
|
||
the fee he gets when a successful service is recorded to provide
|
||
him a living.
|
||
If you can frustrate a process server once or twice, he'll be much
|
||
less likely to pursue you again. Why waste more time and money
|
||
on someone who clearly understands the game and is not likely to
|
||
fall for his shallow tricks?
|
||
He'll quickly add you to his list of "problem customers" and move
|
||
on to more easily served suckers.
|
||
Let's start out with the basics. If some walks up to you and says in
|
||
a loud clear voice "are you (your real name)?", a common tactic is
|
||
to completely deny that you even know anyone of that name. Or
|
||
say "Oh him, yes I knew him but he's a nature photographer up in
|
||
Alaska now".
|
||
If your name is Smith, why not invest a few bucks in a front
|
||
doormat that says "Robinson" on it? Then mislabel your mailbox
|
||
with the same pseudonym. Though it's technically illegal for them
|
||
to do so, many process servers will open your mailbox and look at
|
||
your mail to see if you're residing at a particular residence. A
|
||
locked mailbox might be a useful option.
|
||
A process server cannot legally demand that you provide personal
|
||
ID. A short story: I moved to Florida and bought a nice
|
||
comfortable house. Little did I know that the previous owner was a
|
||
degenerate gambler who owned a lot of money to various people!
|
||
When I bought the house, the seller (Mr. Anderson) moved back
|
||
up north but refused to provide me with a forwarding address.
|
||
One day as I was settling down to a quiet evening when there's a
|
||
loud knock at the door. In my door stands a tall extremely hostile
|
||
young lady. She launches right into her threats "See here Mr.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 130 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Anderson, we've waited long enough - we have to have something
|
||
on this account right now!" I mumbled "But I'm not Anderson".
|
||
She keeps right on with her attack without a pause "Let us not
|
||
play games here Mr. Anderson - I need a check and I want it
|
||
now!" I repeated "But I'm not Anderson". As she continued her
|
||
tirade, I slowly pulled out my driver’s license and held it up two
|
||
inches in front of her nose. She paused, stared at the driver’s
|
||
license and said, "Oh - I see". It stopped her dead in her tracks.
|
||
Never accept mail that requires a signature. Tell the postman that
|
||
you haven't heard from the addressee for over two years and that
|
||
the addressee is off chasing grizzly bears around Canada or got a
|
||
"calling" and is now an evangelist in Ethiopia or whatever. But
|
||
here is where the legal eagles get clever. Instead of sending a
|
||
suspicious looking letter, they will now send you a nice large
|
||
parcel.
|
||
Everyone likes to receive packages and most people are less
|
||
likely to be suspicious of a nice large box. Don't fall for the trap.
|
||
The box may contain a brick and a legal summons to appear.
|
||
If you are handed a certified or registered piece of mail, it might be
|
||
useful to know who sent it. Ask that the postman hand it to you so
|
||
you can read (and then memorize) the sender. Most mailmen will
|
||
cooperate as they hope you'll recognize the sender and agree to
|
||
receive the letter. This info can give you a valuable insight into
|
||
who is on your trail.
|
||
Another trick is to send the legal document through the regular
|
||
mail. Be careful what you open. Some have even made the
|
||
document envelope look as though it contains a check. This can
|
||
be quite tempting. The best strategy is to purchase a rubber
|
||
stamp that says "addressee unknown - not at this address - no
|
||
forwarding address on file". Stamp any suspicious mail with it and
|
||
return it to sender.
|
||
Working "Off the Books"
|
||
Unless they have accumulated a large bankroll, most new
|
||
successful identity-changers have to, for a time, make a living "off
|
||
the books". If you can do home improvement work, get an
|
||
answering service phone number and a commercial post box (in a
|
||
nice section of town) and have a business card printed up so you
|
||
look legit.
|
||
Offer a one third off discount for cash up front. If your lack of
|
||
references is a problem, do the rounds of the local churches (or
|
||
smaller charities) and offer your services for next to nothing. After
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 131 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
you have satisfied them with the quality of your work, word of
|
||
mouth will send plenty of work your way. (People are greedy and
|
||
just LOVE a good bargain - particularly one that breaks the rules)
|
||
And you'll be getting a very valuable reference from the clergy in
|
||
the process.
|
||
You may even be offered an "off the books" job. Don't be
|
||
surprised by this, as even the larger corporations love a bargain
|
||
(and are disgusted with government regulation, taxes and unions).
|
||
While on the job, try to keep your appearance as professional as
|
||
possible.
|
||
Be completely honest with your customers as the name of the
|
||
game here is trust. Do not ask for salary advances as that
|
||
involves trust, which has not yet been established. Small jobs are
|
||
the best bets especially early on. Have the customer purchase
|
||
building materials if they're willing. They'll be much more willing to
|
||
buy materials then to hand over hard cash to a stranger.
|
||
Avoid the subject of building permits but if a customer insists on
|
||
one, have them do the application. On a larger job be sure to
|
||
collect your pay at intervals so as to keep your cash flow in the
|
||
black. Don't ever let a single job consume all your time and
|
||
capital, as there is always the chance you won't get paid off in the
|
||
end.
|
||
Some underground workers prefer to file their taxes and report a
|
||
portion of their real earnings and skim the rest in cash while others
|
||
live entirely underground. As always the choice is yours. But
|
||
whatever you do be careful about one detail. When you fill out
|
||
your tax forms there is a nasty trap that you should know about.
|
||
That silly little box that asks for your profession or job title can be
|
||
a killer. If you list your job title as "Contractor" or "Carpenter" you
|
||
may run into problems.
|
||
The IRS has a hit list of targeted professions, which include all
|
||
those that might have hidden cash incomes or unreported tip
|
||
income. "Entertainer" is another title to avoid. Under new IRS
|
||
guidelines, they will only launch a serious investigation when they
|
||
can be sure there is enough money involved to make it profitable
|
||
for them.
|
||
Even high tech workers can play at this game. One smart fella I
|
||
know waltzed into a large discount electronics store and offered
|
||
the sales clerks a 15% cash commission on any computer
|
||
installation/programming customers they might send his way.
|
||
Each new computer customer was asked if they could use some
|
||
on-site assistance. After a few test jobs, the guy got so much work
|
||
he had to hire other "off the books" workers to keep up with the
|
||
backlog.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 132 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
There are companies who have materials they badly need to
|
||
dispose of. The official disposal programs charge enormous fees
|
||
to government approved disposal firms who collect and bury the
|
||
stuff in government approved underground vaults.
|
||
But despite all the rules, many institutions are seeking a less
|
||
expensive solution. Someone who could pick up a few drums of
|
||
the stuff several times a week and make it disappear with no
|
||
questions asked could make some serious money very quickly.
|
||
Where the stuff ends up is of no interest to them.
|
||
Banks, for instance, use computerized machines that spray
|
||
fluorescent and black inks on the back of our checks during their
|
||
processing. Unfortunately for them the machines produce a
|
||
steady flow of waste ink. One guy would pick the stuff up each
|
||
Tuesday and Thursday evening (around 9pm was the best pickup
|
||
time as few people are around then) and run it out to a suburban
|
||
industrial park that had a large sewer drain located in a poorly
|
||
lighted area.
|
||
Five hundred bucks cash for five hours work and the stuff wasn't
|
||
really all that dangerous. Deals like this are around if you can
|
||
find them. And when you satisfy one customer don't be surprised if
|
||
several more look you up.
|
||
Surfing the Web
|
||
If you look around the web you’ll find several pages that provide
|
||
access to the social security administrations death database
|
||
(SSDI- Social Security Death Index) I’d provide you with the
|
||
current URL but it’s constantly changing so it’s best that you use
|
||
one of the search engines to locate it yourself.
|
||
If you look at the private investigator pages you'll stumble on
|
||
pages that provide a free social security number lookup feature.
|
||
You enter the SSN and it gives you the state and year of issue
|
||
and confirms that the number was officially issued.
|
||
You do not get a name or any other info unfortunately. This is the
|
||
same check most banks use so this information can be quite
|
||
valuable for your purposes.
|
||
There's also the new Mormon family research database at
|
||
www.familysearch.org. You'll find a ton of dead people (and many
|
||
that are still alive!) listed in their extensive database. I was
|
||
shocked to find myself and both of my parents (both still living)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 133 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
included in their listings.
|
||
But be warned that you may have to verify the information you find
|
||
here. Well-meaning individuals that sometimes get their facts
|
||
wrong have entered much of it. I'd guess that between 5 and 10%
|
||
of the information is incorrect so be careful.
|
||
Passports
|
||
Since a US passport is issued by an agency of the US federal
|
||
government, it's the most influential and widely respected form of
|
||
ID an American can carry. (If you don't believe this try getting back
|
||
into the US after an overseas trip with your drivers license and see
|
||
how far you get.) A US passport is accepted almost everywhere.
|
||
I've received dozens of reports from readers that the US State
|
||
Department no longer bothers to verify the existence of a birth
|
||
certificate in a vital records office before issuing a passport.
|
||
And the US passport is a very interesting form of ID. It's the single
|
||
most credible form of ID even though it contains very little
|
||
information. Yes it does have your picture (digitized so it can't be
|
||
easily altered) and your name and birth date. No social security
|
||
number, no address. Anyone who claimed to have lived overseas
|
||
would have a current US passport in their pocket. For this reason
|
||
you should obtain one and keep it with you at all times. It's a very
|
||
useful kind of ID that doesn't reveal too much information.
|
||
This tip was recently provided by an identity-changer in New
|
||
Jersey. To escape an unpleasant situation, this lady along with
|
||
several friends had booked an extensive European tour through a
|
||
local travel agency. About a month before her departure she
|
||
stopped by her local post office to pick up a passport application.
|
||
Suddenly she remembered her mother telling her some years
|
||
back that, due to her father's strict religious beliefs, her birth was
|
||
never properly registered. She feared that since she had no birth
|
||
certificate on file - she probably wouldn't be able to get the
|
||
passport she would need for her trip.
|
||
She quickly phoned the US Department of State in Washington to
|
||
see what could be done. She was told that her situation was not
|
||
unusual. (Again, a substantial percentage of the people you see
|
||
walking down the street have never had a birth certificate entered
|
||
into the official files) All she had to do was request a copy of her
|
||
birth certificate from the proper vital records office.
|
||
The state department would perform a search and, of course,
|
||
would find nothing. They would then send her a form indicating
|
||
that no birth certificate had been found. (This is usually a very
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 134 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
simple photocopied form with a large "X" in a box next to the
|
||
relevant statement)
|
||
According to State Department rules this document would prove
|
||
that she had made an official attempt to obtain her birth certificate
|
||
and that additionally no birth certificate was on record. The State
|
||
Department bureaucrats will accept the official rejection form in
|
||
place of an actual birth certificate! She did as they requested and
|
||
got her passport right on schedule as promised. The forms seem
|
||
very hard and fast as to which documents they'll accept but in
|
||
reality there's a lot of flexibility in their requirements.
|
||
Passport Update
|
||
According to a recent news report the US immigration and
|
||
naturalization service (INS) is having a hard time keeping
|
||
illegal aliens, drug dealers and terrorists out of the country.
|
||
In December 1999 alleged terrorist Ahmed Ressam was
|
||
arrested when he attempted to enter the US using false
|
||
travel documents. Though they stopped him, INS officials
|
||
have admitted that controlling who gets in and who doesn't is
|
||
becoming a very difficult challenge.
|
||
During the year 2004 the government counted over 500
|
||
million individuals who entered the US through 200 points of
|
||
entry and if even two percent of them did so illegally, that
|
||
adds up to over 10 million people!
|
||
First there is the issue of passport forgery. For around
|
||
$5,000 an expertly altered US passport can be purchased
|
||
overseas. Though the US Department of State is now
|
||
issuing a new higher-tech passport. (Which includes new
|
||
high tech security features including a digitized photo that's
|
||
bonded right into the page rather than the much easier to
|
||
alter stuck-on photo) Passports issued through US
|
||
embassies abroad continue to use the more vulnerable
|
||
stuck-on photos.
|
||
And to make it even more difficult for the government - the
|
||
US now admits citizens from 29 different countries without a
|
||
visa. So all an illegal has to do is create a forged birth
|
||
certificate from one of these approved countries and then
|
||
obtain either a genuine or an altered passport from that
|
||
country. This is exactly what Ahmed Ressam did. France
|
||
was the country he chose.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 135 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
According to a top INS official - "for the vast majority of
|
||
passport applications in Canada and the United States, they
|
||
do not do background checks or even check the birth
|
||
certificate authenticity."
|
||
Since US birth certificates are issued in over 1,000 different
|
||
formats at 7,000 different offices, it's very difficult to be sure
|
||
they're dealing with a genuine document. US department of
|
||
state officials used to contact the office that issued the birth
|
||
certificate to verify it's authenticity but unfortunately
|
||
insufficient funding has kept these offices ridiculously low-
|
||
tech so verification can take weeks or even months. (Clerks
|
||
have to manually search through huge drawers of paper
|
||
documents)
|
||
This is far too slow to allow efficient verification. At some
|
||
point in the future this entire system will be fully automated
|
||
and will allow fast online verification, but for the foreseeable
|
||
future forgery is an effective option. And given the huge
|
||
increase in the number of people traveling these days, the
|
||
issuing authorities are feeling a bit swamped.
|
||
Though I've received reports that US citizens have been
|
||
arrested for past crimes when they attempted to enter the
|
||
US, highly placed state department officials tell a different
|
||
story. They report that the department uses two different
|
||
databases when they look you up at passport control at an
|
||
entry point. Neither talks to the other. And neither one talks
|
||
to the federal NCIC computer where all the arrest warrants
|
||
reside. The INS commissioner has promised to correct these
|
||
deficiencies but progress seems painfully slow.
|
||
Here is how bad the situation really is. In June of 1999 an
|
||
alleged Mexican murderer, Angel Reyes-Resendiz was held
|
||
and then released by the INS even though the FBI was
|
||
conducting a nationwide manhunt for him! (he was number
|
||
three on the FBI's ten most wanted criminals list!) Talk about
|
||
one hand not knowing what the other is doing!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 136 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Buying a Car
|
||
Never buy a car and have it registered using your home
|
||
address and phone number. Instead you'll need to cover
|
||
your tracks. One easy way is to buy a used car and have a
|
||
business name listed on the bill of sale. This should allow
|
||
you to register the tags and title in the business name. If
|
||
you're asked for a business license, there have been those
|
||
who have fabricated one using one they found on the web. If
|
||
it's from out of state, it will be very difficult to trace and verify.
|
||
If you have a nice employee ID, it will help smooth the path.
|
||
Today most new car dealerships are eager to lease cars
|
||
rather than sell them outright. They make more money with
|
||
leasing because they know you have to come back and
|
||
lease another every three years or so. Leasing is seldom a
|
||
good deal except for those who have to have the latest
|
||
model or for small businesses who can write the vehicle's
|
||
costs off on their taxes. Either way it shouldn't be too difficult
|
||
to lease a new car in a business name.
|
||
Of course you'll be asked to sign a personal guarantee on
|
||
the financing but that's par for the course.
|
||
It almost goes without saying that you should change the
|
||
kind of car you usually drive. If you're addicted to little red
|
||
sports cars, now would be the time to buy a big blue Ford.
|
||
Stay away from your usual kind of automobile.
|
||
Skip tracers and other snoops are in the habit of tracing
|
||
vehicle transfers. You transfer your title from Virginia to
|
||
Colorado and all your hard work goes down the drain as the
|
||
transfer is fully documented in a public record that is easily
|
||
searched.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 137 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Rookie Mistakes
|
||
Here are some basic mistakes many freedom-lovers have
|
||
made that "blew their cover". Avoid these like the plague.
|
||
Pre-vanish Planning
|
||
- Need to do some surfing to get your facts together before
|
||
departure? Do that surfing at an Internet cafe or at the
|
||
library. Don't do it from your home PC.
|
||
- Don't make calls related to your coming departure on your
|
||
home phone. Instead purchase a prepaid cellular phone.
|
||
Only make your usual calls on your home phone and make
|
||
all calls relating to your upcoming vanishing act on the
|
||
cellular. When you're ready to take the plunge, crush the
|
||
cellular phone completely and discard it and buy another
|
||
when you arrive in your new city. Do not give your new
|
||
prepaid cell phone number to anyone. All you have to do is
|
||
make a single phone call from your home phone (or a
|
||
relative's phone) to your new city and you will have provided
|
||
any snoops with a 24 carat solid gold link which they will use
|
||
to blow your cover.
|
||
- Do not call your old doctor from your new location to
|
||
request medical records. If you can, abandon your old
|
||
records but if you must have them, tell your doctor you're
|
||
leaving town and aren't sure where your employer will
|
||
eventually place you so you need to take the most relevant
|
||
records with you. If you have to promise to return them, do
|
||
so.
|
||
- Never attempt to change the address on a magazine
|
||
subscription from your old address to your new one. Sounds
|
||
stupid but many a vanisher has been tripped up in just this
|
||
way.
|
||
- Do not rush your pre-vanish planning. Take at least several
|
||
months. The longer the better as long as you don't forge
|
||
links between your old and new selves.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 138 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
- Confide in no one, no one at all. Do not change your daily
|
||
routine. Go about your business as normally as you can. Do
|
||
not alter your personal relationships. These should also
|
||
appear normal.
|
||
- You can call accounts up and "correct" the social security
|
||
number they have on file. Confirm that the number is correct
|
||
and use the occasion to change the number. Don't change
|
||
the first three numbers however (unless you want to appear
|
||
to have come from some other distant state). You can load
|
||
account files with misinformation with a series of phone calls.
|
||
- If you're really serious about vanishing, you can setup a
|
||
foreign mail forwarding service right on the Internet. Just do
|
||
a search for "foreign mail forwarding" on google and select
|
||
one. Unfortunately their services don't come cheap but you'll
|
||
have an address that is entirely untraceable. This address
|
||
can then be used as an intermediary address between you
|
||
and your offshore bank.
|
||
- Go to www.jfax.com and get an online fax number. For a
|
||
few bucks you get an untraceable fax phone number. When
|
||
you get a fax they send you an email notice. Nice service
|
||
and it's secure. Give them junk info or misinformation when
|
||
registering. Give them only a Yahoo, Hotmail or Ziplip email
|
||
address.
|
||
- When you order your prepaid cellular phone, ask if they will
|
||
issue you a number in some distant area code. Many cell
|
||
companies will offer this service. If they charge a few more
|
||
bucks - cough it up as it's a bargain.
|
||
- Once in your new area, demolish your cellular phone every
|
||
two months or so and replace it preferably with one with
|
||
some other area code. Your calling location will remain a
|
||
mystery.
|
||
- Rent a storage locker and place a very good lock on it.
|
||
Place all the materials that might reveal your plans in it. On
|
||
the morn of your vanishing act visit the locker, destroy
|
||
everything and discard it when you get out of town.
|
||
- A Nevada, Wyoming or Delaware corporation is a handy
|
||
thing. You can rent mailboxes and open bank accounts all in
|
||
your corporate name, which makes it much harder to track
|
||
your activities.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 139 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
- When you open your corporate bank account do not give
|
||
them your new phone or address. Use a dummy address
|
||
and give them a invalid phone and say "the phone won't be
|
||
installed for a few days yet". Do not give them your new
|
||
prepaid cell number as it's activity can be traced.
|
||
- Do all your new banking through the ATM or online. Avoid
|
||
showing your face inside the bank.
|
||
- During your last months at your old location you might want
|
||
to consider using whatever frequent flyer miles you have to
|
||
take a vacation. But be sure to travel to a place distant from
|
||
your intended new location. Any other frequent flyer miles
|
||
should be abandoned as they create a simple to track link.
|
||
- Forget library cards and registering to vote (though you can
|
||
easily register under a fake name and use the card as useful
|
||
new ID).
|
||
Remember, fail to plan and you can plan to fail. Take your
|
||
time. Pay attention to details or it will all add up to nothing.
|
||
Witness Protection Program
|
||
Taking a look at the federal witness protection program may
|
||
give you some tips on how one might pursue a new identity.
|
||
Under the witness protection program, those who are willing
|
||
to testify against major criminals are provided with entirely
|
||
new identities by the federal government.
|
||
The following comes from several people who were actually in the
|
||
program. After you're approved and provide the testimony they
|
||
require, you're given your new identity. First you're stripped of
|
||
every form of ID you have in your present name. Then you're also
|
||
stripped of any other piece of paper that has your old name on it.
|
||
Until you actually appear in court you may be ferried around from
|
||
hotel to hotel for up to a year. It's a real grind and the feds may
|
||
abandon you if the prosecution isn't successful for whatever
|
||
reason.
|
||
Then you're provided with a set of five or six airplane tickets and
|
||
several sets of temporary ID. You're given a schedule for several
|
||
airline flights that will route you all over the nation. Each individual
|
||
ticket bears a different name.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 140 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The first leg of your trip might take you from Miami to Dallas as Mr.
|
||
Miller. You stay in a hotel as Mr. Chambers. Two days later you fly
|
||
to Kansas City as Mr. Wilson and stay in a hotel for two days as
|
||
Mr. Mallory.
|
||
Then you fly to Denver as Mr. Anderson, stay there two days as
|
||
Mr. Phillips and then onto your final destination, Phoenix, Arizona
|
||
under your permanent new name.
|
||
There you visit a hidden facility on a military base where security
|
||
is extremely tight. You are provided with a full set of ID in your
|
||
new name. You practice your new signature and telling your new
|
||
personal history story until you can recite it smoothly without any
|
||
anxiety. If you have a regional accent, this can be a problem. Your
|
||
new life story will have to explain it away in a believable way.
|
||
All this flying around is necessary as it completely breaks any link
|
||
between your old and new identities. Anyone checking up on you
|
||
won't be able to track you as each flight and hotel reservation is
|
||
under a totally different name.
|
||
You can choose your new name but there are limits. No celebrity
|
||
names, no names of old friends or any name that in any way links
|
||
you back to your old identity. You can also choose which city you
|
||
want to live in, up to a point. Almost everyone wants to go to either
|
||
Hawaii or San Diego so these areas are not options. Almost
|
||
everyone also wants a sunny warm location, which is seldom
|
||
granted. Obscure places in small to medium sized cities located in
|
||
the northern half of the country seem to be most often used.
|
||
And another ban - you can't go anywhere where you have friends
|
||
or relatives. You have to be a complete unknown in your new
|
||
location. You will be provided with a "small stipend" for the first
|
||
few months but you will be forced to seek employment after that.
|
||
If you are uncooperative about seeking a job, you can be dropped
|
||
from the program. Uncle Sam isn't going to take care of you for
|
||
the rest of your life.
|
||
At first, most new entrants in the program are miserable. They
|
||
miss their friends, their old haunts, their families, everything
|
||
familiar. They are in a new environment that is entirely foreign to
|
||
them dealing with people with far different values and habits. In
|
||
short, they are fish out of water.
|
||
Even after all this - you can have problems. You can never apply
|
||
for a job that requires any kind of background check as your
|
||
working history won't stand up to close scrutiny. (It exists only on
|
||
paper)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 141 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
You will also have to avoid any job that requires a security
|
||
clearance or a pre-employment polygraph test. All things
|
||
considered, you're actually living a lie so any careful examination
|
||
of you and your life will soon blow your cover.
|
||
Divorce is common, especially during those first months that
|
||
precede your court appearance. Here you are, your whole family,
|
||
crowded into a single hotel room for months and months moving
|
||
at random times into strange places. You're warned not to step
|
||
outside but how can you live cooped up for so long? Angers will
|
||
flare and old arguments will resurface. It's just human nature.
|
||
Though the government does all it can to facilitate the whole
|
||
process, a substantial percentage of program entrants drop out,
|
||
especially during those first months. Many former criminals can't
|
||
resist the temptation and return to their criminal ways in their new
|
||
location.
|
||
This is cause for immediate ejection from the program. Some get
|
||
homesick and phone up an old buddy - another stupid move that
|
||
will get you terminated.
|
||
Most people stay in the program for 2-3 years and then just walk
|
||
away. For some it's a good move but the stakes are high as those
|
||
who miscalculate can end up six feet under. Some have been
|
||
kicked out just for making the mistake of signing their old
|
||
signature or when their children spill the beans to their friends.
|
||
One man felt bound to attend his daughter's funeral – another
|
||
common mistake.
|
||
There must be a thousand different ways to blow your cover and
|
||
most people become fatigued with the constant anxiety. Being
|
||
always on guard must be draining. The least little slip could be all
|
||
your old enemies need.
|
||
One Call Does It All?
|
||
If you sniff around the web long enough, you'll run into
|
||
entrepreneurs that will offer to handle the whole identity-changing
|
||
process for you. For a up-front single fee (usually two to five
|
||
grand) they will get you a clean new birth certificate, drivers
|
||
license and may even throw in a passport and credit card. It
|
||
sounds inviting to let someone else who knows the ropes handle
|
||
the whole process while you sit back and relax.
|
||
They seem to be rather underground and probably associated
|
||
with the criminal world as they only communicate via email and
|
||
perhaps a phone call or two.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 142 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
It all sound so inviting that you send this guy cash or a money
|
||
order for a grand or two and sit back confident that soon you’ll be
|
||
somebody new. Two weeks later when you send him a reminder
|
||
note, your email message comes bouncing back with an
|
||
"Addressee Unknown" error attached to it. This bird has flown.
|
||
These guys are con artists plain and simple. They're long on
|
||
promises and very short on performance. Untraceable foreign
|
||
email accounts are a dime a dozen (actually they're entirely free!)
|
||
Even if they do ship you some identity documents, you can bet
|
||
they'll be either stolen or of very poor quality. Or if you get an
|
||
"honest" con man, he may charge you two grand for a camouflage
|
||
passport that costs him a mere $200.
|
||
Or perhaps he'll sell off your new identity info to some law
|
||
enforcement types. There are no easy shortcuts here - identity
|
||
changing is best done alone.
|
||
Some Other Passport Strategies
|
||
The US passport application process requires a personal
|
||
interview with a certified passport processor at a post office
|
||
facility. Though you may get a bored and disinterested clerk,
|
||
never underestimate these people. They are carefully trained
|
||
and most are extremely adept at uncovering deception. They
|
||
also have radar when it comes to forged documents.
|
||
Avoid applying in the big cities near international borders
|
||
and locations in the southern US where Illegal Hispanic
|
||
aliens are common.
|
||
Be prepared for questions, some of which are designed to
|
||
shake you up. They're looking for nervousness. So they may
|
||
ask silly questions that have nothing to do with your ability to
|
||
obtain a passport. Be calm and if asked for nonsense
|
||
information simply (and calmly) say "Gee, I don't know".
|
||
Getting a Second Drivers License
|
||
You can obtain a second drivers license by the following
|
||
method. First, if your DL is anywhere near expiring, renew
|
||
your license in the usual way. If you are given a choice on
|
||
how long your new license will last, go for the max, even if it
|
||
costs you a few extra bucks.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 143 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Wait a few months and then call your local DMV office and
|
||
report your DL lost. After having dinner with friends you
|
||
remember dropping your wallet but you thought you picked
|
||
everything up but obviously not. You have lost your license
|
||
and need a new one. You are issued a replacement license.
|
||
This is a very common procedure these days.
|
||
Then you call the DMV office in the state you wish to issue
|
||
your new license - ask if testing is required or will they
|
||
accept your old license instead. Most will accept your old
|
||
license. Then you drive to your new location and apply for a
|
||
new license there, handing in your old original (Not the
|
||
replacement) license.
|
||
You now have two licenses in two different states. This can
|
||
be useful to help cloud the issue of where you live, to help
|
||
you document the "fact" that you live in the lower taxed state
|
||
or help you qualify for a lower tuition rate for state residents.
|
||
Unfortunately since all 50 states now share information on
|
||
DUI, speeding ticket points, suspensions and revocations, if
|
||
your license has been tagged in any of these ways, this
|
||
whole process will only get you into more trouble. Sorry.
|
||
Legal Eagles
|
||
We get inquiries all the time asking if a lawyer could handle
|
||
an identity change for a fee. The answer is - unless your
|
||
present situation is 100% legal and moral - forget it.
|
||
Attorneys are loyal to the courts and cops they plan to be
|
||
working with for years to come. In contrast, clients come and
|
||
go. If a lawyer smells even the slightest problem - you can
|
||
expect that most of them will turn you in a heartbeat.
|
||
And very few lawyers know anything about identity changing.
|
||
When you finish reading this report you'll know more than
|
||
98% of them.
|
||
In contrast a Private Investigator (PI) can, in some situations,
|
||
be useful. Problem is - you have to find one you can trust
|
||
completely and that's a very difficult hurdle. If you can get a
|
||
solid personal reference from a trusted friend - you might
|
||
have found your man. Your average PI has access to a ton
|
||
of otherwise unavailable information.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 144 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
And the best of them have extremely sneaky ways of getting
|
||
to the really heavily restricted info but don't expect them to
|
||
share their secret techniques. It's taken them a lifetime to
|
||
develop them and to a PI they are as valuable as the secrets
|
||
of a master magician.
|
||
Big Brother and Your Friendly Local Travel Agent
|
||
I love my country but the way our government treats it's
|
||
citizens makes me sick to my stomach. But it's amazing to
|
||
me how blindly most people trust our government. If they
|
||
knew the truth they'd be much more suspicious.
|
||
You drop in on your friendly local travel agent. You make
|
||
some reservations and purchase your tickets. The whole
|
||
process is easy, pleasant and you assume (quite wrongly)
|
||
that your travel plans are no one's business but your own.
|
||
Unfortunately, all reservations made in the US are handled
|
||
through a unified system that is closely monitored by - yup
|
||
you guessed it - the federal government.
|
||
A businessman forms a corporation in a secretive offshore
|
||
tax haven. He then makes reservations and flies down to his
|
||
new location to soak up the rays and check his rapidly
|
||
expanding tax-free bank balance.
|
||
A few weeks after his return home he receives a notice from
|
||
the IRS informing him of an upcoming audit. Could it be that
|
||
the IRS knows about his offshore dealings? You bet they do.
|
||
Any reservation made through any travel agent located in
|
||
the US is an open book. The IRS has compiled a list of 31
|
||
offshore tax havens. When a US citizen takes several trips to
|
||
one of the offshore locations on their list - bad things begin
|
||
to happen. First your luggage may be torn apart by US
|
||
customs upon your return to the US and then the IRS may
|
||
place your entire tax history under a microscope. Several
|
||
years of annual tax audits follow. But some have found that
|
||
all this insanity can be avoided.
|
||
The easiest way is to fly to Canada and purchase your
|
||
overseas tickets there (don't use your frequent flyer program
|
||
if you're interested in staying off big brother's radar).
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 145 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Or others have found this approach worthwhile. When you
|
||
make your reservations, convince your travel agent that
|
||
Mexico City, Costa Rica or Puerto Rico is your final
|
||
destination. Of course this trip is for tourism purposes only.
|
||
Tell them how much you're looking forward to spending
|
||
some time shopping and taking in the sights.
|
||
Or perhaps you enjoy photographing the many kinds of
|
||
tropical wildlife found there. Be very careful not to say
|
||
anything about any other travel plans. You'll be staying with
|
||
some friends there so won't need any hotel or rental car
|
||
reservations.
|
||
When you arrive at the airport there, you walk over to a
|
||
different airline's counter and purchase a ticket to your real
|
||
destination - an offshore tax haven. You pay for the ticket in
|
||
cash.
|
||
When you get to your final destination you avoid using your
|
||
credit card and also refrain from calling home unless you use
|
||
one of those international calling cards that can be
|
||
purchased for cash. (When the calling card has expired -
|
||
destroy it completely - Do not "recharge" it with your credit
|
||
card). Take enough cash with you to last through your entire
|
||
stay (unless you have some funds tucked away there).
|
||
Some Caribbean offshore locations will allow Americans to
|
||
visit their countries without showing their US passports. I
|
||
recently entered the Bahamas with only my Tennessee
|
||
driver’s license. The lady just waved me through with hardly
|
||
a glance.
|
||
The government there is more interested in getting your
|
||
cash than hassling you with security problems. This will work
|
||
well if you are an affluent looking American.
|
||
Gee, do you think anyone ever opened an offshore account
|
||
using one of those nifty camouflage passports? I've received
|
||
no new reports but I can imagine it's been tried.
|
||
One other thought to keep in mind is that the single most
|
||
dangerous threat to your privacy are the credit bureaus. We
|
||
live in the most computerized society in the history of the
|
||
world and these credit bureaus have many sources. But
|
||
when you travel overseas you drop off their radar
|
||
completely.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 146 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The credit datahounds receive no input from foreign sources
|
||
nor do they provide any data to overseas firms. The US
|
||
credit bureaus have no influence over transactions in foreign
|
||
countries. Your US credit rating is entirely worthless there.
|
||
Drivers License Madness
|
||
The suicide high-jackers who hit on Sept. 11 all had US
|
||
driver’s licenses. After the attack DMV officials all over the
|
||
country came under fire for issuing drivers licenses too
|
||
easily. The states that were the most lenient in the issuing of
|
||
new drivers licenses were Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia.
|
||
For several decades migrant workers and other illegal aliens
|
||
have known that Tennessee is the state that grants drivers
|
||
licenses most easily. The reasons behind this are simple
|
||
enough to grasp.
|
||
The democratic parties in these states have passed motor-
|
||
voter bills that automatically register new driver license
|
||
holders to vote.
|
||
Since Tennessee doesn't even ask for a social security
|
||
number as a part of the license application service, you
|
||
might wonder why new licensees would automatically be
|
||
registered to vote. Simple - the politicians want it that way.
|
||
The more voters get registered, the better. It doesn't matter if
|
||
they aren't entirely legal. It doesn't matter if they're not
|
||
qualified. Don't ask questions - just sign 'em up!
|
||
Another issue revolves around these state's ongoing need
|
||
for Hispanic labor to work in the agriculture industry. They
|
||
want Spanish-speaking illegal aliens to come to their states
|
||
as it fattens the cheap labor pool.
|
||
Indeed, not only don't you need a social security number to
|
||
get a license in Tennessee and several other states but the
|
||
application and written test can be taken in Spanish or any of
|
||
a half dozen other languages. (Gee, how can a Spanish-
|
||
speaking foreigner drive safely when they can't read the
|
||
street signs?)
|
||
When interviewed concerning their lax procedures, the
|
||
director of the Tennessee drivers license system said that
|
||
their policies were under review but they didn't anticipate any
|
||
changes anytime soon.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 147 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
According to recent news reports Connecticut, South
|
||
Carolina and Florida no longer accept Tennessee drivers
|
||
licenses for conversion.
|
||
Anonymous Foreign Free Email Services
|
||
Below are links to various foreign free email services. With
|
||
them you can open a free email account and use it to
|
||
communicate anonymously with anyone anywhere in the
|
||
world. Your messages cannot be traced. [All services on the
|
||
list were verified 3-03]
|
||
http://www.ireland-information.com/freeemail.htm
|
||
http://www.mailasia.com/scripts/common/index.main?=us
|
||
signin=1&lang
|
||
http://www.timormail.com/
|
||
http://www.emailgaul.com/email/scripts/loginuser.pl
|
||
http://www.anjungcafe.com/
|
||
http://www.flytecrew.com/
|
||
http://www.kichimail.com/templates/common/us/tos.htm
|
||
http://www.norikomail.com/templates/common/us/tos.htm
|
||
http://mail.wawasan2020.com/email/scripts/useragreement.p
|
||
l
|
||
http://server1.mymail.ph/email/scripts/loginuser.pl
|
||
http://philippines.to/
|
||
http://www.singmail.com/
|
||
http://mail.bkkmail.com/templates/common/us/tos.htm
|
||
http://vol.vnn.vn/cgi-bin/webmail4.2/register?
|
||
REGISTER=TRUE&INTERFACE=E
|
||
http://www.asia-links.com/members/register.asp
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 148 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
http://www.eastmail.com/
|
||
http://www.fepg.net/foreign.html
|
||
http://www.email.is/login.asp
|
||
http://www.operamail.com/templates/common/us/tos.htm
|
||
Re-entering the USA
|
||
Ok so you've been overseas for a while for whatever reason
|
||
and are now ready to come back home. For the vast majority
|
||
of returning citizens this is a routine process that goes
|
||
smoothly but a bit of planning and knowledge will help you
|
||
avoid any problems.
|
||
First of all, dress conservatively. You must look like a nice
|
||
honest citizen returning from a vacation or business trip. Do
|
||
you remember all that legal stuff they taught you back in high
|
||
school civics? And do you recall all that mumbo-jumbo about
|
||
cops needing a search warrant to look at your property. And
|
||
that stuff about you being innocent until proven guilty.
|
||
Remember?
|
||
Well, when you cross a US border - forget it - none of that
|
||
applies! The inspectors who question you have a legal right
|
||
to look wherever they please (this includes strip searching
|
||
you, plowing through your baggage and even disassembling
|
||
your car). And they can put you through living hell on nothing
|
||
more than a "hunch". They don't need evidence.
|
||
If they suspect something is wrong - the burden of proof is
|
||
on you. You have to, by law, answer any questions they care
|
||
to ask for as long as it takes. That's right - you are guilty until
|
||
you prove your innocence to their satisfaction.
|
||
This is all because the US Supreme Court has decided that
|
||
crossing a border is a voluntary act so the usual
|
||
constitutional protections don't apply.
|
||
If all goes well you should be in front of an inspector for less
|
||
than one minute. If the conversation lasts longer than that,
|
||
you'll probably end up going through a second much more
|
||
detailed inspection (called a "secondary").
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 149 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Be nice and friendly in answering any questions. If you do or
|
||
say anything that irritates the inspector, remember - he is a
|
||
position to make your life a living hell.
|
||
These inspectors have an extremely boring job so do
|
||
everything you can to make things go smoothly and they will
|
||
reward you with a quick and easy transaction. Inspectors are
|
||
not nasty bastards who are dead set on causing you
|
||
headaches.
|
||
Instead they're just regular people who want to keep the line
|
||
moving as quickly as possible. Most of what they say and do
|
||
is repeated over and over again so they operate in a kind of
|
||
fog. And never assume that they're stupid as they're not.
|
||
Your chances of fooling an experienced inspector are
|
||
remote so don't even try.
|
||
Here is something any American should consider. Before
|
||
you leave make good quality photocopies of your birth
|
||
certificate and all pages of your passport.
|
||
Should you lose your passport while overseas you could
|
||
quickly find yourself in a rather sticky situation as the State
|
||
Department requires a birth certificate verification before a
|
||
replacement can be issued. If you have a copy of your
|
||
original passport, the verification is unnecessary.
|
||
The inspector has the right to search your wallet (or purse)
|
||
either in front of you or in another room. Also be sure not to
|
||
have receipts for items purchased while overseas.
|
||
Inspectors have dual responsibilities. They are both an
|
||
immigration agent concerned with illegal aliens entering the
|
||
US and also have customs responsibilities.
|
||
Do not carry any prescription drugs with you that would
|
||
indicate that you suffer from any serious infectious or mental
|
||
diseases. They are a dead tip-off that you have a problem
|
||
and there are rules against letting seriously sick people into
|
||
the US. If you act strangely, you may have earned yourself a
|
||
second conversation with a public health type who may well
|
||
refuse you entry.
|
||
Needle tracks and drug paraphernalia are another tip-off that
|
||
will get you and your baggage torn to shreds in a frantic
|
||
search for illegal drugs.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 150 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If you're traveling with a friend but want to appear as
|
||
separate travelers, be sure to act like strangers from the
|
||
moment you enter the building. Don't even glance at each
|
||
other. While in line you are being carefully watched and any
|
||
indication of communication will result in a more in-depth
|
||
investigation.
|
||
If anyone in line starts up a conversation immediately
|
||
assume that they are government agents who are attempting
|
||
to pump you for information. Keep the conversation light. Do
|
||
not respond in any way to probing questions.
|
||
The inspector may ask you if you've ever been arrested. If
|
||
he doesn't believe your answer he may launch into
|
||
something like the following: "I suspect you of being involved
|
||
in illegal activities. I am of the opinion that you have been
|
||
arrested in the past. Now we can detain you and search the
|
||
records or you could just come clean right now and you can
|
||
be on your way."
|
||
This is a trap. His threat is probably an empty one. Admitting
|
||
to a felony arrest is grounds for denying you entry (agents
|
||
call this "dumping" an applicant). Or he may ask you if you
|
||
have any minor arrests like traffic offenses or other minor
|
||
crimes like burglary. If you admit to being arrested for
|
||
burglary - you will probably be immediately dumped.
|
||
The inspector’s motto is - small lies mask large lies. Don't
|
||
ever attempt to carry over $10,000 in cash out of the
|
||
country. The new money has coded strips that can be
|
||
detected.
|
||
Those who smuggle large sums use either large
|
||
denomination bills (Singapore has a single bill that's worth
|
||
over $8,000 and diamonds or other expensive gems or
|
||
jewelry are another highly-liquid forms of portable wealth that
|
||
can be easily converted to any currency you like almost
|
||
anywhere in the world.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 151 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Baptismal Certificates
|
||
I just thought I’d include a note here about baptismal
|
||
certificates. It’s simply amazing how often someone will
|
||
accept a simple forged baptismal certificate. After all it’s not
|
||
an official government document in any real sense and as
|
||
such isn’t readily certifiable.
|
||
And if you add a raised seal using the strategies discussed
|
||
above, you will have an ID document that can be quite useful
|
||
though extremely easy to come up with. I recommend you
|
||
make one up and have it with you when you are seeking
|
||
other ID documents.
|
||
Blank baptismal certificates can be purchased at church
|
||
supply stores but you may have to buy a pack of a hundred
|
||
just to get one.
|
||
Also, you can buy a wallet-sized "certificate of ordination"
|
||
proving that you are a reverend in one of several "churches".
|
||
You can find these outfits listed in the classified section of
|
||
the "National Enquirer" which you can find at your local
|
||
grocery store. For $5 you’re a reverend, for $10 a Priest and
|
||
for $50 you can be a real Bishop! Note: forget the ads you
|
||
see there that offer blank drivers licenses and other fake ID.
|
||
It’s all real junk. Looks like some high-school kids made the
|
||
stuff up.
|
||
Phone Numbers of Vital Record Offices
|
||
Alabama (334) 206-5418
|
||
Alaska (907) 465-3391
|
||
Arizona (602) 255-3260
|
||
Arkansas (501) 661-2336
|
||
California (916) 445-2684
|
||
Colorado (303) 756-4464
|
||
Connecticut (860) 509-7897
|
||
Delaware (302) 739-4721
|
||
District of Columbia (202) 645-5962
|
||
Florida (904) 359-6900
|
||
Georgia (404) 656-4900
|
||
Hawaii (808) 586-4533
|
||
Idaho (208) 334-5988
|
||
Illinois (217) 782-6553
|
||
Indiana (317) 233-2700
|
||
Iowa (515) 281-4944
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 152 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Kansas (785) 269-1400
|
||
Kentucky (502) 564-4212
|
||
Louisiana (504) 568-5152
|
||
Maine (207) 287-3184
|
||
Maryland (400) 764-3038
|
||
Massachusetts (617) 753-8600
|
||
Michigan (517) 335-8656
|
||
Minnesota (612) 676-5120
|
||
Mississippi (601) 576-7450
|
||
Missouri (573) 751-6400
|
||
Montana (406) 444-4228
|
||
Nebraska (402) 471-2871
|
||
Nevada (775) 684-4280
|
||
New Hampshire (603) 271-4654
|
||
New Jersey (609) 292-4087
|
||
New Mexico (505) 827-2338
|
||
New York (518) 474-3075
|
||
New York City (212) 788-4520
|
||
North Carolina (919) 733-3526
|
||
North Dakota (701) 328-2360
|
||
Ohio (614) 466-2531
|
||
Oklahoma (405) 271-4040
|
||
Oregon (503) 731-4095
|
||
Pennsylvania (724) 656-3100
|
||
Rhode Island (401) 222-2811
|
||
South Carolina (803) 734-4830
|
||
South Dakota (605) 773-3355
|
||
Tennessee (615) 741-1763
|
||
Texas (512) 458-7111
|
||
Utah (801) 538-6105
|
||
Vermont (802) 863-7275
|
||
Virginia (804) 225-5000
|
||
Washington (360) 236-4300
|
||
West Virginia (304) 558-2931
|
||
Wisconsin (608) 266-1371
|
||
Wyoming (307) 777-7591 American Samoa (684) 633-1222
|
||
ext. 214
|
||
Guam (671) 734-4589
|
||
Puerto Rico (787) 728-7980
|
||
Virgin Islands:
|
||
St. Croix (340) 773-4050
|
||
St. Thomas (340) 774-9000 ext. 4621 or 4623
|
||
Canal Zone - No phone number available, write to:
|
||
Panama Canal Commission
|
||
Vital Statistics Clerk
|
||
APOAA, 34011
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 153 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Employment References
|
||
Entering the employment arena with a new identity can be a
|
||
problem. If you’re lucky enough to have a friend who owns a
|
||
small business, they can provide you with an employment
|
||
reference. Others have approached small family businesses
|
||
with an offer to pay cash up front for a good reference.
|
||
While others have used the following system: They open a
|
||
commercial post box. When they apply for a job, they list
|
||
their last employer as ITT, AT&T, IBM or some other well-
|
||
known large international firm. On the employment
|
||
application they list an imaginary boss’s name and list their
|
||
local PO Box as their official business address. This way you
|
||
will receive the prospective employer’s reference request
|
||
letter yourself and will be able to reply to it in any way you
|
||
wish. Sneaky isn’t it?
|
||
This technique works because large corporations have
|
||
offices all over the country and most companies refuse to
|
||
provide phone references anymore. Lawsuits have made it
|
||
very dangerous to chat openly about former employees.
|
||
For that reason, today most employers provide only a
|
||
confirmation of past employment, dates of employment and
|
||
position title. In particular any discussion of job performance
|
||
or cause of termination can lead to expensive legal
|
||
problems.
|
||
It never fails to amaze me how easily most people will gladly
|
||
accept the most worthless documents as "proof" of this or
|
||
that. Income can be "proved" in a number of different ways
|
||
using all sorts of easily doctored forms.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 154 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Banking Security
|
||
Many freedom-loving individuals are busily transferring their
|
||
funds to "offshore" banks in the Caribbean these days. Is
|
||
this really necessary? Perhaps, but you should know that
|
||
there is one state right here in the good old US that will give
|
||
you better banking security than the other forty-nine. And
|
||
while it ain't Switzerland, it's better than nothing.
|
||
You can open a bank account in Nevada complete with a
|
||
Visa or MasterCard debit card. And since Nevada laws on
|
||
banking privacy are much stricter than any other state, your
|
||
financial information is comparatively secure.
|
||
Nevada hasn't signed an information exchange agreement
|
||
with the IRS, so the tax boys will have to go to court if they
|
||
want access to your records. How good is this protection?
|
||
Provided you aren't involved in anything illegal - the
|
||
protection is quite good. If you're a criminal looking to
|
||
launder drug money - forget it.
|
||
Some have found the following tactic very effective. They
|
||
collect all their mail for a week or more. They leave the
|
||
envelopes pile up unopened. The day of your departure they
|
||
write "Deceased" across the front of each envelope in ink
|
||
and throw them all in the nearest mail box as they leave
|
||
town.
|
||
Offshore Tactics
|
||
Ron M. owned a small retail store in a Midwestern city. After
|
||
16 years of married life he began to suspect that his
|
||
marriage was headed for the rocks. Ron didn't want a
|
||
divorce, and even worse - he deeply feared the financial
|
||
damage a divorce would inflict upon his future lifestyle. So
|
||
he decided to take decisive action.
|
||
During his college years Ron became interested in collecting
|
||
coins. After buying many different kinds of coins, he found
|
||
US silver dollars particularly interesting. He spent long hours
|
||
reading coin books in the library and doing other research on
|
||
the Internet.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 155 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
After two years Ron had became somewhat of an expert on
|
||
the subject of investing in US coins for profit. In his spare
|
||
time he began writing a guide on the subject. He was
|
||
convinced that such a book could be sold to the general
|
||
public at a nice profit. To speed the project along, he hired a
|
||
young college girl who did some "ghost" writing. In a few
|
||
short months he had his first draft.
|
||
He then launched a web site that offered instant online
|
||
access to his new book. Sales took off quickly and within a
|
||
few months he was taking in around a thousand bucks a
|
||
month. At this point he was confident that this was only the
|
||
beginning. He knew that if he would invest all his profits in
|
||
expanded advertising, his business would soon take off and
|
||
start bringing in some really serious cash.
|
||
He then assembled a "grub stake" of around three thousand
|
||
bucks and offered his wife a week-long vacation on the
|
||
lovely Caribbean island of Nevis.
|
||
While his wife was off shopping one afternoon, Ron stole
|
||
away and used his grub stake to open an offshore bank
|
||
account at a local Nevis bank, and also signed a contract
|
||
with a Nevis web host to register his site URL under his new
|
||
offshore corporate name, and set up his site hosting.
|
||
The bank also set up credit card merchant services and
|
||
even gave Ron his own MasterCard complete with full
|
||
international ATM access.
|
||
Here's how Ron's new business venture worked. Customers
|
||
would go to Ron's site and purchase his book online using
|
||
their credit cards. His bank in Nevis would then process the
|
||
credit card transaction and deposit the funds in Ron's Nevis
|
||
bank account.
|
||
Ron could then withdraw cash at any ATM machine in the
|
||
world with his new MasterCard/ATM card. Or he could make
|
||
purchases at any vendor that accepted MasterCard credit
|
||
cards.
|
||
Either way the transactions would be entirely anonymous, as
|
||
the vendor would only see a short numerical code that
|
||
authorized the transaction and no other information.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 156 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
And the best part is - since the entire business is conducted
|
||
offshore, no one (including his wife) would ever know the
|
||
details of his business activities or the level or even the
|
||
existence of his bank balance. (Banking privacy laws in
|
||
Nevis are extremely strict. In fact, anyone arriving in Nevis
|
||
who plans to penetrate their banking records can be slapped
|
||
in jail under Nevis law!)
|
||
Ron had another little goal I might mention. He hated the
|
||
IRS and used to rant on and on about the huge chunk the
|
||
IRS kept taking out of his hide. By locating his entire
|
||
operation offshore he could realize a very old dream. For the
|
||
first time in his life his business was entirely tax-free. (Most
|
||
offshore tax havens charge little or no tax on money earned
|
||
outside of their country.) Now you understand that I can't
|
||
endorse cheating the IRS but Ron felt it was more than
|
||
worth the effort.
|
||
Next came a major promotion. Ron plowed all his profits
|
||
back into the business. Sales grew handsomely over the
|
||
next year. Ron skimmed some other funds from here and
|
||
there which he transferred (by international money order) to
|
||
his exploding, tax-free Nevis bank account.
|
||
By the time the divorce finally occurred, Ron had arranged
|
||
things in such a way that his wife came away with but a
|
||
small slice of Ron's true wealth. Oh, she definitely suspected
|
||
that Ron was hiding something - but what could she do? Her
|
||
attorney ran a financial asset check on Ron but it came up
|
||
nickels and dimes!
|
||
Today Ron and his new wife make regular trips to Nevis to
|
||
check on his rapidly ballooning bank balance and lounge in
|
||
the sun on the beautiful white sand beaches of the lovely
|
||
little island.
|
||
If you don't need to transfer a business offshore, you might
|
||
consider this. For two or three thousand you can have an
|
||
offshore corporation formed. Anyone who desires personal
|
||
and financial privacy can use such an entity in numerous
|
||
creative ways. Some kinds of offshore corporations can be
|
||
used to make investments anywhere in the world.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 157 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
You open an offshore bank account in your corporate name
|
||
and use it to safely hide funds. Or you could use the
|
||
corporation for the purpose for which it was intended - to
|
||
conduct business. Your corporation could also be used to
|
||
own a trust which can be used to hide many kinds of
|
||
financial transactions. The opportunities are truly endless.
|
||
And how is this for a creative solution to a real problem?
|
||
Should any kind of investigator make an inquiry with your
|
||
offshore bank, you can have things set up so that the letter
|
||
triggers an immediate transfer of your entire account to yet
|
||
another bank located in yet another offshore banking haven!
|
||
How's that for security? I'm sure you can see why anyone
|
||
who attempts to investigate offshore banking accounts
|
||
knows they are faced with a supremely frustrating task. Most
|
||
know this all too well and so won't bother to try.
|
||
But be warned these offshore waters are full of cheats and
|
||
swindlers. Before you shell out any cash - be very, very sure
|
||
exactly who you are doing business with!
|
||
Suckers send off substantial sums by money order to
|
||
offshore operators who quickly vanish with their cash! Just
|
||
because they have a slick web site with a phone number and
|
||
mailing address doesn't mean they're legitimate. Do your
|
||
homework carefully!
|
||
Need a College Degree?
|
||
(Here are a half a dozen different methods)
|
||
Warning: Claiming a degree using these techniques could
|
||
leave you with a ticking time bomb in your resume. You
|
||
might lose a job, a promotion of actually get yourself
|
||
arrested in some jurisdictions. The author and publisher do
|
||
not advocate deceiving employers in this way.
|
||
There are several very different approaches to consider
|
||
here. A copy of a genuine transcript could be altered to
|
||
change the name and personal information at the top to
|
||
reflect a new identity and then several copies could be
|
||
made. Then when the subject of transcripts comes up in a
|
||
job interview, the copies could be just handed over.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 158 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Many employers will accept them if the applicant looks
|
||
convincing.
|
||
Or you could use an entirely different approach. Some have
|
||
actually used forged transcripts to get admitted to a new
|
||
university where they earned a more advanced graduate
|
||
degree. This is known as "leap-frogging". Isn't an MBA better
|
||
than a lowly BS? Or you could use a college level GED
|
||
certificate to gain entrance. (95+% of colleges accept them)
|
||
Or if an employer insists on receiving transcripts directly
|
||
from your university, you could provide them with the
|
||
school’s mailing address, which would be your commercial
|
||
PO Box. You then send them your transcripts.
|
||
Here is another approach that might harm an innocent
|
||
person's life so should be carefully used. A help wanted ad is
|
||
run aimed at someone with a degree in a desirable major.
|
||
The offered salary should be generous yet believable. The
|
||
ad must state that the job requires the desired degree.
|
||
Then the applicants are combed for a likely match. By
|
||
sending out a standard employment application form (which
|
||
can be easily purchased at any office supply store) much
|
||
more detailed information on the applicant can be obtained.
|
||
The genuine transcripts can then be obtained directly from
|
||
the university.
|
||
Then there is always the alumni approach. You call the
|
||
alumni association of a good school and purchase an alumni
|
||
book for the department in your discipline. You can get some
|
||
useful info over the phone if you play your cards right.
|
||
Then call the prospect directly. Tell them that you're updating
|
||
the alumni association's data files and extract even more
|
||
info. You'll need birth date and student number.
|
||
Here is an interesting little list. It contains information on
|
||
some institutions of higher learning that are no longer in
|
||
business. And if they're no longer around, verifying a degree
|
||
with them is going to be a problem. This means that it's
|
||
probably impossible to verify whether or not you ever
|
||
attended classes or earned a degree with them.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 159 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Also, some of the schools listed below were not properly
|
||
accredited though some did sincerely attempt to provide
|
||
honest educational services. But if you're leaving your old life
|
||
behind and need an established educational qualification,
|
||
claiming a unverifiable degree from one of these belly-up
|
||
universities might be just the ticket.
|
||
For a more complete listing and for information on earning
|
||
accredited and unaccredited degrees, get a copy of "Bears'
|
||
Guide to Earning Degrees Nontraditionally" by John B. Bear,
|
||
Ph.D.s
|
||
Institution Name Location Degrees Offered
|
||
Abilene Christian Abilene,
|
||
M.S. in Management
|
||
University Texas
|
||
American College Sunnyvale,
|
||
Business/Finance
|
||
of Finance California
|
||
American National LaPalma, Undergraduate
|
||
University California Degrees
|
||
San
|
||
Bay Area Open Undergraduate
|
||
Francisco,
|
||
College Degrees
|
||
California
|
||
Boulder Graduate Boulder,
|
||
Masters - Psychology
|
||
School Colorado
|
||
California American Escondido,
|
||
M.S. in management
|
||
University California
|
||
College of San
|
||
International
|
||
Professional Francisco,
|
||
Business
|
||
Studies California
|
||
New
|
||
Franconia College
|
||
Hampshire
|
||
Franklin and Lancaster,
|
||
M.S. in physics
|
||
Marshall College Pennsylvania
|
||
Houston
|
||
Houston,
|
||
International Social Work
|
||
Texas
|
||
University
|
||
International Los Angeles,
|
||
Various - All levels
|
||
College of L.A. California
|
||
International St. Louis, Ph.D.
|
||
Graduate School Missouri Business/Education
|
||
Sacramento,
|
||
Justice University Law
|
||
California
|
||
Louisiana Central Metairie,
|
||
University Louisiana
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 160 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Santa
|
||
Ocean University Monica, Law
|
||
California
|
||
Professional Phoenix, All levels - Mental
|
||
Studies Institute Arizona Health
|
||
Russell Sage
|
||
New York All levels - Education
|
||
College
|
||
Southeastern
|
||
Institute of Alabama B.S. in Engineering
|
||
Technology
|
||
University of Mid- Council
|
||
All levels (inc. Ph.D.)
|
||
America (Iowa) Bluffs, Iowa
|
||
Washington
|
||
Washington,
|
||
International B.A.
|
||
D.C.
|
||
College
|
||
Grand
|
||
Western Colorado
|
||
Junction, All levels
|
||
University
|
||
Colorado
|
||
Wyoming College
|
||
of Advanced Wyoming M.B.A.
|
||
Studies
|
||
There are two situations where these shortcut approaches
|
||
will definitely not work. Any job that requires a US
|
||
Department of Defense security clearance will require an in-
|
||
depth investigation. (all identity-changers should forget any
|
||
job that requires a high level security clearance) They aren't
|
||
happy just combing databases for negative information.
|
||
They actually go out and verify positive info. Interviewing
|
||
your college professors is a common practice in such cases.
|
||
Another problem area would be the pursuit of a officer's
|
||
commission in the US military. The FBI handles the
|
||
investigations for prospective military officers and these guys
|
||
are real pros who will personally contact your grade school
|
||
teachers to have a chat about your record way back then.
|
||
Every bit of your personal history will be confirmed and
|
||
verified.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 161 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The Academic Name Change
|
||
Here is a devious new approach. Though policies vary
|
||
widely, every university has been approached by at least
|
||
one graduate who has legally changed their name. Of
|
||
course they need to have the name on their official school
|
||
record changed. This may require a personal visit or the
|
||
intervention of a lawyer but either way - it can be done. Your
|
||
new birth certificate and your court name change decree will
|
||
do the trick. To be sure - it's an unusual request but not
|
||
entirely unheard of.
|
||
Demand that all future correspondence be carried on in your
|
||
new name only.
|
||
There will be a link between your two identities recorded in
|
||
the school's records, but that shouldn't provide any problems
|
||
under most circumstances.
|
||
Here's another approach. Get a copy of this book: "Bear's
|
||
Guide to Non-Traditional College Degrees: How to Get the
|
||
Degree You Want" by John Bear. This book discussed a ton
|
||
of very interesting educational alternatives. Here you will find
|
||
hundreds of ways to obtain accredited and quasi-accredited
|
||
degrees. If you require a degree in a hurry, this is yet
|
||
another route you should explore.
|
||
And these days there are more and more universities
|
||
springing up on the web that offer online instruction in a host
|
||
of different disciplines. This area of academia will certainly
|
||
continue to explode as the years pass.
|
||
Go to google.com and do a search on "online education" and
|
||
look around. I'm sure we're within a year or two of a degree
|
||
that can be earned entirely by online study.
|
||
In the past there was only form of accreditation that mattered
|
||
when it comes to a college degree but today all that is
|
||
changing. California has introduced an entirely different
|
||
approach. Some California schools that haven't earned full
|
||
regional accreditation have managed to obtain state
|
||
accreditation instead.
|
||
In a nutshell this means that California employers will almost
|
||
always accept such a degree. But will employers in other
|
||
states accept these degrees? No one knows. This new
|
||
approach to accreditation is so new few employers have an
|
||
established policy.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 162 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Crystal Cathedral Bust
|
||
Over the past few years a number of major religious schools
|
||
have been caught dealing in academic degrees. The usual
|
||
deal the churches have with state governments goes
|
||
something like this. They're allowed to organize schools and
|
||
grant as many degrees as they please without having to go
|
||
through the usual academic accreditation providing they only
|
||
grant degrees having to do with religion. Degrees in
|
||
theology, bible study, choir directing or ministerial degrees
|
||
are the usual fare.
|
||
But money-hungry churches often get entangled in the illegal
|
||
peddling of other more popular academic degrees. If a nice
|
||
member of their church, who has been a very generous
|
||
contributor to the building fund asks if they can't manage to
|
||
grant her a degree in accounting - they can't help but
|
||
consider her situation. After all, she has extensive
|
||
experience as a bookkeeper.
|
||
And there is the issue of the two kids she's trying to support.
|
||
The church may also be eager to get a fist full of her money.
|
||
The result? They quote her a price and then crank out a
|
||
degree and enter the necessary transcripts in their official
|
||
records. Of course all this breaks state laws but who is going
|
||
to spill the beans? Everyone gets what they want so what
|
||
can be wrong with that?
|
||
This situation may open the door for any degree-hungry
|
||
identity-changer. If you get into a rapidly-expanding
|
||
monetarily motivated church, you can never tell what kind of
|
||
degree you could end up with. The best schools for our
|
||
purposes are those who have bland names like "South
|
||
Wynfield College" instead of more religious sounding names
|
||
like "God the Supreme Creator College, in East Jesus North
|
||
Carolina".
|
||
If You Own a Computer
|
||
If you own a computer and a laser or inkjet printer, you may
|
||
want to consider purchasing a "desktop publishing" program.
|
||
Desktop publishing programs make it easy to quickly and
|
||
easily create all sorts of identity documents that appear very
|
||
genuine.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 163 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The best one I know of is Microsoft’s "Publish". There are
|
||
more powerful programs out there but this one is by far the
|
||
easiest to use and does an excellent job. It can also be used
|
||
to create professional looking resumes, business envelopes
|
||
and even brochures and sales letters.
|
||
The program includes a long list of automated wizards that
|
||
can be used to create documents if you don’t wish to take
|
||
the time to learn the programs commands. They couldn’t
|
||
make it any easier. You tell the program exactly what you
|
||
want. And the program automatically creates the document
|
||
right in front of your eyes with little no intervention. And with
|
||
the improved print quality of today's inkjet printers, the
|
||
product can be extremely professional looking.
|
||
One guy I know used Publish to create several very
|
||
professional-looking "employee identification" badges and
|
||
cards. The first one took about an hour but once he created
|
||
the blank template, making additional versions took only a
|
||
few minutes. Ain't technology wonderful?
|
||
The Clothes Make the Man
|
||
Have you ever read the book or seen the movie - "Catch me
|
||
if you can" by Frank Abagnail? No? Get a copy as soon as
|
||
you can. The real-world hero of this story slipped into and
|
||
out of a half dozen entirely different identities over more than
|
||
a decade. His favorite was airline pilot.
|
||
He called the headquarters of a major international airline.
|
||
Posing as a pilot who had lost his uniform he obtained the
|
||
name and address of the airline's local contract tailor. He
|
||
then went to him with a sad story. He was an airline pilot
|
||
who had just come to town but had left his uniform in some
|
||
other city.
|
||
He's made this same mistake several times this year so he's
|
||
afraid he'll be fired if the airline finds out. Can the tailor bail
|
||
him out by quietly providing him with a new uniform?
|
||
He volunteered to pay any price in cash. In the end the tailor
|
||
made one up in only 24 hours and charged the entire cost to
|
||
the airline!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 164 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
When he put it on he quickly discovered the overwhelming
|
||
power of a uniform. He would get respect from everyone he
|
||
spoke with. The hotel hardly looked at his identification and
|
||
treated him like a king. He could easily cash checks
|
||
anywhere.
|
||
He flew all over the world for free (employees fly free on their
|
||
own airline). And he also found that a uniform can have a
|
||
really remarkable effect on the ladies. This guy flew all over
|
||
the world first class and had a ball. Is there a uniform in your
|
||
future? He then went on to pose as a doctor, and a college
|
||
professor!
|
||
The movie is great fun but provides almost no detail, but the
|
||
book has a full discussion of all the methods he used and
|
||
should be carefully studied by anyone interested in creating
|
||
and living under an assumed identity.
|
||
DMV Madness
|
||
For several years numerous DMV departments began selling
|
||
personal drivers license information to various commercial
|
||
firms. When asked - the beaurocrats would say that they
|
||
"restricted" the sales to "proper" buyers only.
|
||
But who are these "proper" entities? From what we've seen
|
||
it's anyone who has a few bucks. You can see why such a
|
||
practice would surface right now. States and counties are
|
||
hard-pressed for sources of income right now. Many states
|
||
are struggling with huge deficits and reluctantly cutting
|
||
budgets and laying off employees. So every possible source
|
||
of income must be fully exploited.
|
||
Well, all this idiocy backfired in a terrible way. TV actress
|
||
Rebecca Schaeffer was murdered by a fan who got her
|
||
address from the Los Angeles DMV. Because of this sad
|
||
incident, agencies all over the country quickly introduced
|
||
new restrictions.
|
||
Today, access is severely restricted. But it's far from private
|
||
so keep that in mind.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 165 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Ready for a World Tour?
|
||
If you're interested in traveling or living overseas, you should
|
||
get a copy of "The world's most dangerous places" by
|
||
Robert Young Pelton. It'll give you some really interesting
|
||
things to think about. This guy has really scoured the globe
|
||
for interesting places. And what is the single most interesting
|
||
dangerous place in the world? The good old USA! It's listed
|
||
in the book right alongside all the backward banana
|
||
republics!
|
||
If you're really serious about living overseas, want complete
|
||
financial privacy and like hot tropical weather and white
|
||
sandy beaches - you might want to take a long look at
|
||
Belize. Belize used to be called British Honduras and is
|
||
located in the middle of the Yucatan peninsula. The banks
|
||
are very private (when you open an account they issue you a
|
||
MasterCard debit card that can be used anywhere in the
|
||
world). English is the official language. The locals are
|
||
friendly (though they'll steal anything that's not tied down).
|
||
You can set up a private corporation that can do anything
|
||
you'd like without anyone being able to find out who is
|
||
behind it's operations.
|
||
The cost of living is a small fraction of that in the US or the
|
||
Bahamas (you'd have to be a multi-millionaire to live in the
|
||
Bahamas). Real estate is still relatively cheap (though you'll
|
||
have to come up with a down payment of at least 35% if you
|
||
want a mortgage). And medical care is readily available and
|
||
costs around one-third the US price.
|
||
For $40,000 or so the government will issue you a Belizean
|
||
citizenship complete with an official passport in any name
|
||
you'd like. To sweeten the deal they'll also throw in a
|
||
Belizean driver’s license. Since Belize is a member of the
|
||
British Commonwealth, you can travel freely among the
|
||
nations of the old British Empire.
|
||
But be warned the place isn't for everyone. Be sure to pay
|
||
Belize a visit for at least two weeks to check it out if you're at
|
||
all interested. Some people can't take the heat, the lousy
|
||
phone service and the unimproved roads. The
|
||
communication system leaves a lot to be desired so high-
|
||
quality Internet access is probably a few years away.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 166 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Think that buying a citizenship sounds like a sleazy and
|
||
corrupt practice that only a backward "banana republic"
|
||
country would offer? Most countries sell their
|
||
citizenships/passports. How do you think all those Nazi war
|
||
criminals got into the US right after the Second World War?
|
||
You can buy an Irish citizenship along with a passport and
|
||
drivers license for a whopping $1,650,000! (You can get one
|
||
for free if one of your grandparents was born in Ireland) If
|
||
either of your grandmothers was Jewish, you can always
|
||
become a citizen of Israel. France and Germany have similar
|
||
programs.
|
||
"Top of the Mornin' to Ya!"
|
||
When I was a teenager I had a friend named Tom. He was a
|
||
nice enough guy who I lost contact with after high school.
|
||
Some years ago I heard he had gotten himself into some
|
||
serious financial problems. In one of life's happy little
|
||
surprises I ran into a mutual friend recently. Eventually our
|
||
conversation got around to Tom and his current
|
||
whereabouts.
|
||
"Oh, yea - Tom started a business with a friend and the
|
||
bastard ran off with his wife and all the money in the
|
||
business. Tom was left holding the bag. Big legal and
|
||
financial problems he couldn't get out from under - even
|
||
though he tried for over a decade" When I asked what
|
||
happened, my buddy told me a very interesting story you
|
||
might just find amusing.
|
||
It seems that Tom reached the point that he just gave up.
|
||
Try as he might the problems just kept right on coming and
|
||
soon his debts had accumulated to the point he knew he
|
||
would never pay them off. With no end in sight Tom came up
|
||
with what I consider a really sneaky way out. He changed his
|
||
identity. He adopted a common Irish last name - like Sullivan
|
||
or Murray. He then forged a new birth certificate complete
|
||
with an "official" seal using the methods revealed above.
|
||
Now here is where it gets really interesting. He then used his
|
||
very official looking identity documents to convince the Irish
|
||
government that he was, in fact, a true and real son of the
|
||
emerald isle.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 167 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Through an Irish genealogist he located some nice Irish
|
||
grandparents from Dublin (long since deceased of course) In
|
||
this way he qualified for an Irish citizenship and (and this is
|
||
the most important part) his very own brand new Irish
|
||
passport. (Ireland has a policy of granting citizenships to
|
||
those who can establish (on paper) their Irish ancestry).
|
||
Of course, obtaining a citizenship/passport using this method
|
||
would break some laws so I'll trust you to keep this
|
||
information a deep secret and never use it in any improper
|
||
way. And here is another interesting tidbit of information -
|
||
certain classes of Irish citizens are exempt from paying the
|
||
painfully high income taxes Ireland is famous for. (Artists,
|
||
writers, and other creative types)
|
||
Adopted People
|
||
There’s one group of people who face a unique problem.
|
||
People who were adopted as infants can run into a real
|
||
problem when they attempt to obtain a copy of their birth
|
||
certificate.
|
||
In most states the birth records are legally "sealed". This is
|
||
done to protect the biological parents from being contacted
|
||
by their offspring. Most adopted parents sign away their
|
||
parental rights and are eager to get on with their lives as if
|
||
the birth had never occurred. The courts recognize their right
|
||
to privacy and so keep the records under lock and key.
|
||
But today things are changing. Several states (including
|
||
Tennessee and Kansas) have recently opened up their
|
||
records. Courts there still recognize the original parent's
|
||
rights but have given priority to the adopted offspring's desire
|
||
to acquire information on their background. (Often this
|
||
information is needed for medical reasons)
|
||
Why am I telling you all this? Anyone who claimed to have
|
||
been adopted as a baby would find themselves in a rather
|
||
interesting position. If no birth certificate could be found in
|
||
the official record, they would be forced to apply for a
|
||
delayed birth certificate.
|
||
What makes this attractive is the simple fact that most vital
|
||
records offices tend to be sympathetic to the plight of an
|
||
adoptee.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 168 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Most adopted people don’t have the usual birth certificate on
|
||
record. Depending on the state's laws, the clerks may or
|
||
may not provide access to the record.
|
||
And then there are those cases where the adopting parents
|
||
have altered the birth record (including the birth certificate) to
|
||
make it appear that their adopted child was, in fact, their
|
||
own.
|
||
Stay tuned, as it gets even more interesting. During the
|
||
period 1950-1973 thousands of Irish babies born out of
|
||
wedlock were shipped across the Atlantic to the USA. They
|
||
came from church-run "homes for unwed mothers" in Ireland.
|
||
Ireland is a very Catholic nation that looks down its nose at
|
||
illegitimate babies.
|
||
This can mean a lifetime of discrimination for those, who no
|
||
fault of their own, were born outside the confines of a proper
|
||
church sanctioned marriage. In America we have a much
|
||
more open-minded attitude concerning illegitimacy.
|
||
Unfortunately (for those people who arrived here in this way)
|
||
or fortunately (for our purposes) these individuals didn't have
|
||
any kind of birth certificate officially filed here in the US. Most
|
||
vital record offices know about these people and will usually
|
||
be accommodating when it comes to issuing a delayed
|
||
record of birth.
|
||
If you have a somewhat Irish appearance and/or surname,
|
||
you might want to consider joining this unfortunate pool of
|
||
individuals. These people are in an interesting situation as
|
||
they lack the usual background documents and may qualify
|
||
for a considerable degree of special treatment. It’s an
|
||
interesting story – don’t you think?
|
||
New Phone Traps
|
||
There are some new high-tech traps out there that you
|
||
should know about. Private Investigators and skip tracers
|
||
now employ some phone tricks that can cause you problems
|
||
if you don't know about them.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 169 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
First there is the "trap line". One of your relatives receives a
|
||
letter from some lawyer in a distant state that has a
|
||
substantial check for you but is having a problem locating
|
||
you to give you your loot.
|
||
The letter includes a convenient toll-free phone number for
|
||
you to call. If you do call, the number you're calling from is
|
||
immediately revealed and captured and used to locate you
|
||
and blow your cover.
|
||
And now for the really tricky stuff: You, or a close relative,
|
||
receives a really nice free gift. It's one of those prepaid toll-
|
||
free calling cards. You just dial the toll-free number on the
|
||
back of the card, enter the secret password on the card and
|
||
get an hour or more of entirely free long distance service.
|
||
It says it's good for 60 or 90 minutes of free long distance
|
||
calls. If you use it, both your number and the numbers you
|
||
call will be logged and revealed to the investigator who sent
|
||
it out. Either way you lose your privacy.
|
||
Wealth Mobility Update
|
||
On September 6, 1999 an American fugitive named Martin
|
||
Frankel was arrested in Germany where he had fled after
|
||
allegedly stealing a large sum (reports vary anywhere from
|
||
$100 million to over three billion) from investors and banks in
|
||
the US. Local police reported that his hotel room contained
|
||
around a hundred grand worth of gold and rare coins and
|
||
over $10 million in large diamonds.
|
||
Why the gold and the diamonds? US federal law limits
|
||
anyone from taking more than $10,000 out of the US without
|
||
a special permit. And because the US treasury no longer
|
||
prints bills larger than $100, it would be very difficult indeed
|
||
to carry around large sums of money.
|
||
In contrast, gold and diamonds are very liquid (they can be
|
||
easily sold for ready cash no matter where in the world you
|
||
happen to wander), are entirely untraceable and can be
|
||
used to easily store or smuggle large sums in very small
|
||
packages.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 170 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Just after the communist revolution in Russia, the Czar and
|
||
his family were executed. The communists herded the entire
|
||
family into a small room and opened fire with an assortment
|
||
of firearms. Strangely it took a long barrage of gunfire to
|
||
finally do them all in.
|
||
When their clothing was searched it was found to be loaded
|
||
with jewels. Many were sown into the hems and down the
|
||
front seams of their coats. They had made their bodies
|
||
almost bullet proof by covering themselves in jewels!
|
||
Just before the murders the Czar had been clandestinely
|
||
arranging their escape to Switzerland where the jewels
|
||
would have come in very handy. So you can see that the use
|
||
of jewels as a portable form of wealth is not a new tactic.
|
||
Done right - its still quite effective.
|
||
Be careful however. Rookies eager to buy large investment-
|
||
grade diamonds for cash are obvious targets for fraud. Due
|
||
to recent advances in technology the diamond markets are
|
||
flooded with coated and treated "simulants" (fake diamonds)
|
||
that will pass most tests but are worth little or nothing.
|
||
Some diamonds have been injected with liquid glass, which
|
||
makes their internal flaws invisible. (Temporarily)
|
||
Others have been coated in a way that artificially improves
|
||
their appearance. Even the experts get fooled these days.
|
||
You don't want to buy a stone in location A that's declared to
|
||
be worthless when you get to location B. Sadly, this happens
|
||
all the time. Deal with reputable sources whenever possible
|
||
and never, ever go through customs with anything in your
|
||
luggage that might indicate an interest in jewels. If you do
|
||
your clothes and luggage will be torn to shreds by an
|
||
overeager customs inspector.
|
||
Store Your Stash!
|
||
Where should you store your cash stash and identity
|
||
documents until you're ready to skip town? The first thought
|
||
most people have is to run down to their local bank and rent
|
||
a safe deposit box. Wrong. There are all sorts of laws and
|
||
banking regulations that apply to safe deposit boxes.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 171 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Any law enforcement type can flash a badge and gain
|
||
access. The mere fact that you have a box will be recorded
|
||
in several different databases under your name and SSN. An
|
||
online SSN verification will be required before a bank will
|
||
provide you a new box.
|
||
Though those nice people down at the bank appear
|
||
harmless enough on the surface, in today's emerging police
|
||
state they are key information sources for big brother. They'll
|
||
never tell you to your face but every time you move more
|
||
than a few hundred bucks around, they promptly report your
|
||
dealings to the feds (try searching the web for info on
|
||
"FinCen" for more details of federal banking monitoring).
|
||
They smile and speak to you politely - but they are not your
|
||
friends.
|
||
The best bet here is to use either a commercial box rental
|
||
firm where your box will be much safer from prying eyes or
|
||
better yet, your friendly local storage locker company.
|
||
You may be able to get full 24-hour access to your locker
|
||
and many of the storage locker outfits will also allow you to
|
||
use your own lock. If they don't, keep searching until you find
|
||
one that does.
|
||
Then go out and buy a really good lock. Consult with a local
|
||
locksmith. Some new high tech locks have recently hit the
|
||
market. They cost a bit more but will help ensure a higher
|
||
level of security for your stuff.
|
||
Master lock recently released new tamper resistant padlocks
|
||
that include a forged collar that covers most of the shackle
|
||
making it almost impossible to cut. I'm sure the government
|
||
will eventually require online drivers’ license verification at
|
||
some point in the future, but for now I've yet to hear of a
|
||
storage locker place that does. You should be able to rent
|
||
the locker using almost any kind of ID without too much
|
||
trouble. Just be very sure that their rental bill is paid regular
|
||
as clockwork.
|
||
Ask if they allow a discount for pre-payment, take advantage
|
||
of it. If you forget to pay, they will have the right to open your
|
||
locker and auction off your items, which would not be a good
|
||
idea.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 172 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Never, ever claim your storage locker or safe deposit fee as
|
||
a deduction on your taxes. The IRS takes a special note of
|
||
such deductions.
|
||
When you rent your locker pay several months rent in
|
||
advance in cash and then after that pay by mail with money
|
||
orders. If the application asks for your SSN and/or license
|
||
tag number, be very careful about giving them the wrong
|
||
information.
|
||
Destroy the receipt or hide it somewhere away from your car
|
||
and residence where it will be safe. Hide the key in the same
|
||
manner or just add it to your key ring along with the others.
|
||
You can always claim to forget what the key was for.
|
||
Have no further contact with the staff. Come and go when
|
||
the front office is closed. Don't appear to be doing anything
|
||
that would arouse suspicion. Most of these places have
|
||
video cameras that scan each isle. There are those who
|
||
have removed the bulb that illuminates their rear license
|
||
plate to make vehicle identification more difficult.
|
||
Store your stuff in those letter sized document storage boxes
|
||
the office supply stores sell. Seal each box with wide
|
||
masking tape so that anyone who attempts to gain access
|
||
will leave telltale damage to the tape. Write "old business
|
||
records" or "Christmas lights" on the outside of the boxes.
|
||
This will discourage anyone who might gain access to your
|
||
locker.
|
||
If you want to you can store some cash and other
|
||
documents in your residence securely by simple wrapping
|
||
them in aluminum foil and writing "FISH" on the package
|
||
using a frozen food pen. Who would ever take the time to go
|
||
through the frozen good in your freezer? (You've heard of
|
||
cold cash haven't you?)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 173 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
More Big Brother Garbage
|
||
Update: The following restrictive policy has been
|
||
temporarily suspended until further notice:
|
||
Our dear friends in the US postal service have recently come
|
||
up with a diabolical scheme that will probably put the
|
||
commercial mailbox firms out of business. This new rule will
|
||
make it impossible to use a commercial mail box and have it
|
||
appear to be a normal street address. Instead your address
|
||
will have to include the letters PMB (Private Mail Box)
|
||
followed by your box number.
|
||
Old Format: (looks just like a street address)
|
||
John Jones
|
||
123 Main Street Suite # 67
|
||
Anywhere, US 34567
|
||
New Format: (is obviously a mail box)
|
||
John Jones
|
||
PMB #67
|
||
123 Main Street
|
||
Anywhere, US 34567
|
||
Under this new rule, any mail sent to one of those rented
|
||
mail boxes will have to be addressed in this federally
|
||
approved format or it will be returned to the sender. This
|
||
whole thing is just another useless government tactic. Think
|
||
about it - how many people know what PMB stands for? But
|
||
don't worry - I've received reports of a way to get around this
|
||
new restriction.
|
||
In a city of any size you will find outfits that rent small offices
|
||
for people who need a small working space on an occasional
|
||
basis. Of course these firms also handle their client's
|
||
business mail and phone calls. One lady I talked to
|
||
volunteered that she is getting quite a few requests these
|
||
days from commercial box users who are now interested in
|
||
renting an office so they can receive mail at a street address.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 174 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
As there's no rule against it, she has set aside one small
|
||
office in each of her locations for the use of these clients.
|
||
She charges a bit more than the commercial box rental
|
||
outfits, but can handle her clients mail without worrying
|
||
about the new PMB requirement.
|
||
Since her customers will be officially renting space from her,
|
||
they can go ahead and receive mail at the office's street
|
||
address. She now has over forty different people sharing a
|
||
single office! So now her most profitable office is the one
|
||
that's never used!
|
||
The French Foreign Legion
|
||
Don’t laugh – the French Foreign Legion is a serious option for
|
||
those who have problems they want to leave behind. Since 1831
|
||
the Legion has been there for misfits who needed to walk away
|
||
from their past problems.
|
||
On the positive side – you get a completely new identity along with
|
||
a new French passport. On the negative side, you’ll be subjected
|
||
to the toughest military training on earth – bar none.
|
||
Most people assume the Legion went out of business long ago –
|
||
but they’re wrong. Today the Legion has almost 8,000 men under
|
||
arms in a dozen different locations and another dozen that are
|
||
kept very secret.
|
||
The Legion has always been there as an option to those who
|
||
passionately desire a second chance at life. It’s a unique military
|
||
outfit as it’s the only one in the world whose soldiers are not
|
||
bound together by a single national flag. Legionnaires come from
|
||
over 130 different nations with the only nation barred from
|
||
membership being the French themselves. (If you are French and
|
||
wish to join the legion you’ll have to change your identity and
|
||
citizenship first.)
|
||
To say that the Legion basic training is tough is a vast
|
||
understatement. The following should give you some idea of the
|
||
attitude legionnaires have to adopt before becoming part of this
|
||
elite group.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 175 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
You’ll certainly never hear anything like this in the US Marine
|
||
Corps.
|
||
Sergeant: Do you men want to die?
|
||
Legionnaires: Yes, Sergeant!
|
||
Sergeant: Good, I shall send you someplace where you
|
||
can die!
|
||
Legionnaires: Thank you, Sergeant!
|
||
Legionnaires are foreigners, so the French don’t really care if they
|
||
live or die. To them these troops who are all foreigners are
|
||
completely expendable. The government of France routinely
|
||
sends in the Legion before the French army to help reduce French
|
||
casualties. In a way the Legion is cannon fodder for the French
|
||
military. Statistically your odds of dying during your five year long
|
||
hitch hover around 10-15%, or perhaps a bit higher these days
|
||
now that there is so much war and terrorism going on.
|
||
When you apply to join you will get a personal interview with a
|
||
Legionnaire officer who will ask you the obvious question “Why do
|
||
you want to join the French Foreign Legion?”
|
||
You should have an answer ready. If you have a past you’d like to
|
||
leave behind, you should make that known during the interview. If
|
||
you’ve had problems with the law, spell them out – they take
|
||
criminals on the run provided their crimes aren’t too horrible.
|
||
(Convicted felons will probably be refused entry – but not always.)
|
||
Minor debts will be ignored.
|
||
The US military routinely rejects applicants who have had problem
|
||
with the law. If you have a long rap sheet - the Legion may be
|
||
your new home. Though the good old days of “no questions
|
||
asked” are sadly behind us their investigation isn’t all that severe.
|
||
Today you’ll have to undergo a series of interviews by what the
|
||
Legionnaires call “the Gestapo” but their rules are still rather
|
||
liberal compared to those of other nations.
|
||
After three years of good service you will be allowed to, if you
|
||
should so desire, apply for French citizenship. You don’t have to
|
||
speak French to join as you will be taught the language but it
|
||
would be a good idea to learn some smattering of the lingo before
|
||
you enter basic training.
|
||
Also, since the Legion isn’t bound by the patriotism of a single
|
||
nation, they replace that unifying factor with a strong sense of
|
||
family that is deep and very real.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 176 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Once you go through all that demanding training, you will bond
|
||
with your Legion brothers in a way that’s hard to explain. Their
|
||
varied nationalities will fade as they become full members of a
|
||
very tight team.
|
||
The motto of the Legion is simply “Lego Patria Nostra” which
|
||
translates to “the Legion is your country”. And it’s also your family.
|
||
They even have their own retirement home (a villa in the south of
|
||
France actually) where you can reside until death should you
|
||
complete a full contract.
|
||
If the Gestapo feels it’s necessary, they will hand you a form with
|
||
a new name. You will be asked if that meets with your needs. If
|
||
you answer in the positive you will be asked to sign the form.
|
||
From that moment forward your old identity no longer exists. You
|
||
will be addressed in person and on paper under your new
|
||
Legionnaire name.
|
||
Should any outsider make inquiries about you by your old name,
|
||
they will run into a solid brick wall of privacy. They will receive
|
||
back a formal reply simply stating that according to official records
|
||
no such legionnaire exists.
|
||
If you are still alive when your 5 year long contract expires, you
|
||
will be asked to make a decision:
|
||
1. You can discard the Legion name you’ve used during your
|
||
contract and choose to reclaim your old original name. Your
|
||
passport (which you surrendered the day you entered the
|
||
Legion) will be returned to you along with any other identity
|
||
documents the Legion may have. The Legion calls this
|
||
process rectification.
|
||
2. You can choose to abandon your old identity and permanently
|
||
adopt your Legion name as your new civilian name. You will
|
||
surrender your old passport and other identity documents and
|
||
will be issued new ones including a genuine French passport
|
||
all bearing your Legion name. This is provided in recognition
|
||
of your service to France.
|
||
Why would anyone want to join the Legion? The classic answer is
|
||
that men join the Legion to forget.
|
||
Q: Why did you join the Foreign Legion?”
|
||
A: I joined to forget!
|
||
Q: Forget what?
|
||
A: I forgot. See, the system works!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 177 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
But make no mistake – the Legion is a tough way to go. The
|
||
training is terribly, terribly difficult. The basic training can take up
|
||
to 4 long months. If you relish the idea of making a 50 Kilometer
|
||
march through the desert to the sea wearing a full uniform
|
||
including combat boots and a rifle including a 30lb pack on your
|
||
back – and get this – without any food or water - the Legion may
|
||
be your cup of tea.
|
||
In order to encourage mental and physical toughness, during your
|
||
basic training you’ll eat an extremely meager diet, sleep in hot or
|
||
cold barracks (with or without luxuries like blankets) and be forced
|
||
to make long marches after long days of no sleep. Toughness is
|
||
the key goal of their training program. They will push you to your
|
||
physical and mental limits – and well beyond.
|
||
At the end of their basic training the legionnaires make the 50km
|
||
long hire to the sea. Those who make it are awarded the widely
|
||
respected tall cylindrical white hat know as the “Cape Blanc”
|
||
(White Hat). When I see a Legionnaire wearing that tall white hat,
|
||
I’m filled with respect. They don’t hand hats like that out in boxes
|
||
of breakfast cereal! These guys are real men.
|
||
Married and single men are accepted but they can only enter as
|
||
single men. Only established Legionnaires are permitted to wed
|
||
but that comes later – several years later. For the first few months
|
||
you won’t even be allowed to make outside phone calls. You will
|
||
be relieved of your family photos when you arrive. Why would you
|
||
need them anyway? The Legion is your new family. Your fellow
|
||
legionnaires are your new brothers. Your commander is both your
|
||
new father and mother.
|
||
If you fail to adopt the right attitude or fail to learn your lessons
|
||
quickly enough – you can expect to suffer blows. If you persist you
|
||
will be beaten or imprisoned or both. (Their prison cells have no
|
||
beds – you sleep on the hard floor.)
|
||
Some men have been beaten to death which really isn’t much of a
|
||
problem for the Legion as the men had legally vanished from the
|
||
world when the joined up so no one was terribly concerned with
|
||
their well-being. However there are signs that the old Legion
|
||
brutality is under review these days. All this harshness flows from
|
||
their need to train soldiers who never surrender and instead swear
|
||
to fight to the last man.
|
||
Americans find four years in the US Marine Corps an ideal
|
||
preparation for the grueling Legion basic training. One thing for
|
||
sure – You’d better be in really excellent physical shape when you
|
||
show up for your Legion basic training. And get a nice short
|
||
haircut also.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 178 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Since the Legion hangs out in African desert locations, you might
|
||
want to spend some time in the heat and get used to being
|
||
extremely physically active in 100 degree plus environments. Oh,
|
||
and be sure to do this training with little or no water as that is the
|
||
Legion way.
|
||
Only those who are burning with what they call “warrior lust” need
|
||
apply. If you complete a five year long contract chances are
|
||
excellent that you’ll see some action – most likely in a North
|
||
African desert location. If you passionately want some real
|
||
adventure – look into the Legion.
|
||
Before you consider the Legion, be sure to talk to a recruiter and
|
||
get official information and guidance as the Legion is changing
|
||
with the times. They are even considering taking in women which
|
||
shows you just how much change is in the air.
|
||
You’ll want to have the very latest facts in hand before you make
|
||
such a drastic obligation. Desertion rates are high in the Legion as
|
||
far too many men join before they fully understand exactly what
|
||
they’re getting into.
|
||
How They Find Us
|
||
There are a host of folks who may be looking for you. First
|
||
there are the common skip tracers. If you left behind some
|
||
bills, you can bet they’ll be on your trail.
|
||
If you left behind some real debt, say over $5,000 or more,
|
||
you can expect them to be hot on your trail.
|
||
If you leave behind truly huge debts, you can expect that
|
||
some rather professional and experienced private
|
||
investigators will be looking for you.
|
||
Then you have the repo men. If you took your car without
|
||
bothering to make your payments, they will join the game.
|
||
Whatever their motivation they all share some common
|
||
strategies so in an effort to educate you and make you all
|
||
that more effective at vanishing, here is a cram course on
|
||
how these persistent snoops operate.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 179 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
411
|
||
The first step is a call to 411 to see if you have a current
|
||
phone number listed. If you need a phone, buy a prepaid
|
||
cellular, use it for several months and then fling it into the
|
||
sea and buy another. Or at least get an unlisted phone and
|
||
keep the number to yourself.
|
||
Your Credit File
|
||
They get a copy of your most recent credit file. What they’re
|
||
looking for are credit accounts with the most recent activity.
|
||
They can call the firm and offer to share their notes in
|
||
exchange for more recent information on their target.
|
||
Check the Reverse Directory (Haines)
|
||
If you’re listed they may get your new address though these
|
||
directories aren’t supposed to have unlisted numbers in
|
||
them, they sometimes do.
|
||
Address Service Requested
|
||
Next they send you a letter with “Address Service
|
||
Requested” on it. If you have moved and left a forwarding
|
||
address with the post office, the letter will come winging
|
||
back with your new address written across it’s face.
|
||
Call Friends, Family Neighbors and Personal References
|
||
They then “pump” those who know you for info. They may
|
||
use various pretexts to flush you out. They may call your
|
||
sister and tell her that they have a huge check for you but
|
||
can’t quite locate you. If she isn’t in on what’s going on she’ll
|
||
happily hand over your current address and a lot more.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 180 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Hit the Public Record Services
|
||
Most of these databases are available online so today it’s
|
||
much easier than in the past. One of their tricks is to keep
|
||
checking the DMV records of parking tickets.
|
||
If you get a parking ticket, it may list your home phone or
|
||
address that will lead them directly to you. (so choose your
|
||
parking spaces very carefully!)
|
||
Lastly, They’ll Call Other Creditors
|
||
Many creditors will exchange information with other snoops.
|
||
Most will share some information while others are real
|
||
blabbermouths. A few won’t entertain such calls. But the
|
||
skip-tracer who has info to offer will probably get some info
|
||
in return.
|
||
Sorry, We Don't Do Fake ID!
|
||
We get a steady flow of email asking us to provide various
|
||
kinds of fake identification documents. We are not in that
|
||
business nor do we know anyone who is. Our only business
|
||
is the publishing of reports that contain controversial
|
||
information.
|
||
That’s It!
|
||
At this point I can only hope that the information in this report
|
||
will help empower you to seize control of your own destiny.
|
||
You now have everything you need to give yourself a second
|
||
chance at life. One final tip: When you start living your new
|
||
life - KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT ABOUT YOUR OLD LIFE!
|
||
This is the most common way to destroy all that you’ve
|
||
worked to create. Don’t blow it! Good luck.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 181 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Welcome to the New World Order!
|
||
Until recently my wife and I have been happy to assist new
|
||
identity-seekers in any way we could. We know what it’s like
|
||
to have personal problems and can certainly sympathize
|
||
with those of you that are going through difficult times.
|
||
Unfortunately, recent court decisions and legislation
|
||
(Particularly the so-called Patriot Act) have made it
|
||
impossible for us to provide personal assistance of any kind.
|
||
We can no longer help our customers or even answer
|
||
questions sent to us via email. According to these
|
||
increasingly restrictive court decisions, answering a question
|
||
for someone would automatically expose us to criminal
|
||
prosecution for any illegal act they might have committed in
|
||
the past.
|
||
Our attorney has advised us not to provide assistance to
|
||
anyone. No exceptions - so please don't ask. It seems we're
|
||
living in a police state these days.
|
||
We deeply regret having to take this drastic step but until the
|
||
government abandons it’s police state tactics we really don’t
|
||
have any option.
|
||
- Jim & Susan Petersen 2008
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 182 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
OTHER TOP SECRET REPORTS
|
||
AVAILABLE FROM ARIZA RESEARCH
|
||
WEALTH SECRETS OF THE RICH NEW!
|
||
Most people don’t even know that these secret wealth-making
|
||
tactics exist! We’ll give you a rare look behind the scenes where
|
||
you’ll discover wealth secrets never before released to the general
|
||
public. Learn how the rich REALLY made their money. It will
|
||
surprise even shock you! Armed with this previously secret
|
||
information you’ll be able to quickly and easily make money by
|
||
copying their same methods!
|
||
DUMP YOUR DEBT NEW!
|
||
Clever lawyers know how to live like kings. When their debts pile
|
||
up, they use debt negotiation to wipe them away – quickly and
|
||
permanently. Why struggle with credit card and other debts when
|
||
you don’t have to. 100% Legal!
|
||
PRIVACY SECRETS OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS
|
||
Some experts will tell you that personal privacy is dead. Don’t you
|
||
believe it! While technology has provided big brother with new
|
||
surveillance technologies - that same technology can be used to
|
||
confound the snoops and build an iron-clad privacy fortress
|
||
around your own personal and financial privacy. 100% total
|
||
privacy is still possible – if you know how!
|
||
www.ariza-research.com
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 183 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Quick Credit Creation
|
||
by Jim & Susan Petersen
|
||
© Copyright 2007 – Ariza Research – All Rights Reserved - ABP
|
||
Disclaimer:
|
||
Do not break the law. This publication is being sold for academic,
|
||
educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this publication
|
||
is intended to encourage illegal or immoral acts now or at any point in the
|
||
future. Always consult with an attorney familiar with laws in your local
|
||
area before attempting to employ any of the techniques discussed in this
|
||
report.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 184 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Establishing an Entirely New Credit Record
|
||
Student Credit Cards
|
||
For many people, their first experience with credit comes when
|
||
they arrive at a college. The credit industry knows this and is
|
||
eager to get these new consumers into their system as quickly
|
||
and easily as possible.
|
||
The credit card banks also know that college students have little
|
||
income so they may run up some debts which will give the banks
|
||
an opportunity to earn some interest.
|
||
The banks also know that these students will in a few years move
|
||
into positions that will provide them with above average earnings.
|
||
Because of these factors credit card banks are particularly
|
||
motivated to locate college students and get new cards into their
|
||
hands. This creates an interesting opportunity for anyone who
|
||
seeks to create a new credit file.
|
||
If you wander around any college campus you’ll find posters with
|
||
holders full of applications for student credit cards. If you fill out
|
||
one of these applications and make it looks as though you’re a
|
||
new college student, you’ll get a major credit card and a rare
|
||
opportunity to create an entirely new credit file.
|
||
Here is a real back door into the world of credit. College students
|
||
are a special market for credit card banks. Though college
|
||
students don’t have much money, the banks know that they have
|
||
parents who love them and will, with rare exception, back them up
|
||
financially so the credit card issuers are particularly liberal when it
|
||
comes to issuing cards to college students.
|
||
Also, the banks presume that spending habits established during
|
||
these years may become permanent later so getting their credit
|
||
card into a student’s hands is a real priority.
|
||
Then there is the issue of income. Most any normal bank credit
|
||
card will want to see employment and income before opening an
|
||
account and issuing a card. But with students the rules are much
|
||
different.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 185 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The banks know that the student’s income will be at or near zero
|
||
now but will increase later after graduation. So they’re willing to
|
||
issue major credit cards to people who have no current income.
|
||
This is a very unusual kind of financial deal – one you can easily
|
||
take advantage of.
|
||
And here is a real irony. Many college students find that it much
|
||
more difficult to get a major credit card after graduation when their
|
||
pulling down substantial salaries than before when they’re stone
|
||
broke! Who said financial dealings have to make sense?
|
||
You have two strategies here. You could enroll in a college course
|
||
and then wander around the campus keeping your eyes open for
|
||
those special college student credit card applications. Get several
|
||
applications and compare them and find the one that offers the
|
||
best deal.
|
||
You can then fill one out listing your school on the application. You
|
||
could also cheat the whole system by just getting the application
|
||
and filling it out without bothering with enrollment.
|
||
The student cards usually come with high annual fees, high
|
||
interest rates and low credit limits. But why should you care, they
|
||
are real bank credit cards that can be used to create a new credit
|
||
file!
|
||
The Easy-to-Get Debit Card
|
||
If you need a major credit card, nothing can beat the "debit" card.
|
||
Many banks offer debit cards that look and work just like a
|
||
genuine Visa or Mastercard with one critical exception. They are
|
||
not credit cards but are instead debit cards.
|
||
When you purchase something with one of these cards, instead of
|
||
adding the sum to your account and sending you a bill, the bank
|
||
just subtracts the purchase amount directly from your checking
|
||
account.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 186 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If there aren’t enough funds in your account to cover the
|
||
purchase, the transaction is immediately refused right there at the
|
||
store.
|
||
Using one of these cards is exactly like writing a check except that
|
||
they’re much more acceptable to the merchant as they can be
|
||
instantly verified which protects the merchant against taking a bad
|
||
check. And the banks like them because they can charge both the
|
||
purchaser and the merchants a separate group of fees.
|
||
Because there’s no real risk involved in their use, debit cards are
|
||
quite easy to get. Some banks don’t bother with a routine credit
|
||
check, as they don’t see much risk here. What have they got to
|
||
lose?
|
||
You may have to call several banks but you should be able to find
|
||
one that will give you their debit card without much fuss. You open
|
||
a checking account and they provide you with a debit card with
|
||
either the Visa or MasterCard logo.
|
||
As easy as these cards are to get, they do have several
|
||
limitations. Some of the car rental companies no longer accept
|
||
debit cards, so renting a car with a debit card may be a problem.
|
||
(They can tell a debit card from a real credit card by a coded digit
|
||
in the card’s number.)
|
||
The most important thing about debit cards is that they don’t
|
||
report your credit transactions to the three biggest credit reporting
|
||
agencies so debit cards are of no value whatever when it comes
|
||
to rebuilding your damaged credit rating.
|
||
The Secured Credit Card
|
||
Another approach is to go after a "secured" credit card. Again,
|
||
these cards look and work just like real Visa or MasterCards but
|
||
have a catch. In order to get one, you must deposit a required
|
||
minimum sum in a savings account with the issuing bank as
|
||
security.
|
||
They usually pay a nominal interest on your savings account
|
||
usually around 3%. Unlike debit cards, if you shop around you will
|
||
probably find a card that reports your payments to the three major
|
||
credit reporting agencies – but you’ll have to look around.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 187 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
This can help you quickly and easily rebuild a battered credit
|
||
history or create an entirely new credit record from scratch.
|
||
Though secured credit cards can come in handy, be well warned
|
||
that there are sharks swimming in these waters. You'll have to ask
|
||
a ton of questions if you want to get just the right card. Make a
|
||
mistake and you'll get involved with the wrong issuer who will
|
||
waste your time or worse, they may throw your entire credit
|
||
rebuilding program off the tracks. Be careful and be prepared and
|
||
you won’t get ripped off.
|
||
First, always ask how long before they convert your secured card
|
||
into a traditional unsecured card. Six to eighteen months is the
|
||
usual range with a year being the most common time span.
|
||
Be sure to pursue the card with the best terms and at the same
|
||
time concentrate on getting a card with a major bank, not one of
|
||
those sleazy firms that only issue their secured cards to the most
|
||
credit unworthy. Those issuers have negative reputations that you
|
||
don't want listed on your credit record. Try to land a deal with a
|
||
major national bank.
|
||
1. What is the minimum deposit required? (May be as little
|
||
as $100)
|
||
2. How high can you raise the credit line? (By increasing
|
||
the securing deposit - $5,000 is the usual ceiling)
|
||
3. Do they report your payment history to the credit
|
||
bureaus?
|
||
4. If so, how do they report your payment? (As a secured
|
||
card or as an unsecured card like all the others)
|
||
5. Is there an application fee? If so how much is it? (Some
|
||
issuers cheat applicants by charging huge up-front
|
||
application fees)
|
||
6. Will they accept a previous bankruptcy? (No? walk away
|
||
and call the next card on your list)
|
||
7. Is there an annual fee? (Some charge one, many don't)
|
||
8. What will my initial credit limit be? (Will it be more than
|
||
the deposit)
|
||
9. Do they accept out of state customers?
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 188 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
10. When they issue you an unsecured card, will it be a
|
||
different card with a new number? (a positive for you -
|
||
another positive credit reference)
|
||
11. Do they include toll-free 24-hour customer support
|
||
(Useful for checking credit limits before making purchases)
|
||
12. What is the interest rate? (The rate will probably be
|
||
higher than usual around 14-21% is typical)
|
||
13. Will the interest rate fall with a good payment history? If
|
||
so when?
|
||
14. How do they determine the credit limit on new
|
||
unsecured cards?
|
||
You should increase your credit limit as much as possible as this
|
||
data is reported to the credit bureaus and the higher the limit the
|
||
better.
|
||
If your future unsecured credit limit will be the same as your
|
||
secured card, perhaps you should deposit as much as possible
|
||
just before your conversion is processed. In that way you can
|
||
quickly gain an impressive high-limit unsecured card credit
|
||
reference. (If you can come up with the cash)
|
||
Finding a Good Secured Credit Card
|
||
Secured cards come in a variety of different forms. The issuers
|
||
also have very different requirements. Some will issue a card
|
||
without a credit reference while others wouldn’t think of it. Some
|
||
will require that you provide pay stubs while many won’t bother.
|
||
Some charge huge up-front application fees while others think
|
||
that’s a bad business practice.
|
||
Your best move here is to shop around. Get online and spend
|
||
some time looking at the various deals that are out there. Go to
|
||
Google and search on the term “secured credit cards” but be sure
|
||
to place the phrase inside quotation marks.
|
||
If you’re in a hurry you will find several outfits online that for a
|
||
modest price will sell you a list of secured credit card offers
|
||
complete with toll-free application phone numbers. Be careful to
|
||
buy only those lists that are up to date. Many of the lists being
|
||
sold are terribly out of date.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 189 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The Rules for Secured Credit Cards
|
||
There are a few rules to keep in mind when you use your secured
|
||
credit card. First, you must use the card on a regular basis. Just
|
||
walking around with the card in your pocket won’t do anything for
|
||
you. The best idea is to run up your outstanding balance to around
|
||
80% of the credit limit.
|
||
1. Use Your Secured Card Regularly
|
||
Don’t pay each monthly bill in full. This way you’ll pay a lot of
|
||
interest, which the bank will love you for (the interest rates on
|
||
these secured cards are very high – usually around 17-19% or
|
||
even more).
|
||
2. Always Pay Your Bill Right on Time
|
||
Be sure to pay your bill well before the due date. If you make late
|
||
payments you’re wasting you time as you’ll never build up the
|
||
good credit you’ll need to get a real unsecured credit card.
|
||
3. Never Exceed Your Credit Limit
|
||
If you go over your credit limit the bank will hold it against you.
|
||
Before making a larger purchase call the bank to be sure you
|
||
have enough credit left.
|
||
If you don’t break any of these rules, at the end of the year you
|
||
should start to receive offers for the traditional un-secured
|
||
bankcards.
|
||
You can then apply for one or more and then return your secured
|
||
card and request that they close your savings account and return
|
||
your deposit funds (plus your interest).
|
||
Or you may actually receive an offer of an unsecured card from
|
||
the same bank that issued you the secured card. That’s what
|
||
happened to me. It was great. The trust they showed in me was
|
||
deeply appreciated.
|
||
I called and cancelled my secured card, closed my deposit
|
||
savings account and got a brand new unsecured card all at the
|
||
same time. And best of all, my credit record had been completely
|
||
rebuilt.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 190 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Sources for Secured Credit Cards
|
||
Amalgamated
|
||
$500 Min.
|
||
Bank of 800-723-0303
|
||
Deposit
|
||
Chicago
|
||
$300 Min
|
||
U.S. Bank 800-285-8585
|
||
Deposit
|
||
American $300 Min.
|
||
800-610-1201
|
||
Pacific Bank Deposit
|
||
Wells Fargo $300 Min.
|
||
800-642-4720
|
||
Bank Deposit
|
||
Plains
|
||
$300 Min.
|
||
Commerce 605-948-2344
|
||
Deposit
|
||
Bank
|
||
Emigrant $500 Min.
|
||
800-688-2265
|
||
Savings Bank Deposit
|
||
Union
|
||
$250 Min.
|
||
Plus/Household 800-651-5108
|
||
Deposit
|
||
Bank
|
||
City National
|
||
$500 Min.
|
||
Bank of West 800-846-2075
|
||
Deposit
|
||
Virginia
|
||
$300 Min.
|
||
Citibank, NA 800-950-5114
|
||
Deposit
|
||
First Union $400 Min.
|
||
800-377-3404
|
||
National Bank Deposit
|
||
First Premier $200 Min.
|
||
800-987-5521
|
||
Bank Deposit
|
||
Key Bank &
|
||
800-840-5577
|
||
Trust
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 191 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Associates
|
||
$300 Min.
|
||
National Bank 800-533-5600
|
||
Deposit
|
||
of Delaware
|
||
First Consumer $100 Min.
|
||
800-876-3262
|
||
National Bank Deposit
|
||
$500 Min.
|
||
Capital One 800-548-4593
|
||
Deposit
|
||
$300 Min.
|
||
Bank of Hoven 800-777-7735
|
||
Deposit
|
||
Sterling Bank & $219 Min.
|
||
800-767-0923
|
||
Trust Deposit
|
||
$300 Min.
|
||
JC Penney 800-533-5600
|
||
Deposit
|
||
Lending Tree 704-944-2110
|
||
Capital One 800-333-7116
|
||
FCNB 858-505-9261
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 192 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Co-signing
|
||
If you have someone that trusts you completely, you might want to
|
||
try having them co-sign a one year loan that can quickly help you
|
||
create a positive credit record. (If you have someone who is willing
|
||
to co-sign for you, consider yourself very fortunate!)
|
||
But there are potential problems. You simply must keep your
|
||
payments current. If you make even a single late payment both
|
||
you and your co-signer’s credit records will suffer.
|
||
And if you do screw things up you will also lose your relationship
|
||
with your co-signers also. There’s an old saying that there’s no
|
||
quicker way to lose a friend than loaning them money.
|
||
Here’s a secret trick that can be used to accelerate the credit
|
||
reporting process. You can create a positive credit history quickly
|
||
by paying off your loan quickly.
|
||
You go through the normal loan process including the co-signing.
|
||
When you get your first loan payment bill, you can pay off the
|
||
entire balance immediately. (Do not attempt to pay anything
|
||
before the first payment due date or you will have departed from
|
||
the agreed upon loan terms which will might end up being
|
||
reported to the credit reporting agencies as a bad payment.) You’ll
|
||
save some interest but will probably end up paying most of it
|
||
despite the early pay-off.
|
||
The lender will close out the loan as “paid in full” and notify the
|
||
credit agencies. Within a month your credit file will reflect that you
|
||
had a two year loan of a certain amount that you paid off fully
|
||
without any late payments or other problems according to the
|
||
terms of the loan contract.
|
||
Fully Secured Loans
|
||
I’ve only done this once and I used a credit union at my place of
|
||
employment. I knew my credit rating was terrible so I established
|
||
both a checking and savings account with the credit union.
|
||
Six months later I wandered into their office and requested a face-
|
||
to-face meeting with one of their officers. I openly revealed my
|
||
problem. I had terrible credit and badly wanted to improve my
|
||
credit rating by creating a positive new credit agency report.
|
||
First I showed them that I had been slowly accumulating $2,000 in
|
||
my savings account and asked if they would loan me $1,500 with
|
||
my savings account balance as collateral.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 193 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
They immediately offered to provide me with the loan which would
|
||
be at an interest rate just two points higher than the interest my
|
||
savings was accumulating. The whole loan ended up costing me
|
||
less than $50.
|
||
The paperwork was very light, just two pieces of paper and a
|
||
single signature. I had to surrender my savings account booklet
|
||
until the loan was repaid. I paid the loan off within three months.
|
||
One small potential problem though. Some credit unions don’t
|
||
bother with reporting their loans to credit agencies. Since our
|
||
whole purpose here is the creation of a positive credit reference,
|
||
be sure to ask the credit union officer if they routinely report all
|
||
loans to the major credit agencies.
|
||
And later when the loan is paid off. Go back in after your loan is
|
||
paid off in full and remind them that you need the payments
|
||
reported to the major credit agencies.
|
||
Credit unions are far more helpful than your average commercial
|
||
bank. If you need to create a new credit file - they can be very
|
||
useful.
|
||
Other Tips
|
||
Since they don’t involve revolving charges, gasoline credit cards
|
||
are often easier to obtain than other credit cards. Department
|
||
store credit cards are also somewhat easier to get as the issuer is
|
||
eager to increase their sales by finding new credit customers.
|
||
Watch for special promotions. Gas cards are advertised on TV
|
||
while department store cards are pushed in the store. Keep an
|
||
eye out for special promotions and you’ll get a solid gold
|
||
opportunity to create a new credit file.
|
||
Worthless Credit Cards to Avoid
|
||
Many credit cards don’t’ bother to report transactions to the credit
|
||
reporting agencies so are worthless when it comes to creating or
|
||
rebuilding credit histories. Special purpose cards in the fields of
|
||
entertainment, travel, local shopping and gasoline often neglect to
|
||
report transactions to the credit reporting firms. Ask before you
|
||
apply.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 194 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Dormant is Dead
|
||
When you have bad credit, you should get busy repairing it
|
||
immediately. Letting a credit file go dormant is a bad move.
|
||
Lenders, insurers and employers like to see up-to-date information
|
||
on the credit files they pay for. Stale old information turns them off.
|
||
The good news about bad or non-existent credit is this – you can
|
||
start improving it by simply making payments on time. By making
|
||
even a simple on-time payment, you start a ball rolling that will
|
||
eventually create a first rate credit rating.
|
||
The new positive information will immediately begin to replace the
|
||
old negative information. So keep your financial affairs moving in
|
||
ways that keep your credit file current – and positive.
|
||
Debt Settlement and Debt Repair Traps
|
||
Debt settlement is great for repairing bad credit provided you can
|
||
put your hands on enough cash.
|
||
If you can afford to offer a creditor at least 35-40% of the
|
||
outstanding balance, you may approach them and offer them the
|
||
lump sum in exchange for a release from the entire debt. Most
|
||
lenders will be willing to consider such an offer. (If you end up in
|
||
bankruptcy they may get exactly nothing!)
|
||
Now here is a problem that very few people know about. Should
|
||
your creditor forgive a certain amount, our friends down at the IRS
|
||
will want their share as they consider such sums as normal
|
||
income – subject to income taxes.
|
||
If you do manage to land a quick debt settlement, be sure to ask
|
||
how it will be recorded on your credit file before you write the
|
||
check. Some firms actually record the forgiven amount as being
|
||
“in arrears” which will cause great harm to your credit rating. Be
|
||
sure the account balance is fully reduced without any mention of a
|
||
deficiency.
|
||
Should your bank balance not allow such an offer, you’ll have to
|
||
beg for some relief in the form of reduced interest rates. Either
|
||
way, if you should land a deal with a credit card bank, be sure to
|
||
get the deal in writing before you complete the transaction. That
|
||
way if the bank later refuses to acknowledge the deal to the credit
|
||
reporting agency, you’ll have a document that will legally establish
|
||
that a new deal did in fact exist.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 195 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Debt repair is a real trap. Some years ago some scam operators
|
||
found that they could clean up a credit record simply by
|
||
bombarding the credit agencies with bogus demands for the
|
||
correction of “erroneous” entries. This approach no longer works
|
||
and can actually harm your rating if you should attempt it.
|
||
The myth that a damaged credit rating can be quickly repaired by
|
||
simply hiring an expert experienced in the ways of credit is just
|
||
that – a myth, and a dangerous one at that. Avoid these people
|
||
like the proverbial plague!
|
||
Before dealing with any sort of credit related business – always
|
||
take the time to check with the better business bureau to see if
|
||
there are any complaints on file.
|
||
Also, do a Google search on the firm’s name (in quote marks) and
|
||
you will probably find a host of bitter complaints from those the
|
||
firm has victimized.
|
||
Ho Ho Ho!
|
||
At Christmas time it’s not unusual to find a table set up in the
|
||
midst of a department store floor offering instant credit cards.
|
||
During the holidays the store will be pushing especially hard to
|
||
enroll new customers so they may be more lenient when it comes
|
||
to credit standards.
|
||
Tell the nice lady at the table that you have no credit record and
|
||
would like one of their cards to help you establish one. Many of
|
||
these people are being paid on commission - which means they
|
||
can be VERY helpful.
|
||
Open Bank Accounts
|
||
Open both checking and savings accounts with a major local
|
||
bank. Though bank accounts aren’t usually mentioned on most
|
||
credit reports, having these accounts so you can list them on
|
||
credit applications can be a real positive for several different
|
||
reasons.
|
||
First having banks accounts shows that you are financial
|
||
responsible. And secondly, if you have even a small sum in your
|
||
savings account, it shows that you have plans to put away some
|
||
money that you can use later to make sure you make your
|
||
payments on time even if you should happen to fall on hard times.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 196 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Turn Negatives in Positives
|
||
Should you be turned down for credit, be sure to ask why. Get as
|
||
much information as you can. Then be sure to use the law. When
|
||
you’ve been turned down you have the right to get a free copy of
|
||
your credit report – the one that caused the lender to back out on
|
||
you.
|
||
Again – study it carefully to see exactly what messed up the deal.
|
||
If your credit report has an obvious error on it (most files contain
|
||
substantial mistakes), call the reporting agency and demand their
|
||
official error correction form.
|
||
If the agent you speak to attempts to talk you out of challenging
|
||
the error – ignore them, they’re paid to do that. Insist on getting
|
||
the official form, fill it in completely and accurately. Then forward it
|
||
via certified mail and attach any and all supporting documentation.
|
||
Only send copies are many such forms are intentionally
|
||
misplaced.
|
||
I was turned down for a loan once because someone who had my
|
||
same name including the same middle initial had bought some
|
||
land at a tax auction in Texas and didn’t bother to follow through
|
||
on the transaction. The whole thing was right there for the world to
|
||
see on my credit report.
|
||
I called and notified them of the mistake but they were much less
|
||
than accommodating. The lady sneered at me over the phone. But
|
||
when I went through the official correction process I received a
|
||
confirmation that when they checked the social security numbers,
|
||
they discovered that the Texas man was in fact someone
|
||
completely separate from myself.
|
||
This only goes to show you that the credit people are less than
|
||
careful when it comes to posting negative information that can
|
||
destroy someone’s life.
|
||
If the credit agency treats you like dirt and won’t listen to you,
|
||
calmly inform them that in your opinion they are ignoring federal
|
||
laws and that you intend to file an official complaint with the
|
||
Federal Trade Commission.
|
||
Then follow through on your threat – the phone number of the
|
||
FTC is: (202) FTC-HELP. If the credit bureau did in fact break the
|
||
law, your complaint will get you the changes you desire and create
|
||
a real legal problem for the bureau.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 197 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Forcing Credit Bureaus to Clean Your Credit Record For You!
|
||
Here’s another approach to forcing the credit bureaus into line. It’s
|
||
very down and dirty but it’s been used to great effect.
|
||
Launch a website that accurately lists your experiences with the
|
||
credit reporting agency. Include dates and times and best of all,
|
||
names of agents and their comments.
|
||
Do not get angry. Do not vent your spleen. Only list the actual
|
||
transactions and conversations. Then submit your new site to
|
||
Google and Yahoo (if you can afford the $299 fee). Then sit back
|
||
and wait.
|
||
Soon, very soon they will be in touch. These credit reporting love
|
||
to operate in secrecy and hate it when some lowly consumer
|
||
shines a bright light on their dirty dealings. They don’t need the
|
||
negative publicity.
|
||
Avoid Cash Advances
|
||
Credit card cash advances are expensive. Not only do they zing
|
||
you with incredibly high interest rates, they also start the interest
|
||
clock running the day of the transaction or in some cases even
|
||
earlier! Cash advances are expensive.
|
||
They also tarnish your credit record as they create the impression
|
||
of financial difficulty. Only someone who was desperate because
|
||
they don’t know how to handle money would borrow money on
|
||
such terrible terms – or so they think.
|
||
Find the Best Credit Report
|
||
If you request copies of your credit reports from the three major
|
||
credit reporting agencies, chances are you’ll be surprised to find
|
||
that what they contain varies widely. You might expect them to all
|
||
contain the same information but that’s now how it works.
|
||
If you have a black mark on your record, you may find what others
|
||
have, that your black mark may appear on one or two reports but
|
||
seldom on all three. If that’s the case with you – make up copies
|
||
of the most favorable report and keep them with you when you
|
||
apply for credit.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 198 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Closing Out Credit Card Accounts
|
||
Here is a widely held myth that can be particularly dangerous
|
||
when trying to improve a credit record. Most people feel that
|
||
should you have an old credit card with some late payments in it’s
|
||
history – all you have to do is close out that account, chop the
|
||
card into pieces and it will be as though the card never existed.
|
||
The past payment problems will vanish forever.
|
||
If only it was that easy! In fact, the opposite is true. Many credit
|
||
card issuers will eliminate the records of late payments on a two to
|
||
three year cycle. Keep your card active and your payments
|
||
current for that long and the late payments will fall off your record
|
||
automatically.
|
||
But should you close out the account, the record of your sins will
|
||
last for a full seven years or even longer! The reverse is also true.
|
||
If you have an open account that you’re sure includes only on-time
|
||
payments, you can kill that card if you have too many open cards.
|
||
(Two to four cards seems to be the optimum number from a credit
|
||
reporting standpoint) For this reason, don’t be in a hurry to discard
|
||
those old accounts.
|
||
If you have an old card account that has a relatively good credit
|
||
record, you may want to keep it and instead close out a card with
|
||
a shorter record. In this way you’ll be retaining a longer record
|
||
which will tend to improve your credit rating.
|
||
Never close several accounts at the same time. If you have
|
||
numerous accounts you wish to close, shut them down slowly
|
||
over several months. Acting too fast will create the impression that
|
||
you anticipate financial problems.
|
||
You may want to get a current copy of your credit report a month
|
||
later just to be sure that the account you want closed has been
|
||
correctly reported as closed. If not, you’ll have to contact the
|
||
reporting agency and request they record the status change.
|
||
Excessive Debt
|
||
Lenders regard too much outstanding debt a strong negative.
|
||
They look at two factors when they judge your credit. First is your
|
||
desire to pay which is indicated by your payment history. Second
|
||
is your ability to pay which is a measure of how much income you
|
||
have, how many assets you have minus what you owe.
|
||
If you owe too much a lender will doubt your ability to repay any
|
||
future loans. If your monthly debt payments total more than 20-
|
||
25% of your take-home pay, you may have a problem.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 199 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If you have more than five major credit cards, it will also look
|
||
rather bad for you. If you can, reduce the number to four or three
|
||
would be even better.
|
||
Divorce Traps
|
||
Should a judge or other legal entity sever your credit affairs from
|
||
that of your old spouse, you may feel you’re finally free of those
|
||
old financial entanglements. You breathe a deep sigh of relief.
|
||
Unfortunately the creditors may see things very differently. This
|
||
may allow your ex to continue to plague your financial life for
|
||
years. Their late payments could crush your ability to get a car
|
||
loan or a mortgage. Be sure to bring this subject up with your
|
||
divorce lawyer and follow their instructions.
|
||
Contact your creditors and explain the situation. Close out any
|
||
accounts that were jointly held. But some problems may surprise
|
||
you. Before splitting an account a creditor has the option of pulling
|
||
both credit records in an effort to determine their individual credit
|
||
worthiness.
|
||
Should you wish to dump a debt on the ex that created the debt,
|
||
you may run into a problem. If their credit rating, on an individual
|
||
basis, is in the eyes of the lender deficient – you may be stuck
|
||
with half or worse, all of the debt.
|
||
Pre-application Intelligence
|
||
As I’ve said, you should only apply for credit you know you’ll have
|
||
no problem obtaining. There are three major credit reporting
|
||
agencies but most lenders are members with only one.
|
||
Before applying, call their office and ask anyone you can get on
|
||
the phone which credit bureau they use. If they say they don’t
|
||
know or attempt to ignore your request – politely but firmly
|
||
demand that they find out and call you back.
|
||
Then request a copy of your file with that bureau and correct any
|
||
problems at least a month before you submit your application. In
|
||
this way you can stay on top of the entire process.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 200 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Rebuilding Your Credit After Bankruptcy
|
||
Here are the hardcore tactics that will rebuild a credit rating even
|
||
after you’ve filed for personal bankruptcy relief.
|
||
Unless your bankruptcy is caused by illness or other
|
||
uncontrollable events, your spending habits are probably your real
|
||
problem. It's common for bankruptcy attorneys to see individuals
|
||
and couples who come back to file their second bankruptcy again
|
||
one or two years after filing their first bankruptcy.
|
||
In those cases it's clear that they didn't do any really constructive
|
||
soul searching. To be successful in rebuilding your life, you're
|
||
going to have to forever change your relationship with money and
|
||
that includes your spending habits.
|
||
It's kind of like alcoholics and their booze. If you can't or won't
|
||
change, chances are you'll just end up in the very same jam in a
|
||
few months time.
|
||
Believe me the effort is worth it, no matter how painful. Can you
|
||
imagine how great it will feel to be completely out of debt, able to
|
||
answer the phone whenever it rings, not be afraid of your mailbox
|
||
and free to think of other things than next month's bills? You made
|
||
some errors and nothing I can tell you will help one bit if you're not
|
||
ready to make some changes.
|
||
Contrary to what friends may have told you, there is credit after
|
||
bankruptcy. But like rebuilding a house after a storm, you're going
|
||
to have to do some work.
|
||
Don't think for a single moment that the world owes you
|
||
something. That your bankruptcy entitles you to some special
|
||
privileges, because it doesn't. In the eyes of the world you
|
||
screwed up. As a result the financial world has turned it's back on
|
||
you and regards you as unreliable.
|
||
Now the pressure is on you to prove to all those lenders out there
|
||
that your bankruptcy was an isolated fluke. That you are, in reality,
|
||
a responsible person who can manage your own affairs quite well,
|
||
thank you.
|
||
Two Years Exile
|
||
Now for the hard facts. Getting credit during the first 24 months
|
||
following your bankruptcy discharge will be difficult and expensive.
|
||
Today, with the number of bankruptcies swelling, a new industry
|
||
has emerged that's eager to do business with you.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 201 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Of course, they don't trust you, will put you on a very short leash
|
||
and will charge you huge fees and very high interest rates as
|
||
you're now a high risk customer.
|
||
The good news is, you now have a second chance at life, a new
|
||
golden opportunity to rebuild your financial reputation and along
|
||
with it your entire life. Don't blow it! You can start to rebuild your
|
||
credit right away. If you use this time carefully to restore your
|
||
credit, in two years you'll be able to use credit in much the same
|
||
way everyone else does.
|
||
Quality is what you're after now. You want to open accounts with
|
||
high quality lenders. Major auto manufacturers, large banks, major
|
||
credit cards etc.
|
||
You'll want to stay completely clear of those sleazy places that
|
||
appear as though they want to help out those with poor credit.
|
||
Easy credit car lots (We finance anyone!), storefront loan
|
||
companies, payday loan outfits, and those appliance rent-to-own
|
||
places. They're vultures that will suck you dry and keep you
|
||
locked into a world of poor credit.
|
||
Having a payment record from one of them on your credit file
|
||
would be a disaster, even if the payments were made on-time.
|
||
Major lenders will notice if one of these unsavory firms appears on
|
||
your credit history and will think much less of you as a result.
|
||
Fact is, few of these parasites ever bother to report your payment
|
||
history to any credit bureau anyway. Stay away from them, now
|
||
and forever.
|
||
If you want to buy a home complete with a mortgage at normal
|
||
rates, you'll need to wait until 24 months have passed and have at
|
||
least three high quality credit references on your record each
|
||
showing a 100% on-time payment history. You'll be in good shape
|
||
then. This should be your goal during those critical first months.
|
||
If you must get credit before your 24 month anniversary, you can
|
||
expect to pay for it big time. And chances are you won't be dealing
|
||
with a major creditor. But if you must, the option is always there.
|
||
If you want a house, waiting is by far the best approach. Buying
|
||
before your 24 months are out means you'll be locked into a high
|
||
interest loan and will probably have to put down a much higher (up
|
||
to 20%) down payment which will certainly present a major hurdle
|
||
at this stage of the game.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 202 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If you can, start to save a few bucks. I'll assume that your first
|
||
major purchase will be a car and you'll need some down payment.
|
||
$500 to $1,000 would be best.
|
||
Chapter 13 bankruptcies are terrible when it comes to rebuilding
|
||
credit. After a chapter 7 discharge you're free to pursue credit in
|
||
any way you choose. During those long repayment years under a
|
||
Chapter 13 five year long repayment plan, you'll actually have to
|
||
have court permission to apply for any kind of credit!
|
||
This is a real problem that can keep you locked in financial limbo
|
||
for years to come. This is yet another reason why chapter 7 is
|
||
preferable to chapter 13.
|
||
Some creditors will lure you in with tempting promises only to
|
||
require a co-signer at the last moment. Don't fall for this ploy. They
|
||
are taking advantage of your situation. They want to use your past
|
||
as a excuse to raise rates and down payments and then protect
|
||
themselves by forcing you to bring a friend or relative into the deal
|
||
at the last moment. Including a co-signer does nothing to help
|
||
rebuild your credit and it may even cost you a friend in the
|
||
bargain.
|
||
Where to Live
|
||
The best location for rebuilding your credit will be a large city.
|
||
There you will find bankers and others who understand where
|
||
you've been and how best they can help you and make a profit at
|
||
the same time.
|
||
You'll find much more flexibility in a large metropolitan area than
|
||
you'll ever find back home in Mayberry where the rules are often
|
||
much more restrictive. (Most small town banks will refuse to lend
|
||
money to anyone with bad credit or a bankruptcy on their record)
|
||
In your present situation large big-city car dealerships can help
|
||
you get your lease or purchase financing pushed through using
|
||
their massive purchasing power as leverage.
|
||
Next you'll definitely need a copy of your credit report from all
|
||
three of the top credit reporting bureaus. When a creditor requests
|
||
a copy the bureau records the request as an "external request".
|
||
Just having someone look at your report can count against you.
|
||
The best tactic is to carry copies of your reports with you. When
|
||
you get down to discussing loan terms, you can pull out a copy. It
|
||
will help speed things along and will help you overcome your
|
||
situation. It will also keep them from requesting tons of copies and
|
||
damaging your record in the process.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 203 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
TransUnion 800-888-4213
|
||
Equifax 800-997-2493
|
||
Experian 800-311-4769
|
||
Note: These bureaus often have separate numbers they use for
|
||
complaints or error correction - ask for that number also.
|
||
If you're married you're facing a much more complicated situation
|
||
as you'll need to rebuild both credit ratings. This will take some
|
||
planning.
|
||
Be sure to spread out the applications so that both of you
|
||
accumulate the high-quality references you need. It's a common
|
||
error for a couple to concentrate on rebuilding only the man's
|
||
record. Instead be sure to file for both individual accounts in
|
||
separate names and at the same time pursue credit jointly.
|
||
Do the same with your bank accounts as you'll both need bank
|
||
references later on down the road. Check with your attorney but in
|
||
most cases it's best to pursue a mortgage in joint name. All this
|
||
will come in handy when you apply for a large loan. Having two
|
||
responsible individuals on an application will appear much more
|
||
credible than just one.
|
||
If you apply for credit and are turned down, the creditor is required
|
||
to send you a notification that lists the credit bureau(s) they used
|
||
in making their decision. You then have from one to two months to
|
||
request a copy of your report - free!
|
||
Or you can purchase copies on the web directly from the three
|
||
major agencies. (Never use other firms that offer to provide you
|
||
with a combined report listing data from all three credit reporting
|
||
agencies. This may look convenient but your most personal
|
||
information will be going through the hands of people you do not
|
||
know. There have been cases of identity theft with people who
|
||
have used these outfits)
|
||
In addition, when you personally request a copy of your report
|
||
directly from a credit agency the report is recorded as a “soft pull”
|
||
which means it won’t count against your credit rating.
|
||
But if some third party requests your report, it will be recorded as
|
||
a “hard pull” which will be recorded in the same way as any
|
||
business pull.
|
||
For this reason (and others) you should obtain your own records. I
|
||
know it’s tempting to have all three reports put together on a
|
||
single form, but that convenience comes at too high a price.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 204 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Applying for Credit After Bankruptcy
|
||
Now we get down to brass tacks. Here are some tips on how to
|
||
approach filling out a credit application. Start out by having copies
|
||
of your bankruptcy discharge notice and your three credit bureau
|
||
reports with you when applying for credit.
|
||
Be ready to explain orally and on paper, exactly why you were
|
||
forced to resort to bankruptcy. Don't lie but you should emphasize
|
||
those factors that others can sympathize with.
|
||
If illness or a legal problem not of your making was involved even
|
||
in a minor way - mention it. But be positive, not negative.
|
||
Don't get into the "blame game" in an attempt to transfer blame for
|
||
your acts to others. This will only make you look immature and
|
||
childish. Face the music like an adult and admit that you made
|
||
mistakes but mention the other factors also - not as an excuse but
|
||
instead as an explanation. If your past includes problems with
|
||
drugs, arrests, booze, or mental health problems – keep that
|
||
information to yourself!
|
||
If you're at a loss as to what to say exactly, you might want to ask
|
||
the loan officer for some suggestions. After all he/she has seen
|
||
tons of these applications and will know what kind of language will
|
||
help grease the skids. Or you might want to ask their opinion of
|
||
what you write. Most will be willing to edit your comments in
|
||
helpful ways.
|
||
You will also be required to list your recent (since discharge) credit
|
||
history. Have this information with you preferably typed up on a
|
||
single page that you can show a loan officer.
|
||
Be truthful (except for one question we'll discuss later). The more
|
||
organized and truthful you appear now, the better. This will
|
||
increase creditor confidence in your sense of discipline.
|
||
Loan officers are like cops when they conduct interrogations.
|
||
Should they uncover a small lie, they will automatically assume
|
||
there are others perhaps even bigger ones. When every little
|
||
detail is truthful, neat and proper, they'll assume they're dealing
|
||
with an honest man.
|
||
Be sure to answer all questions. Leave no blanks as that will
|
||
subtract from the image you want to project. Should the form
|
||
include the dreaded check box with the question "have you ever
|
||
filed bankruptcy?". You'll need to decide the best course.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 205 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
I've found it constructive to leave the block unchecked and
|
||
honestly reveal my personal situation to the loan officer face to
|
||
face.
|
||
That way you've been open and honest and have placed the
|
||
whole matter in his lap. Some "company men" will fill check the
|
||
box for you but many loan officers will white-out a checked box
|
||
simply because they want the deal approved and know that the
|
||
empty-headed paper shufflers back in the home office will
|
||
automatically reject any application they receive with that
|
||
particular box checked.
|
||
Your employment record should show two trends. First, even
|
||
though it's fast becoming a dominant trend, you should avoid
|
||
changing jobs too often. And secondly, be sure to stay employed
|
||
in your same field.
|
||
Loan officers hate to see applications from job hoppers who also
|
||
hop fields. Stay put for now, at least until you get the car(s) and
|
||
home you need, then you can change jobs whenever you like.
|
||
Before applying for credit you might want to call the firm and ask
|
||
which credit reporting bureaus they use. You may find that most
|
||
businesses in your hometown use one of the three majors almost
|
||
exclusively.
|
||
On an application the following can cause you problems:
|
||
Self-employed (You can still borrow but the extensive
|
||
paperwork requirements will drive you dizzy)
|
||
No telephone listed in your name (They’ll wonder where
|
||
you really live)
|
||
Carrying too much debt (Over 35% of your income - not
|
||
including rent/mortgage)
|
||
Not a US citizen or permanent resident alien status
|
||
(You might go back to where you came from)
|
||
Lack of good employment skills (Minimum wage jobs
|
||
won't work here)
|
||
Unverifiable employment (How are they to know you
|
||
have any real income with which to repay their loan?)
|
||
Lack of good banking reference (including both checking
|
||
and savings account)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 206 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Gaps in working history/too much job switching
|
||
Here's the best way to handle being self-employed. Loan officers
|
||
accept W-2s as proof of your income and job security. W-2s make
|
||
them feel all warm and fuzzy. Any other proof is suspect and
|
||
usually unacceptable.
|
||
This is really a very silly requirement when you stop to realize how
|
||
fragile most people’s jobs really are. Many people are being laid
|
||
off or down-sized each and every day in this country. But this is
|
||
their attitude nonetheless. As a self-employed person you'll be at a
|
||
decided disadvantage if you can't give them what they want.
|
||
If your business is an unincorporated sole proprietorship or
|
||
partnership, perhaps you should consider forming a corporation as
|
||
corporate papers are much more influential in financial circles.
|
||
Check with your lawyer or accountant first and if it's in your
|
||
interest - go ahead and create a new corporation. Be sure your
|
||
new firm has a business-like name that doesn't include your
|
||
name. "National Transportation Associates, Inc." sounds much
|
||
better than "Sam Johnson Enterprises, Inc."
|
||
Then you can set yourself a fixed salary and cut your own W-2s.
|
||
Your corporate address should be one of those rented PO box
|
||
outfits like Mailboxes Etc... where you can use their street address
|
||
which will conceal the fact that you're using a PO box.
|
||
Then call your local phone company and request a "stand-alone
|
||
phonemail" number. This will give you a number that acts like an
|
||
automated answering machine. Over your phone you access the
|
||
menu and record a greeting.
|
||
The stand alone version of phone mail differs from an answering
|
||
machine in one critical way - it isn't connected to your home phone
|
||
and has it's own discreet local number (or a toll-free number for a
|
||
higher fee).
|
||
People call and leave messages. You call a separate toll-free
|
||
number to retrieve your messages. But the important thing here is
|
||
that you now have an verifiable business phone number which
|
||
adds to your image as an employee, not a self-employed person.
|
||
And if someone should call for a credit reference, you will get the
|
||
message yourself and can handle it any way you choose.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 207 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If you make a mistake and get declined for a loan, be sure to
|
||
question them carefully to find out exactly what happened and
|
||
why. Ask them what factors went into their decision and then be
|
||
sure to obtain the free copies of your credit reports you're entitled
|
||
to.
|
||
Credit unions are great if you want a low-interest rate car loan or a
|
||
low-rate credit card but there is one problem with them. Call the
|
||
one you are considering and ask them if they report their loan
|
||
payments to the credit bureaus.
|
||
If they waffle on their answer, ask to talk to a supervisor or branch
|
||
manager. If they can't give you a solid answer, move on to the
|
||
next one.
|
||
You should also note that some creditors are more eager to deal
|
||
with you than others. Generally the largest single bank in town is
|
||
probably the most difficult place for you right now. Smaller banks
|
||
launch promotions aimed at landing new loans and accounts.
|
||
Watch your paper for ads. You'll find a much more willing banker
|
||
in one of these smaller, hungrier banks.
|
||
When you've chosen a bank you wish to open an account with,
|
||
call them first. Ask if they offer a secured MasterCard or Visa. Do
|
||
they automatically issue a debit card on new accounts (or do they
|
||
require a credit report?). Do they charge for ATM use? (some
|
||
banks charge incredible fees for simple ATM use)
|
||
After you've opened your account, you should be aware that some
|
||
banks won't allow you to have checks printed with any other
|
||
starting number above 001. This is a problem as retailers can balk
|
||
when presented with a low-numbered check. Always start your
|
||
checks off with 301 or 401 for this reason.
|
||
If the bank won't allow you to choose your own starting number,
|
||
tell them you'll have your checks printed by your own favorite
|
||
printer. Almost all printers print checks and couldn't care less what
|
||
numbers you use. (checks ordered through banks are prohibitively
|
||
expensive anyway)
|
||
How can you find a flexible banker? Call your bankruptcy lawyer
|
||
and ask for a reference. Call any friends you have that have had
|
||
financial problems in the past. Don't worry if you have to travel
|
||
cross town to get the account deal you want. Chances are that
|
||
same bank has a branch near your home which is where you'll be
|
||
doing your banking.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 208 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
One tactic is to boldly tell your hopefully flexible banker that you
|
||
have a bankruptcy in your past but are eager to rebuild your
|
||
credit. Can they offer any advice as to how their bank could help
|
||
you?
|
||
You may be pleasantly surprised to discover they have special
|
||
programs designed for people just like you! (some particularly
|
||
friendly banks offer various packages they call "Credit Builders")
|
||
Ask if they offer secured credit cards or secured loans which can
|
||
provide you with a royal road to a great new credit rating.
|
||
A secured credit card will help you obtain a traditional unsecured
|
||
card and a secured loan will require that you open a savings
|
||
account. Most credit applications ask if you have a savings
|
||
account and now you'll be able to say yes which will help boost
|
||
your credit rating.
|
||
Be sure to ask your new banker how much you'll have to have
|
||
deposited in your new account before they will waive your monthly
|
||
fee. Around $1,000-$1,500 is the norm. Some smaller savings and
|
||
loans offer fee-free banking to any and all comers. Few banks
|
||
charge ATM fees for their own ATMs. And you should always fill
|
||
out an application to cash checks at your favorite supermarket
|
||
which is a handy way to buy food and get some spending cash at
|
||
the same time.
|
||
Buying a Home With Bad Credit
|
||
First, wait two years. Getting a mortgage is possible during the
|
||
first two years but be prepared to put down either 15 or 20% in
|
||
cash. And you can expect to pay a much higher interest rate.
|
||
Wait two years, accumulate three or more high-quality credit
|
||
references and you'll do much better. And since a home mortgage
|
||
is a long term investment - it would be much wiser to bide your
|
||
time and not jump the gun.
|
||
Besides, after those first two years you'll be eligible for a FHA or
|
||
conventional mortgage under much better, even normal terms.
|
||
Most people live very frugally those first 24 months, saving as
|
||
much as they possibly can.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 209 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If you've been busy building your credit with a minimum of three
|
||
good accounts, have paid your bills on time without fail, have
|
||
stayed employed in one field and preferably in one job, have no
|
||
negative entries in your credit files, haven't run up your debts too
|
||
much, and have sufficient income and a down payment - you
|
||
should be able to land a very nice mortgage without too much
|
||
trouble.
|
||
If you're having IRS problems, it's best to enter into some sort of
|
||
payment history at least six months before you apply for the
|
||
mortgage. This will show that you're paying it off without any
|
||
problems. But be very careful that the feds don't damage your
|
||
credit rating as any entry they cause could destroy your chances.
|
||
You might want to check and see if there are any state "first time
|
||
home buyer" programs offered where you live. Today you can
|
||
check the state's official web site and/or call them and ask. Most
|
||
states have a program or two but don't advertise them very widely
|
||
so you may stumble on a gem.
|
||
Then there is the land contract purchase. States have various
|
||
attitudes about land contracts (ask a realtor to explain your state's
|
||
position) but if your credit is shot, it may be just the thing for you.
|
||
Be extremely careful to make your payments on time. Especially
|
||
during the first year, as any late payments may lose you your new
|
||
home and your money.
|
||
After the first one or two years your lender should be convinced of
|
||
your reliability and be willing to convert your land contract into a
|
||
conventional mortgage. Realtors are your best contact for this kind
|
||
of deal. But you've got to find a creative one, one experienced
|
||
enough to know the ropes.
|
||
If you can plop down 15-20% down in cold hard cash, you can
|
||
probably get a mortgage no matter your credit rating. But be
|
||
warned that the bankers may ask you to prove where you got the
|
||
money. A friend skimmed his cash tax free from his videotape
|
||
rental store. When the banker asked about the money's source,
|
||
he was speechless. Be prepared to document every penny.
|
||
FHA assumable mortgages might work for you if you have the
|
||
"cash to mortgage" required to buy out the present owner's equity.
|
||
If you do, you can have a realtor locate suitable homes for you. If
|
||
interest rates are high when you're looking - you should find plenty
|
||
of owners desperate to sell in this way as they need to more to
|
||
some other area of the country.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 210 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Since a realtor really doesn't have anything to do with your
|
||
mortgage, they need not know that your past includes a
|
||
bankruptcy. If you volunteer the information, they may run for the
|
||
hills as nothing frustrates a realtor more than putting together a
|
||
deal the buyer can't qualify for. That's why today realtors are
|
||
requiring prospects to obtain mortgage pre-qualifications before
|
||
they will work with them.
|
||
Leasing or Buying a Car After Bankruptcy
|
||
Cars are no luxury in our society. They are a real necessity unless
|
||
you live and work on a bus line in a major city, which few of us can
|
||
boast. Even though you've been through a bankruptcy, you have
|
||
options. You don't have to get your wheels from one of those "we
|
||
finance anyone" thieves. Instead you can deal with a major
|
||
dealership, in fact the larger the dealer the better.
|
||
Foreign cars are hot today. The most popular car in the country is
|
||
the Toyota Camry. So Toyota dealers can afford to be a bit picky
|
||
about who they sell or lease to.
|
||
The salespeople over at your local Ford and GM dealer are much
|
||
hungrier and more willing to work with you. And some of the cars
|
||
aren't all that bad. I'm not a Ford man, but the Ford Taurus is
|
||
rather nice, not fancy but it's comfortable enough and is well-
|
||
made. The Sable is the same car with all the luxury trimmings. On
|
||
the GM side the small Saturn is very well made and gets high
|
||
marks by various rating magazines.
|
||
Once again, some auto financing firms will reject you out of hand if
|
||
they know you've been involved in a bankruptcy. So do as you did
|
||
before, leave that little check box after the question "have you
|
||
ever filed bankruptcy" empty.
|
||
Tell the leasing manager your story and ask him what you should
|
||
do. Unless he's a mindless company man, he'll not only let you
|
||
slide, he'll arrange and orchestrate it. After all he wants that
|
||
sale/lease deal to go through. It's in his interest and he knows on
|
||
which side of the bread the jam resides.
|
||
Large dealerships have more leverage with the manufacturer's
|
||
financing firm. Because they move more volume than the smaller
|
||
dealers, they have more leverage when it comes to getting
|
||
marginal applications (like yours) approved. And the best part
|
||
here is that you're financing your car through one of the most
|
||
respected creditors on the planet which will give you a solid gold
|
||
credit reference!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 211 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Be very careful however. The salesman may smile and process
|
||
your application only to tell you later that he was forced to submit
|
||
your application to a special high-risk creditor instead of the usual
|
||
name-brand firm. This is a trap you don't want to fall into. You'll be
|
||
paying more and you'll get a lesser known creditor listing on your
|
||
credit file which you should avoid. Make it clear that you're only
|
||
interested in financing through Ford Motor or GM Acceptance.
|
||
Instead, offer to make a down payment. It would be unrealistic for
|
||
you to expect a no money down deal at this stage of the game. If
|
||
you can get your hands on a total of $1,500, tell them you can
|
||
come up with $750 or $850. Later if there's a problem you can
|
||
offer to come up with a larger down payment which should give
|
||
the salesperson just what they need to close the deal.
|
||
Do not hand over your credit card or give them your social security
|
||
number until you have an understanding with them that they are
|
||
not to generate any "external inquiries" on your credit file until the
|
||
deal is almost complete. Too many such inquiries will work against
|
||
you and you may have to visit two or three dealerships before you
|
||
complete a successful transaction.
|
||
If a payment from GM was included in your bankruptcy, I'd forget
|
||
them at least for now. Or if you ever paid a loan late to any
|
||
division of GM the same would apply. They have long memories
|
||
those computers.
|
||
Determine in advance how much of a payment you can afford,
|
||
then stick to your guns. Don't let them push you into paying more
|
||
than you can afford as that will endanger your temporarily fragile
|
||
financial situation.
|
||
Beware of dealers that sell cheap cars or cars that have just
|
||
arrived in the market place from new manufacturers. These days
|
||
KIA is offering to finance anyone who can walk in the door. But the
|
||
problem is - their cars are not well respected. They offer a great
|
||
warranty because their cars aren't very reliable. Check with
|
||
Consumer Reports and you'll see what I mean. They're financing
|
||
is low-quality and you don't want it on your credit file.
|
||
Sometimes a well-known bank will step into the high-risk market in
|
||
the search for increased earnings. If your salesman mentions a
|
||
special bank program, quickly ask the name of the bank. If you
|
||
don't recognize it instantly - steer clear unless you have to.
|
||
Ford and GM both have a short term lease for their higher risk
|
||
customers. It's only two years long. Perhaps that would be perfect
|
||
for you as you'll probably be in a position to purchase or lease a
|
||
much better car by the time your lease expires.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 212 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
And if you make all your payments on time and return the car in
|
||
excellent condition (they'll charge you like mad if you don't) you
|
||
will become a "gold key" customer and they will treat you like a
|
||
king. You can have your pick of any car on the lot! The financing
|
||
will be arranged in minutes, not days.
|
||
Keep in mind that GM now owns Hyundai and Ford now owns
|
||
Mazda and each shares a common financing system. So your
|
||
next car may be a nice foreign job.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 213 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
How to Get Lost – And Stay That
|
||
Way!
|
||
By James Petersen
|
||
© Copyright 2007, Ariza Research, All rights reserved
|
||
Disclaimer
|
||
This report is for informational and academic purposes only. Nothing in it is
|
||
intended to in any way encourage illegal activities now or at any time in the
|
||
future. Before attempting to employ any of the techniques discussed in this
|
||
report, consult a local attorney familiar with laws in your area.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 214 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Introduction
|
||
Laws change and the laws regarding the creation and use of
|
||
alternative identity documents have been changing quite rapidly of
|
||
late. Please be careful to review the laws regarding identity
|
||
creation and use before you consider using the techniques
|
||
discussed in this report. Please don’t break the law.
|
||
I've always admired people who periodically reinvent themselves.
|
||
Rather than be content with living in a rut or rolling over and dying,
|
||
they manage to find just the right cause and reemerge once again
|
||
as a butterfly of a different color. For them the status quo just
|
||
won't do. Elizabeth Taylor is the finest example I've found of a
|
||
truly resilient individual.
|
||
The information contained in this report was collected over a
|
||
period of three years from more than thirty individuals. These
|
||
freedom lovers created a new life for themselves by vanishing and
|
||
then resurfacing in a new location under an entirely new identity.
|
||
At first my intention was to provide a complete step-by-step
|
||
checklist that anyone could use to drop out of sight but after about
|
||
a dozen interviews but I quickly discovered that each person’s
|
||
situation is entirely unique.
|
||
So what I’ve done instead is to provide you with a basic
|
||
framework of general strategies and then include other random
|
||
insights that may or may not be of use to you in your search for a
|
||
new beginning. Before we go into specific strategies, we’ll start off
|
||
with the most important basic rules.
|
||
Rule Number One
|
||
And it really doesn’t matter who’s looking for you. It might be the
|
||
mob, a gang, a revenge-minded ex-spouse or a just plain crazy
|
||
person. After you shed your original identity, some sort of attempt
|
||
will be made to find you.
|
||
After you go, everyone who knew you well will probably receive a
|
||
phone call from an investigator. At first they will just ask for
|
||
information. They will take any info they can get, but they’ll also be
|
||
sizing up all your friends and relatives for further calls.
|
||
They’ll use tricks like calling your parents and posing as an
|
||
attorney who has a huge check for you from the estate of
|
||
someone you did a favor for some years ago. Or they may
|
||
graduate to offering generous cash rewards or even using illegal
|
||
threats.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 215 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
By telling no one of your plans, you won’t have to worry about
|
||
which of your friends and relatives might "cave-in" under the
|
||
pressure investigators will apply.
|
||
Always remember that an individual can’t reveal what they don’t
|
||
know. It seems to be a deep human need to share our adventures
|
||
and accomplishments with others. Call it pride or call it ego.
|
||
Whichever, it can quickly be your undoing.
|
||
You must keep your mouth shut from the very beginning. It
|
||
doesn’t matter whether you confide in a friend, a family member or
|
||
a lover. After you vanish, they will all come under some level of
|
||
investigative pressure. If they’re not particularly tough-minded,
|
||
you’re at risk. So make up your mind to keep this entire operation
|
||
a complete and utter secret. No exceptions!
|
||
Rule Number Two
|
||
Dump your wheels. It is completely impossible to change identities
|
||
and keep your present vehicle if it’s currently registered in your
|
||
name. No matter how you change the title, it will provide a 24-
|
||
carat solid gold link straight to the new you.
|
||
Even an amateur investigator will check with the DMV and
|
||
uncover the link in a matter of minutes. (Update: though most
|
||
states no longer sell DMV info to private citizens, licensed
|
||
investigators still have access to this data in all fifty states)
|
||
Sell your current car privately for cash. No checks, just long green.
|
||
Under no circumstances should you trade it in on your new car.
|
||
Again, this would create an obvious link. Think of your old car as
|
||
an item of identity in your old name.
|
||
After you’ve arrived in your new location you’ll buy another car
|
||
under your new name. I know this will come as a blow to those of
|
||
you who are attached to your cars, but given the free flow of
|
||
information in our society; it’s an absolute must.
|
||
You should know that over the past few years the federal
|
||
government (including the IRS) has begun to use vehicle
|
||
registration data to help them keep track of citizen movements.
|
||
For some odd reason most people are extremely truthful about
|
||
revealing their address on the vehicle registration form.
|
||
We're now getting used to paying for and receiving our license tag
|
||
stickers and annual vehicle registration paperwork through the
|
||
mail so we are forced into giving them our home address. You
|
||
should be aware that the government is now taking full advantage
|
||
of this tendency toward honesty.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 216 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The same goes for real estate. If you own any, you'll have to sell
|
||
them off before you vanish. If you have any rental income
|
||
property, please don't delude yourself into thinking you can
|
||
somehow keep receiving income on it after you've changed your
|
||
identity.
|
||
Again, it's an obvious paper trail that links the two identities to
|
||
each other. Sell the property and clear the check for the proceeds
|
||
through your old bank account. After it clears withdraw the cash
|
||
slowly over as long a period as possible.
|
||
Rule Number Three
|
||
As you create the new you, it’s imperative that you constantly
|
||
strive to reduce any links between your old persona and your new
|
||
self. Some links will always exist. They’re unavoidable.
|
||
Fortunately for you, most non-law enforcement investigators do
|
||
little more than scan the latest edition of the various directories
|
||
that are their bibles. They search the DMV, auto registration, utility
|
||
records, voters registration, public records including court and
|
||
property records and phone records.
|
||
If you plan your work and work your plan you’ll end up with a
|
||
relatively solid identity that will stand up to a moderate degree of
|
||
investigation. Most skip tracers will spend a few weeks "working"
|
||
your case. After that they’ll become exhausted and shelve your
|
||
file. Any further effort would not be profitable, so they'll usually put
|
||
your file on the back burner.
|
||
If you’re still undiscovered six months later you can assume that
|
||
you're safe, unless you do something stupid in which case the
|
||
whole house of cards will come crashing down with a loud "thud".
|
||
And remember, one wrong move could resurface several years
|
||
later to destroy all you’ve worked for. Careful planning and
|
||
execution will make the job of finding you so difficult that almost
|
||
any investigation will run out of gas well before they find you.
|
||
This report will provide you with some rather inventive strategies
|
||
that will effectively cover your tracks and make live difficult for
|
||
anyone on your trail.
|
||
If you’re leaving an ex-spouse or lover, refrain from taking
|
||
anything from them that isn’t truly yours. The last thing you need is
|
||
an ex-lover/spouse on your trail seeking revenge.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 217 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
After you establish your new identity and relocate - carry only
|
||
identification in your new name. It’s best to burn all of your old ID
|
||
documents and credit cards. If you don’t - at least hide them in a
|
||
very secure place away from your new residence.
|
||
A brief story with a message. A man killed his wife and vanished.
|
||
The police worked the case for over three years to no avail. Finally
|
||
the family of the dead woman hired one of the best private
|
||
investigators in the country.
|
||
He asked the police what the wanted fugitive did for a living and
|
||
when he heard he boasted in full voice that he could find the man
|
||
within ten minutes. He asked about the reward. The police replied
|
||
it was a whopping $50,000. He asked that the police chief put it in
|
||
writing which they did.
|
||
The investigator then called the offices of a popular architecture
|
||
trade publication. Posing as an architect he told them that he was
|
||
getting married and wanted to invite an old college friend but didn’t
|
||
have his current address.
|
||
The nice lady in subscriptions provided the address in less than
|
||
two minutes. He handed the data over to the police who
|
||
immediately had the man arrested and the clever investigator
|
||
went home with a check for fifty grand for only two minutes work!
|
||
Even the smallest link can be a disaster. Leave your magazine
|
||
and any other mail subscriptions to lapse. Any attempt to change
|
||
an address will create an unacceptable link.
|
||
You’ll also have to abandon your favorite hobbies and social
|
||
activities. These are other avenues investigators will use to find
|
||
you. One man was found by his alimony-hungry ex-wife when an
|
||
investigator made the rounds of his new home town showing his
|
||
picture to all the owners of the stores that sell those little electric
|
||
model racing cars than run on slotted tracks. They only had to
|
||
contact four stores before they discovered his new hang-out.
|
||
The next Saturday morning our man came strolling into the place
|
||
completely unaware that he was about to be arrested. For at least
|
||
the first six months or a year stay away from the places you would
|
||
normally gravitate to. Instead, plan to explore entirely new hobbies
|
||
and activities.
|
||
You’ll also have to change or alter your occupation. An
|
||
investigator will easily find you if you’re in a licensed trade or
|
||
profession. An experienced investigator will know to call all the
|
||
probable employers in your new town.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 218 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
One fellow I knew was a cab driver. When an investigator started
|
||
to make calls to all the cab companies in a town he stumbled on
|
||
his target on only the second call! Don’t make it easy for them.
|
||
If you take the tools of your trade with you, they'll give your
|
||
pursuers an excellent idea of your intentions and where they may
|
||
find you. It might be best to make a show of leaving them behind
|
||
even though you plan to continue on working in that same field.
|
||
The motto is - don’t leave links behind that can lead an
|
||
investigator to you. Make yourself untraceable.
|
||
It’s amazing to me that so many identity-changers overlook little
|
||
details like magazine subscriptions and credit cards. (Don't even
|
||
think of using your old credit cards at your new location - tracking
|
||
your movements by your credit cards records is a very simple
|
||
process these days.)
|
||
Rule Number Four
|
||
This is a biggie. Maybe it should be number one. Do not leave
|
||
debts behind! Far too many identity-changers find it impossible to
|
||
resist the greedy urge to run up their credit cards before shedding
|
||
their old lives. This is some of the best advice I can give you.
|
||
Your new life will be much more secured with no one on your trail.
|
||
If you’re the subject of an FBI manhunt, you’ll be lucky to last ten
|
||
days, even if you’re very, very clever. If only the local police are
|
||
looking for you, you might last a few years or longer. If no one is
|
||
actively looking for you – living under your new identity will be a
|
||
breeze.
|
||
Leaving behind even a small debt can cause big problems later on
|
||
down the road. One lady worked for a full year to create a new life
|
||
for herself, which was completely exposed by a persistent
|
||
collection agent who tracked her down over a lousy $85 phone bill
|
||
she left behind!
|
||
And to make things worse, she had intended to pay the bill but
|
||
didn't as it arrived a few days after her departure. Be sure you
|
||
cover all the bases and get those bills paid in full.
|
||
Skip tracers and bill collectors manage to locate about 75% of
|
||
their targets. Be sure you’re in the 25% they don’t find. Smart
|
||
identity-changers are usually successful while criminals are
|
||
usually caught after a few weeks or months. It’s all a matter of
|
||
whose looking for you, how motivated they are and how carefully
|
||
you’ve constructed your new life.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 219 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If no one is on your trail, what have you got to worry about?
|
||
Nothing! This is the only way to establish a really sound new
|
||
identity. With no one working from the other end to expose you,
|
||
you can go about your business without much worry.
|
||
But if you leave debts of any kind behind, you can count on having
|
||
an experienced, determined bank investigator on your trail and
|
||
they won’t easily give up. Some things just aren’t worth the risk.
|
||
And if the bank investigator thinks he detects credit card fraud,
|
||
you can bet he’ll have considerable resources placed at his
|
||
disposal. This is not the way to start a secure new life.
|
||
Rule Number Five
|
||
Burn your bridges. Your old and new selves must be completely
|
||
divorced. No phone calls back to old lovers. No contact with family
|
||
members.
|
||
When ex-mobsters testify against their former Mafia bosses, the
|
||
government puts them in a witness protection program. They are
|
||
given completely new identities and moved to new locations.
|
||
Many of these guys have been brutally murdered just because
|
||
they phoned family members directly or mentioned something in a
|
||
letter that could be used to locate them.
|
||
If you search around the web you'll find some very interesting
|
||
information on the federal witness protection program. It includes
|
||
a checklist that you should read.
|
||
Many people find it very difficult to abandon their old clergymen,
|
||
doctors, neighbors, friends and family members. Once the
|
||
subjects have been briefed and are ready to travel to their new
|
||
location, they are flown there through a minimum of three
|
||
intermediate locations.
|
||
They fly under assumed names and in each city they are housed
|
||
in a government "safe house". Since hotel records are easily
|
||
checked, this ensures that they'll leave behind no traceable
|
||
records.
|
||
After a few days in each spot, they move onto the next. It must be
|
||
a real pain having to travel around the country on the sly but
|
||
through hard experience the feds have learned that this is the only
|
||
really effective way to move someone from one place to another
|
||
without leaving behind a paper trail.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 220 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
You might want to explore getting a divorce or filing for bankruptcy
|
||
(or both!) before your departure. If either one is tempting, consult
|
||
with an experienced attorney for expert advice. (Ariza Research
|
||
publishes a unique bankruptcy guide entitled "Bankruptcy
|
||
Secrets". For more info visit our web site at: www.ariza-
|
||
research.com/bankruptcy.)
|
||
If you ask, the post office will tell you that their official policy is to
|
||
never open mail (except when a letter ends up in the dead letter
|
||
office - where it’s opened in an attempt to obtain a delivery
|
||
address). What they don’t tell you is that every day of the week
|
||
postal officials turn over tons of mail to various government
|
||
agencies that DO open your mail.
|
||
Don’t trust the mails! If you must communicate by letter, use mail
|
||
drops and use code words or phrases. If you want to report
|
||
whether or not something took place - make up a code that
|
||
anyone reading the letter would never be able to figure out.
|
||
If you mention your Aunt Jane - that means the task was
|
||
completed as planned, while a mention of your Uncle Arthur
|
||
means something went wrong.
|
||
It’s sad fact that we live in a country where the government
|
||
snoops on it’s own citizens. (And don't be deluded into thinking
|
||
that the government has to bother with obtaining search warrants
|
||
or court orders to read your mail or listen in on your phone
|
||
conversations. The so-called national security administration (
|
||
NSA ) listens in to millions of domestic phone calls every day
|
||
under it's "Echelon" program!)
|
||
If you’re attempting to escape an ex-lover or spouse, resist the
|
||
temptation to call and taunt them. As much as you might enjoy it,
|
||
"caller ID" is everywhere these days and phone company records
|
||
are an open book to an attorney, an investigator or a cop. After
|
||
your first call, your target can now call the phone company and
|
||
report they've been receiving obscene phone calls.
|
||
The phone company will then monitor your target's line and report
|
||
your number to the police for investigation. When the detectives
|
||
on TV or in the movies are looking for a connection between the
|
||
victim and a suspect, they always turn to the phone records.
|
||
("Usage Details")
|
||
If you must phone home at least use a pay phone in a town as far
|
||
as possible from your real location, keep the call short, use one of
|
||
those pre-paid long distant cards (which you, of course,
|
||
purchased for cash) and don’t make a second call.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 221 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Here's a little piece of information you just might find interesting.
|
||
Those nice folks down at Radio Shack and others sell a device
|
||
called a "Caller ID Blocker". You plug this small plastic device
|
||
between your phone and the connector on the wall. When you
|
||
make an outgoing call, this little wonder blocks caller ID so that no
|
||
one can determine your phone number.
|
||
Just be sure to pay in cash and decline to give the sales clerk any
|
||
information when he asks. When he asks for your last name, just
|
||
say "cash". That will usually take care of it.
|
||
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s move on to some actual
|
||
planning.
|
||
Pre-move Planning
|
||
Successful identity changing demands careful planning and
|
||
flawless execution. Anyone who attempts to change identities with
|
||
a casual attitude or goes at it too quickly is doomed to failure. This
|
||
all takes time, effort and courage to break away from whatever
|
||
pleasure and support you might presently be enjoying.
|
||
The first priorities are to obtain new identity documents and
|
||
accumulate as large a cash grubstake as possible. Once you have
|
||
your new drivers license, find one of those "secured credit card"
|
||
banks. You put up some cash, usually a minimum of $200 or so
|
||
which goes into an interest-bearing savings account.
|
||
They then issue you a genuine Visa or MasterCard credit card
|
||
with a credit limit secured by the savings account. Some banks do
|
||
a credit check while others don't bother but either way they'll
|
||
accept almost anyone.
|
||
You don’t get much credit but it does provide you with a genuine
|
||
bank credit card in your new name in less than a month. When
|
||
you go looking for living quarters, it will make you look much more
|
||
trustworthy and reliable. And it’s an excellent form of ID. Without a
|
||
major credit card, you’re really lost out there. During a recent job
|
||
interview one lady was asked if she had bank credit cards, when
|
||
she showed the interviewer two - she was quickly hired.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 222 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Here’s a list of banks that issue secured credit cards:
|
||
Phone Minimum
|
||
Bank/Firm
|
||
Number Deposit
|
||
Chevy 1-800-937-
|
||
$300
|
||
Chase 5000 Ext. 99
|
||
1-800-470-
|
||
Best Bank $250
|
||
6111
|
||
Community 1-800-779-
|
||
$300
|
||
Bank 8472
|
||
Bank of 1-800-243-
|
||
$500
|
||
America 7762
|
||
Orchard 1-800-688-
|
||
$200
|
||
Bank 6830
|
||
First
|
||
1-800-658-
|
||
National $250
|
||
3660
|
||
Bank
|
||
Bank One 1-800-945-
|
||
$500
|
||
of Arizona 2000
|
||
Chase 1-800-482-
|
||
$300
|
||
Manhattan 4273
|
||
Federal 1-800-290-
|
||
$250
|
||
Savings 9060
|
||
Cross
|
||
1-800-262-
|
||
Country $200
|
||
3610
|
||
Bank
|
||
First 1-800-876-
|
||
$100
|
||
Consumers 3262
|
||
Call several banks and ask a lot of questions. Do they require a
|
||
credit check? (if your lucky you may find one that doesn't bother)
|
||
Do they have a minimum residency requirement (usually one
|
||
year)? Do they have a minimum salary requirement? Do they
|
||
require that you have an address and phone number in your
|
||
name?
|
||
Some banks are much more liberal than others. Tell them that
|
||
you’ve recently returned from living overseas and have no credit
|
||
record and need to establish one - that's why you want the card in
|
||
the first place.
|
||
After your move should someone send you a check, you’ll have a
|
||
very tough time cashing it without the credit card.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 223 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
By the way, try not to deal with those storefront "we cash any kind
|
||
of check" places. The clerks in those place are extremely
|
||
suspicious people. They see a steady flow of scam artists,
|
||
criminals and other low-lifes. How can they cash all kinds of
|
||
checks?
|
||
It's simple, they make extensive use of on-line database
|
||
verifications. When you cash a check there - they spread your
|
||
personal information all over the place. Not a good thing to do
|
||
when you’re trying to live a low profile life.
|
||
The police make a lot of arrests in these places. Should one of the
|
||
clerk's computers indicate that there may be a problem with your
|
||
or your check, they will immediately call the police and let them
|
||
arrest you and then sort it all out. Stay away from these joints at
|
||
all cost!
|
||
When you use your new secured credit card, you’ll be steadily
|
||
building a new credit history in your new name. These secured
|
||
credit card banks report your payment history back to the credit
|
||
agencies each and every month. So to make the most of one of
|
||
these cards be sure to immediately charge up to around 80% of
|
||
your credit limit.
|
||
Then make the payments immediately when you get the bill each
|
||
month. There are only two iron-clad rules here: do not go over the
|
||
credit limit AND do not miss even a single payment. Pay the
|
||
minimum which ensures that you will pay the maximum interest,
|
||
which the bank will just love you for.
|
||
After one year of perfect payments you’ll start to get offers for
|
||
unsecured cards from all sorts of banks. In some cases the same
|
||
bank that issued you the secured card will offer you an unsecured
|
||
card at a much lower interest rate.
|
||
At that point your credit will be solid enough to qualify for
|
||
unsecured cards. Apply for two and when you get your first
|
||
unsecured card, mail the secured card back to the issuing bank
|
||
and get your deposit money back, plus the interest!
|
||
There is another way to get a genuine bank credit card in as little
|
||
as a week. You call around to the all the banks in your area asking
|
||
if they offer either a MasterCard or Visa "debit card".
|
||
If they do, ask them if a credit report is required. Due to all the
|
||
credit card fraud going on, most banks still require a credit check.
|
||
But many aggressive banks, who are particularly eager to get
|
||
cards out there or are new to the game aren’t quite so careful.
|
||
When you locate the right bank, run down there and open a
|
||
checking account.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 224 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Put as much cash as you can into the new account and ask for the
|
||
debit card. In less than two weeks you should have the card. It
|
||
looks like a genuine card and operates just like one except for two
|
||
differences.
|
||
Debit card transactions are immediately deducted from your
|
||
checking account instead of being billed. And, more importantly,
|
||
the bank does not report your payment history to the credit
|
||
agencies so debit cards are of no use whatever in establishing
|
||
credit.
|
||
Accumulate cash in preparation for the big move. Not a balance in
|
||
your checking account, I’m talking about a good old-fashioned
|
||
folding money. Find a good hiding place and start piling it up. Build
|
||
it slowly if you can afford to take the time. Tens and twenties are
|
||
best. The last thing you’ll do when you leave town is sell your car
|
||
which will provide the cash you’ll need to buy another set of
|
||
wheels in your target location.
|
||
If you have more than $2,000 in cash you may want to rent a bank
|
||
safe deposit box and deposit the cash there. You can return at
|
||
any time and pick up whatever you need. This way you can move
|
||
wherever you want without fear of loss.
|
||
Be aware that banks are required to notify the government on all
|
||
cash transactions over $500 but don’t usually bother with sums
|
||
under a couple of grand. (Update: banks are now required to file
|
||
IRS forms on all transfers of $3,000 or more. To be safe, keep any
|
||
transactions well below this threshold.)
|
||
But don’t take chances you don’t have to. The government has
|
||
also stopped printing the larger denomination bills. The largest bill
|
||
now being printed is the new $100. This makes carrying around
|
||
large sums of money more difficult.
|
||
It also makes it more difficult for drug dealers to export money
|
||
back to their overseas sources. If you can, try and stockpile only
|
||
the new bills. Uncle Sam is slowly but steadily moving toward a
|
||
dual money system with one currency being used at home and
|
||
another entirely different color and style of cash being used
|
||
overseas.
|
||
Sell off personal items as quickly and as quietly as possible. The
|
||
more cash you have the better. Remember, it will take a full year
|
||
to establish credit in your new name. During that time you can
|
||
only buy what you can afford to pay for in cash. Your entire living
|
||
standard for the next year will be dictated by how much cash you
|
||
can accumulate now.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 225 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Your new location should either be a city or a large town. Put
|
||
some distance between your old and new worlds. Move at least
|
||
800 or more miles from your old stomping grounds. And it’s
|
||
mandatory that you move across state lines. Do not return to a city
|
||
you lived in during the past, no matter how long ago it was.
|
||
Stay away from remote rural areas and busy tourist zones. You’ll
|
||
be too obvious there.
|
||
If you plan to visit your new site just to check it out, do not let
|
||
anyone there (such as a future landlord/roommate) see your
|
||
license plate. Remember, it would immediately disclose both your
|
||
home state and, in most areas, your home county.
|
||
It might be best to fly and rent a car at the airport if you can afford
|
||
to. (remember, don't use credit cards in your "old" name anywhere
|
||
in your future hometown even on a pre-move evaluation visit!)
|
||
One lady I know rented a car in her hometown using a current
|
||
credit card. She then drove it 600 miles to her future hometown
|
||
and back. This worked fine as she didn't let anyone see her tags.
|
||
(when she went to look for apartments she parked her car several
|
||
blocks away.) The car rental firms have no idea where you drive
|
||
their cars so it's a good way to go (provided you don't get any
|
||
traffic tickets during your scouting trip.)
|
||
If you’re leaving behind a bad situation, avoid relocating to Florida.
|
||
Have you ever watched one of those "America's Most Wanted" TV
|
||
shows? It seems that when most criminals skip bail, they head
|
||
straight to Florida. Florida would be a bad choice, unless you have
|
||
somewhere discreet where you can stay.
|
||
Avoid any other place where tourism is popular, unless you’ll be
|
||
happy cooped up in an apartment. If you walk the streets, there’s
|
||
a good chance that eventually a tourist from back home will
|
||
recognize you and report their sighting to others. This may sound
|
||
unlikely but in the real world it's not at all unusual.
|
||
There are several interesting alternatives to simply re-locating to
|
||
another city. One fellow I know decided he’d had enough of his
|
||
mentally unstable wife, put together some cash and bought a late-
|
||
model used recreational vehicle with all the creature comforts. He
|
||
bought it from one of those rural dealerships in a backwater little
|
||
town in Tennessee.
|
||
He paid cash and used a fake drivers license that he bought on
|
||
the internet for identification. The story he told the dealer made
|
||
sense and meshed well with his fake ID so in a few sort hours he
|
||
was on his way with an entirely untraceable vehicle.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 226 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
He wandered around the country staying at public campgrounds
|
||
for over a year, finally landing in Kansas. He found a new woman
|
||
and some friends his own age there and settled down. This
|
||
strategy worked well for him because he needed to "get away" for
|
||
a year where no one could find him.
|
||
By creating a new identity and then buying an RV in his new
|
||
name, he had the perfect "hide away". And it gave him a chance
|
||
to travel around the countryside which he had always dreamed of
|
||
doing. You can join one of several campground associations
|
||
which have campgrounds all over the country. KOA is one of the
|
||
largest. Trying to find one of these roving RVers is all but
|
||
impossible.
|
||
Hello Sailor!
|
||
Then there’s the "tramp steamer" approach. For a very reasonable
|
||
fee you can book a long cruise on various cargo vessels. They
|
||
wander all over the globe.
|
||
The accommodations are not all that fancy but you will be well fed
|
||
and at the same time - well lost. No one will be able to find you for
|
||
a number of months. And if you can afford to, you may want to
|
||
stop somewhere and spend a few months.
|
||
If you have the bread, the south of France is a favorite destination
|
||
for exiled kings and fallen dictators. For a century or more the
|
||
locals have learned not to ask too many questions. Instead they
|
||
tend to focus on the color of your money.
|
||
When you’ve settled on your new home city, remember what I told
|
||
you about keeping your mouth shut. Back during the cold war the
|
||
Russians were fond of spreading "mis-information". It was one of
|
||
their favorite tactics and for good reason. It’s a good tactic that
|
||
you should use too.
|
||
While keeping absolutely quiet about your real destination, start
|
||
broadcasting your interest in living in some remote location (the
|
||
Indians call this "leaving a false trail"). Spread the word to friends,
|
||
co-workers and anyone that might later be approached by an
|
||
investigator.
|
||
For example, if you’ve settled on moving to Phoenix, start telling
|
||
your friends about how much you’ve heard about South Carolina.
|
||
Of course you "have friends in South Carolina" who you’d would
|
||
like to visit. Let them know that, come your next vacation or long
|
||
holiday weekend, you’re going to fly out to good old South
|
||
Carolina. If you’re a good actor you might even drop a comment
|
||
like "if I like it there, who knows - I might just stay!"
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 227 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The really smart identity-changers will bolster their future safety by
|
||
actually flying out to the city they told their friends they were
|
||
interested in (buying the ticket with a current credit card) and
|
||
performing several ATM and credit card transactions while there.
|
||
You might send a postcard home or better yet, a letter to your
|
||
closest friend or relative. This all beefs up the "cover story" and
|
||
creates an obvious paper trail that will later send an investigator
|
||
off on a wild goose chase in the wrong direction. Let the poor
|
||
bastard beat his brains out trying to find you in South Carolina
|
||
while you bask in the Arizona sun!
|
||
Fly - Don't Ride
|
||
Do not drive to your new location as this would risk a traffic ticket
|
||
that would blow the whole thing as such a run-in with the law
|
||
would create a document that could be easily found in the public
|
||
records.
|
||
While you’re traveling, stay away from those cheap hotels. The
|
||
police now regularly "sweep" those places and usually come away
|
||
with a bus full of criminals with outstanding warrants. Getting
|
||
caught in one of these raids could prove disastrous at this early
|
||
stage of the game. A few extra bucks will get you a more
|
||
comfortable room in a better neighborhood where you can rest
|
||
safely and securely.
|
||
The trip will be a complete waste of time if you don’t already have
|
||
at least an interim new identity established. You’ll need at least a
|
||
driver’s license in your new name. When you get to Phoenix, look
|
||
around for a stable working class neighborhood. Unless you’re
|
||
very well funded, this is where you’ll be living at least for the first
|
||
year.
|
||
Rent one of those commercial mailboxes in your new name
|
||
somewhere as near as possible to the area you’re interested in.
|
||
Under no circumstances whatever are you to use your old name
|
||
at this point. Most commercial post office box firms offer a phone
|
||
message service that will give you an instant phone number.
|
||
They may also offer a computerized "voicemail" service, which will
|
||
give you your own dedicated phone number complete with a
|
||
recorded greeting in your voice which sounds just like a standard
|
||
answering machine.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 228 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
When you fill out the form for your new mailbox, add a second
|
||
person's name in the proper form on the box. They may let this
|
||
slide (which will give you a second name for mailing purposes) or
|
||
may demand that your friend come in and furnish them with a
|
||
picture ID.
|
||
Tell them that your friend is in the military overseas or is working
|
||
in Saudi Arabia and so cannot "drop by". When you say this have
|
||
the cash in your hand in full sight. Most of the people who operate
|
||
these places will put profit over rules every day.
|
||
They also know that most of their customers are, in reality, buying
|
||
confidentiality along with the box. (A lot of their customers are
|
||
involved in adulterous affairs and need the mail drop to receive
|
||
mail from their new lady.)
|
||
Buy a newspaper and study it from front to back. Look in the
|
||
classified ads for people looking to share apartments or homes
|
||
and then scan the used car section. Moving in with a roommate is,
|
||
for a number of reasons, your best bet at this stage of the game.
|
||
This way you can get living quarters without having to go through
|
||
the usual credit/landlord/reference checks. Do not have a friend
|
||
pose as a reference. He would then know your whole plan and
|
||
would be able to expose you or even blackmail you later.
|
||
Again, your story is - you’ve just returned from working overseas
|
||
and have lost contact with old friends. Oh sure you have plenty of
|
||
good friends but they just happen to live overseas (where they
|
||
can't be easily contacted for a verification).
|
||
Dress up in good taste and answer several of the ads requesting
|
||
roommates. Go around and look at the places, get an idea of
|
||
costs. If your future roommate likes your looks, after a friendly
|
||
chat, you may be able to move in without any paperwork at all. If
|
||
they hand you forms asking for all kinds of background
|
||
information, take the forms, promise to fill them out and mail them
|
||
back.
|
||
After you've left, throw the forms away and move on to the next
|
||
place. What you’re looking for is a friendly person who will take
|
||
you in with as few questions as possible.
|
||
For your sake I hope you have a pleasant personality and smile.
|
||
You're looking for a trusting person who is content with choosing
|
||
someone based on "gut instinct".
|
||
I did this once in Washington DC. The owner of the house
|
||
interviewed me and was so taken with me that she offered to rent
|
||
me an entire house for the price of a small apartment. I lived there
|
||
alone for a full year.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 229 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
I found out later that at the time I showed up she was looking for
|
||
someone she could trust and decided to go with her instincts. She
|
||
liked my looks and offered me the place right on the spot.
|
||
Open a Checking Account
|
||
Be sure to use a different bank than you used back home. Major
|
||
banks that used to limit their territory to the inner city and suburbs
|
||
of a single city, now have branches all over a state or even
|
||
beyond. Small banks are the best bet as they are less likely to
|
||
spread your personal information around.
|
||
Stay away from the major regional banks. Take as much cash as
|
||
you can afford with you to deposit. A grand or more would be best.
|
||
It will impress the clerk and smooth the application process. Banks
|
||
like to take in money.
|
||
Do not deposit any checks that would in any way link this new
|
||
account to your old bank account, name or city. Dress and act
|
||
appropriately as all this cash would look very suspicious in the
|
||
hands of someone who looked like they just might be a drug
|
||
dealer.
|
||
If they ask for the name of your last bank and your old account
|
||
number just tell them that you had an account in the "Saudi
|
||
National Bank" in Jidda, Saudia Arabia. That should kill any idea
|
||
they have of running a verification check.
|
||
Banks in the Arab world go by the European rules, which means
|
||
they only release account information after a recognized court has
|
||
issued an official search warrant.
|
||
Getting an Apartment
|
||
You might be able to locate an individual apartment with a little bit
|
||
of luck. Most decent apartment complexes are managed by large
|
||
firms who are very suspicious of applicants who are new to their
|
||
town.
|
||
They will insist on running a rather deep background credit check
|
||
and will want to verify your employment. They will also ask to talk
|
||
with your current landlord.
|
||
If you tell them that you’ve been living with your parents for
|
||
several years following a bad divorce, they may let you lease an
|
||
apartment, though they may demand several months extra deposit
|
||
due to your lack of verifiable rental history.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 230 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If your credit is shot, you will either be refused or they may insist
|
||
on a really punishing security deposit of up to two grand.
|
||
It all depends on the rental market. If they need your business
|
||
they’ll bend over backwards to get you into one of their units,
|
||
providing you look reputable. If their occupancy rate is
|
||
approaching 100%, you’ll probably have a very tough time.
|
||
Check it out for yourself. Again, the better working class
|
||
neighborhoods are best. Avoid the really poor areas as slumlords
|
||
there tend to be the most demanding when it comes to
|
||
background checks.
|
||
Another advantage of the shared home approach is that you don’t
|
||
have to deal with the utility companies whose records are open
|
||
books. Getting electricity and a phone connected will set you back
|
||
quite a bit in deposits since you have no established credit or
|
||
verifiable utility history.
|
||
This lack of history will raise a giant red flat with any utility
|
||
company. They're afraid that you won't stick around to pay your
|
||
bills. When you ask about the rent in a sharing situation, they
|
||
usually say something like "$400 a month plus half the utilities and
|
||
all your long distance phone calls".
|
||
And because investigators use utility records to locate people, the
|
||
shared approach allows you to live invisibly, with your name not
|
||
appearing on any utility records. Talk about being low-profile!
|
||
Living as a roommate is zero-profile.
|
||
Are You a Real Beauty?
|
||
A note here about attractive women. If you are a woman under
|
||
age 45 or so, with average or above average looks, you have a
|
||
special advantage here.
|
||
Did you know that there is only one type of fugitive that bounty
|
||
hunters won’t bother looking for. They won't lift a finger to search
|
||
for attractive young women. Why? Because an attractive woman
|
||
can breeze into any good sized town, crawl into a singles bar and
|
||
quickly locate a guy to "shack up" with.
|
||
A shacked up woman is, in effect, invisible from a public records
|
||
standpoint.
|
||
The lease and all of the utilities are in the guy’s name. She
|
||
continues to drive on her out of state drivers license, so unless
|
||
she’s stupid enough to go and get a new drivers license, the local
|
||
DMV has no idea where she is.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 231 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
It’s as if she dropped off the face of the earth! Unless she makes a
|
||
mistake, she’ll never be found. Also an attractive woman who
|
||
needs to change her name quickly can simply get married which
|
||
makes her much more difficult to find. It’s a bit more difficult for
|
||
men.
|
||
Your Personal Story
|
||
Get your new "life story" squared away. Take a pad and pen and
|
||
write it all down. Read it aloud until it sounds good. Embellish it
|
||
but not too much. Don’t get carried away. Don't try to claim you
|
||
were a surgeon unless you can talk the talk like a real doctor.
|
||
Try to anticipate any obvious questions. With some effort the
|
||
pieces will all fall into place. If you’re moderately bright you should
|
||
be able to ad-lib any other answers. Then get it all straight in your
|
||
head. Repeat it all until you’re comfortable with it.
|
||
Should someone ask about your divorce or some other area of
|
||
your past you would rather not have to explain, you can always
|
||
indicate that the subject is still painful by saying "I’d rather not talk
|
||
about it".
|
||
Most people will back off and not bring it up again anytime soon.
|
||
Over time a strange thing will start to happen. You’ll actually start
|
||
to believe your new life story.
|
||
After a year or so it will fit you like a glove and you’ll have to strain
|
||
to remember the actual life you left behind. It may sound strange
|
||
but if you've never actually done it, but by living a new life you can
|
||
become an entirely new person.
|
||
Ever read about brutal Nazi murderers who slaughtered
|
||
thousands of innocent people and then came to the US after the
|
||
war and lived perfect lives thereafter. You wouldn't think it possible
|
||
but it's happened many times.
|
||
The "Funeral Trap"
|
||
This one is tough. If you want to protect your new identity, you'll be
|
||
unable to attend the funeral of a loved one that dies. Law
|
||
enforcement types make it a point to visit funerals in search of
|
||
fugitives. Many ex-spouses have been nabbed when they came to
|
||
pay their last respects to a deceased parent.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 232 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
And you'll need to give some thought to who you want to handle
|
||
the funeral arrangements. You simply cannot become involved. To
|
||
do so would require you're returning to your old hometown and
|
||
attempting to pay for funeral expenses with cash, which would be
|
||
very unusual.
|
||
Many wanted fugitives overcome with grief will throw caution to
|
||
the winds, put on a nice dark suit and dutifully show up at the
|
||
funeral only to be spirited away as soon as they step out of their
|
||
car.
|
||
You simply can't assume that such a sad and somber occasion is
|
||
safe. Even sending flowers can be dangerous (if you bought them
|
||
with your credit card which is a common practice these days).
|
||
Please fill out the registration card
|
||
I once knew a nice lady who was, how can I say this, not all that
|
||
smart. When a co-worker offered to sell her a brand new color TV
|
||
for half it's retail price she quickly snapped it up. The seller told
|
||
her with a wink "it fell off the back of a truck!". She just giggled.
|
||
After the set arrived, she was sitting there reading the owner's
|
||
manual when a bright yellow postcard fell out onto the floor. It was
|
||
a registration form that promised that if she registered her
|
||
purchase with the manufacturer, she might win a new car.
|
||
She filled in the card and mailed it off the next morning when she
|
||
got to work. Six weeks later two cops appeared at her door. Not
|
||
only did they confiscate the stolen TV, but they also took her down
|
||
to the police station where they interrogated her until she broke
|
||
down and told them who sold her the hot set.
|
||
He got five to seven years. Do not take any appliances with you
|
||
that are registered with the manufacturer. If you buy new ones,
|
||
promptly throw away any registration cards.
|
||
These databases are now available to various types of
|
||
investigators. When you take an appliance to a repair depot, they
|
||
routinely run the serial number through their database (many
|
||
states now require this serial number tracking by law - IBM
|
||
pushed for this legislation years ago when they discovered they
|
||
could locate stolen IBM typewriters by monitoring those brought
|
||
into their authorized service centers).
|
||
It would really be a shame to have your VCR blow your cover!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 233 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Getting Rid of Your Car
|
||
There are several ways to shed your old wheels. By far the
|
||
simplest is to sell it privately for cash. Run a small ad in the paper
|
||
or in one of those tabloid style rags that are dedicated entirely to
|
||
cars. If you can afford to take your time, you can go for the highest
|
||
price possible.
|
||
Don’t be shocked if some teenager offers you much more than
|
||
you know it’s worth. These things happen. Take advantage of the
|
||
situation. Be aware that teenage boys usually have a lot of
|
||
problems coming up with the cash. Plan to allow enough time so
|
||
that you can take your time.
|
||
If anyone asks why you’re selling the car - tell them that you’re
|
||
going to work overseas (in Saudi Arabia) where your new
|
||
employer (ARAMCO Oil) will be providing a vehicle.
|
||
If you want to avoid leaving the impression that you’re planning to
|
||
skip town you might want to consider some other alternative ways
|
||
of ridding yourself of your auto. One guy I know drove his car into
|
||
a sleazy inner-city area at night (with a friend following close
|
||
behind).
|
||
He parked the old buggy on a dark side street. He then
|
||
abandoned the car leaving the doors unlocked and the keys in the
|
||
ignition. They drove past it one hour later and the car was already
|
||
gone. It didn’t take long. It was probably stripped for parts in a
|
||
local chop-shop particularly if it was a 3-5 year old Ford or
|
||
General Motors product. (these are the models most often stolen
|
||
in the inner city as there is a huge demand for their parts there)
|
||
In the cities along the great lakes and Mississippi river, it’s long
|
||
been a popular ploy to drive down to a pier along the water, get
|
||
out, drop a brick on the gas pedal, reach in and drop it into gear.
|
||
Off it goes into the watery depths, never to be found again. The
|
||
insurance company pays and never manages to solve the case.
|
||
If you’re in a big rush you can usually sell your car to a dealer but
|
||
don’t expect top dollar. You’ll probably get about two-thirds of
|
||
what it’s worth but at least you’ll get a quick check which you can
|
||
then take to the dealer’s bank and cash for - you guessed it -
|
||
cash.
|
||
How to Buy a Car
|
||
Go to one of those shifty "we sell to anyone" - "bad credit no
|
||
problem" car lots. They don’t do a lot of in-depth checking of
|
||
references as they plan to re-possess the car the first time you’re
|
||
a day late with a payment.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 234 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
They’ll also charge you the legal limit on the interest. That’s their
|
||
racket. But if you keep up your payments, you build good credit
|
||
AND have a set of wheels. Be careful though, as these sleazy
|
||
dealers tend to sell junky unreliable cars at extremely high prices.
|
||
Be as choosy as you can. You want reliable transportation and at
|
||
the same time you want a car that is not too similar to your old
|
||
buggy.
|
||
If you buy a used car privately, be sure to ask the seller if it’s OK
|
||
for you to borrow his tags for a day or two so you can go and get
|
||
the title switched and get your new tags. Unless the seller is a jerk
|
||
this should be no problem.
|
||
Car insurance can get tricky here. If you buy from a large new car
|
||
dealer you won’t have a problem. They will be so eager for the
|
||
sale they won’t care about checking on your insurance. They’ll ask
|
||
which company you’re with and then write down your answer.
|
||
But, if you happen to live in a state that requires insurance in order
|
||
to qualify for the issuance of auto tags, tell the dealer that you just
|
||
returned from working overseas (Saudi Arabia) and drove
|
||
company vehicles over there so you haven’t had insurance in the
|
||
U.S. for many years. An insurance man would see right through
|
||
you but the car salesman only wants to get the deal signed and
|
||
sealed.
|
||
He’ll arrange for an insurance salesman to come to the dealership
|
||
and sell you some nearly worthless insurance that will satisfy the
|
||
law but will probably never pay you if you file a claim. And, as
|
||
you’re in a jam here, you’ll be required to pay premium prices for it
|
||
in advance. If you have to, pay up as it’s the only way.
|
||
Or if you’re in one of those states where they allow insurance
|
||
companies to sell cheap worthless auto policies (Florida has this
|
||
ridiculous system), you’re in luck. You can wander in and pick up
|
||
an entirely worthless policy for under a hundred bucks which will
|
||
legally qualify you for the tags. Ask your salesman, he’ll work it out
|
||
I’m sure.
|
||
Remember, all he has on his mind is his sales commission.
|
||
No matter how long it’s taken to prepare your new life, the
|
||
moment you sell your old car and climb into the new one is the
|
||
moment you will become that new person. The car is the key to a
|
||
new you!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 235 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Killing Off Your Old Identity
|
||
The "Flying Saucer" Strategy
|
||
The goal here is to leave behind a complete dead end. Slowly but
|
||
steadily drain your checking account until the balance goes below
|
||
$100. Then just abandon the money.
|
||
Throw away your ATM card. Bring all your bills current. Destroy
|
||
your credit cards. This is going to hurt but a single credit card
|
||
purchase in your new location will quickly bring investigators right
|
||
to your doorstep.
|
||
Leave your subscriptions to lapse. File a change of address
|
||
postcard that forwards all your mail to some hotel in another
|
||
region of the country.
|
||
Alaska is a favorite as it has many tourist hotels to choose from.
|
||
Sniff around the web and you'll find dozens of Alaskan hotels that
|
||
would be perfect for your purposes.
|
||
This way no mail will be returned to your creditors AND any
|
||
investigation of your movements would send the skip-tracer off on
|
||
a dead-end search of the frozen Klondike.
|
||
A few notes on how skip-tracers and other investigators work. If
|
||
you owe money, your creditor will be dunning you with a constant
|
||
stream of collection letters and phone calls.
|
||
One or both of the following events trigger most skip-trace
|
||
investigations. The creditor firm gets a collection letter returned by
|
||
the post office labeled as "undeliverable - addressee has moved -
|
||
No forwarding address on file" (which means you moved without
|
||
leaving a forwarding address) or your phone is disconnected when
|
||
they call.
|
||
This is usually the result of not paying the phone bill or your
|
||
having had the service terminated. Either way, your creditor will
|
||
know that the hunt is on and will promptly release the hounds!
|
||
But if you overpay your phone bill and include a note stating that
|
||
due to an illness in the family you’ll be out of town for several
|
||
months and want your phone service to continue uninterrupted,
|
||
those nice people down at the phone company will keep your
|
||
phone going until the funds run out which could be many, many
|
||
months. And with your mail forwarded, they’ll never get any mail
|
||
returned. (They will however get a notification of the address
|
||
change if they request it)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 236 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
I call this the "Flying Saucer strategy" because the result is just as
|
||
though a flying saucer dropped down from the sky, beamed you
|
||
up and spirited you away. Nothing remains. Your former life is
|
||
there for all to see, but where are you?
|
||
This is by far the best way to go but can only really be used if you
|
||
have the funds to pull it off and don’t have anyone on your trail. An
|
||
investigator will review your case, make a few calls and conclude
|
||
that you had "no reason for flight." The balance remaining in your
|
||
bank account will convince any investigator that you probably
|
||
didn't intend to cut and run.
|
||
The "African Safari" Strategy
|
||
You suddenly develop an intense interest in the Dark Continent.
|
||
You let all your friends know. As the story goes, you recently met
|
||
someone who went on a safari in Nairobi, Kenya. It was just great
|
||
being out there with all those beautiful giraffes, rhinoceroses and
|
||
exotic birds. It’s always been your dream to go there.
|
||
If you have vacation time on the books, announce that you’re
|
||
going to take the plunge and make the trip of a lifetime to beautiful
|
||
Africa.
|
||
Call a travel agency and buy the cheapest ticket to Nairobi, Kenya
|
||
you can find. Be sure to pay with your credit card. Buy a return trip
|
||
ticket (if you can afford to)
|
||
Again, let all your friends know how excited you are about your
|
||
upcoming trip. Maybe you can go out and buy a camera for the
|
||
trip or even a fancy hat just like the ones the big game hunters
|
||
wear. Apply for a visa from the Kenyan embassy in Washington if
|
||
you want to go all the way. Show your friends the visa.
|
||
You’ll probably have to wait six or eight weeks for your departure
|
||
(sooner departures tend to be rather expensive). But when the big
|
||
day comes you drive out to the airport with your camera bag and
|
||
hat. You stand in line to get your boarding pass, check one bag.
|
||
(Which contains some old clothes you no longer need) You ask
|
||
which way to the gate and off you go in that general direction.
|
||
When you get to that side of the concourse you duck into the bar,
|
||
pocket the boarding pass and wait for your plane to depart.
|
||
You then tuck the hat into a bag and return to the parking lot
|
||
where you climb into your car and head off to your new life. Or you
|
||
can just fly out of that same airport to some other destination on a
|
||
ticket purchased in an assumed name with cash.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 237 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Don’t even think about trying to cash in the ticket to Africa. If you
|
||
do the whole effect will be spoiled. It’s important that you leave
|
||
your apartment looking as though you were only gone for a few
|
||
weeks vacation.
|
||
If the television and VCR are gone, investigators may conclude
|
||
that you have taken flight and will start looking for you in earnest.
|
||
(If you're really attached to your TV, you might purchase an older
|
||
used unit and leave it behind)
|
||
This strategy is not cheap, but it is effective. Anyone, and I include
|
||
here both experienced investigators and the law; will draw a blank
|
||
on this one if it’s done carefully. Sure it costs quite a bit more than
|
||
simply walking away, but for the money you leave behind a stone
|
||
cold dead-end trail that ends somewhere in the jungles of Africa!
|
||
What does the investigator do when he confirms that you picked
|
||
up your boarding pass, checked a bag and that the ticket was one
|
||
way? Where does he go from there? If he goes to the
|
||
considerable trouble of actually talking to the clerk who handled
|
||
your departure, she'll report that you were there and obtained your
|
||
boarding pass. From there it’s a total dead end.
|
||
Even if he suspects that the whole thing is a ruse, he’ll attempt to
|
||
verify your arrival in Kenya. After some months of correspondence
|
||
he’ll probably discover that you didn’t arrive. But since the plane
|
||
stopped in London and/or Athens enroute you might have
|
||
deplaned there and since England and Greece don’t require visas,
|
||
he’ll have nowhere left to look.
|
||
Those long distant overseas phone calls can be expensive and an
|
||
investigator can’t expect the same level of cooperation from
|
||
foreign officials that he can here in the US.
|
||
As a last touch, leave behind a nice color picture book of Africa in
|
||
your top desk drawer where someone is sure to find it. Place
|
||
another on your apartment coffee table. This plan will work
|
||
perfectly, provided you don’t do anything stupid thereafter.
|
||
The "Wild Goose-chase Through the Ghetto" Strategy
|
||
On the eve of your departure, take your wallet, complete with old
|
||
drivers license, credit cards and a little cash and just drop it in the
|
||
middle of the street at midnight in front of a sleazy nightclub in the
|
||
shabbiest part of town you can find.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 238 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Trust me - someone will find it and use the credit cards or sell
|
||
them to someone who will. Anyone trying to find you will then be
|
||
sent on a real "wild goose chase". He’ll see lots of scattered credit
|
||
card activity but it won’t lead him to you - that’s for sure. While
|
||
he’s trying to make sense of it all, you’ll be off to a new life in a
|
||
distant city.
|
||
Or you can shed both your old identity and your old car at the
|
||
same time. Park your car along a ghetto street at night, leave the
|
||
driverside door unlocked, the keys in the ignition AND leave your
|
||
wallet on the front seat. You’ll be killing two birds with one stone.
|
||
There's always on thing you can depend on in this life, the greed
|
||
of your fellow man.
|
||
The "Kill Yourself Off " Strategy
|
||
Now we move on to the really illegal stuff. This tactic is against the
|
||
law so - don't do it! I can almost guarantee you that you’ll end up
|
||
in jail should you try this particular ploy.
|
||
One lady called her local paper, posed as her own sister and
|
||
placed an obit on herself! When they asked for the funeral home
|
||
that would be handling the "showing" she said that, as requested
|
||
in her will, she was cremated and that no funeral would occur.
|
||
Since she died "after a long illness", she included a note in the obit
|
||
that contributions should be made to the U.S. Cancer Society.
|
||
She then walked into a large hospital and asked where she could
|
||
get a death certificate. When she got to the right person she just
|
||
asked for one on the pretext that her mother had died in a rural
|
||
area and the police needed a copy for their records.
|
||
Although it’s a minor crime to provide the blank form, the clerk
|
||
handed one over without question (I’ve known several people
|
||
who’ve successfully obtained blank death certificates this way
|
||
despite the legal restrictions).
|
||
She then filed a fake death certificate on herself (another illegal
|
||
act) and then used the death certificate to file for a claim for her
|
||
death benefit with the Social Security Administration (a federal
|
||
felony), which got her entered into the publicly available social
|
||
security death database.
|
||
On paper she was then completely dead. Her husband collected a
|
||
cool $100,000 from their life insurance (yet another illegal act
|
||
which took over two years as they had no dead body). The
|
||
insurance company was suspicious, but since the public image of
|
||
the insurance industry is of prime importance, they eventually paid
|
||
in full.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 239 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
She left behind a ton of debt that evaporated when her creditors
|
||
discovered that her estate was penniless. She and her husband
|
||
met several times a year in the Caribbean and during one of those
|
||
visits, they were both arrested.
|
||
This approach constitutes a series of federal felonies, which
|
||
almost always results in a long jail sentence.
|
||
Here’s one obvious strategy that is guaranteed to fail. Insurance
|
||
investigators always have a good laugh when someone fakes
|
||
jumping off a bridge. They leave behind their car, a wallet and a
|
||
suicide note.
|
||
Problem is, less than a quarter of alleged jumpers actually die and
|
||
leave a dead body behind. Don’t expect anyone to believe such a
|
||
story. And be assured that your life insurance will never pay off on
|
||
such a claim.
|
||
The "Canadian Crossing" Strategy
|
||
You charge an airline ticket to Canada on your credit card in your
|
||
old name and fly on up to Toronto or Montreal. Check into a hotel
|
||
and take a look around (it’s a lovely country!) and then rent or buy
|
||
a car in your new name, which you then drive back across the
|
||
border somewhere out west where the border is very poorly
|
||
manned.
|
||
You should be able to just drive across at one of the unprotected
|
||
crossings on the smaller back roads. The Montana/Canada border
|
||
is a good area for this. You might have to stop and show your
|
||
driver’s license to the Canadian Mounties. Either way nothing gets
|
||
entered in a computer so you were never there as far as an
|
||
investigator is concerned.
|
||
Take your birth certificate with you just in case but don't offer it
|
||
unless asked. Most of the time they won't bother to ask if you
|
||
sound like an American and are dressed well.
|
||
You only have about 2,500 miles of border to choose from. This
|
||
strategy works best during the legal hunting season when
|
||
hundreds of eager hunters cross back and forth into and out of
|
||
Canada from the adjoining US states. This way you go on the
|
||
record as having gone to Canada but no record exists of your
|
||
return.
|
||
You come back "laundered" and ready for a new life. Anyone
|
||
attempting to track your movements will be left wondering when
|
||
you'll come back from Canada!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 240 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
I’ve also heard of some who have hitch-hiked across with no
|
||
problems. One guy posing as a nature photographer caught a lift
|
||
from a friendly hunter who didn’t relish driving back to Detroit
|
||
alone.
|
||
Just remember to dress the part. You want to look straight and
|
||
clean cut. If you're young, have long hair or drive a wreck of a car
|
||
be prepared to be stopped and even searched.
|
||
If you’re crossing during hunting season, dress like a hunter.
|
||
During other seasons you’ll want to dress in a suit and tie and be
|
||
sure the car is spotless inside and out. The make and model of
|
||
your car can get you stopped. Large US made cars are suspect
|
||
because their trunks are large and are popular with drug
|
||
smugglers. (have you ever seen the trunk on a Ford LTD - it’s
|
||
really huge!)
|
||
A late model foreign car will do nicely, or better yet a rental car is
|
||
perfect though they can be very expensive when you drive them
|
||
one way because the rental firms charge a very hefty "drop off
|
||
charge" for rentals that aren't returned to the original site.
|
||
If you’re black or Hispanic your odds of being searched skyrocket
|
||
especially if you're younger. You can reduce the odds somewhat
|
||
by having a wife and small child with you.
|
||
Here is a common ploy used by Americans that work overseas.
|
||
According to US tax regulations; overseas workers pay no US
|
||
federal taxes on the first $70,000 they earn overseas provided
|
||
they do not spend more than 100 days per year visiting the United
|
||
States.
|
||
So they fly from their overseas worksite to Toronto on their
|
||
passport and then cross the border into the US using only their
|
||
driver’s license as proof of citizenship. When they desire to return
|
||
overseas they reverse the process and fly out of Toronto using
|
||
their passport.
|
||
Anyone inspecting their passport will discover that they spent
|
||
several months in Toronto and nothing more. They spend as long
|
||
as they like in the US and protect their income from taxes at the
|
||
same time! I don’t expect this situation to change anytime soon as
|
||
the Canadian border (unlike the Mexican border) is of little interest
|
||
to either government.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 241 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The "Overseas Worker" Ploy
|
||
You’ll find ads in the larger city newspapers offering to find you
|
||
work overseas. They mostly offer professional caliber positions for
|
||
engineers and doctors.
|
||
But some are on the lookout for English instructors for contract
|
||
positions in the Far East and particularly Japan. If you’re
|
||
adventuresome this might be just the ticket. It gets you out of the
|
||
country for two years or longer.
|
||
You’ll be required to sign a contract and may be required to
|
||
submit to a complete physical exam with their physician. Be sure
|
||
that you intend to stay overseas for the full period of the contract
|
||
as an early return may be very expensive. Most of these contracts
|
||
include painful penalties for breaking the contract by returning
|
||
early.
|
||
One note though. Don’t pay an up-front fee to any of these so-
|
||
called employment agencies. Many are notorious rip-off artists.
|
||
Find the ads that just offer listings of the jobs available. And if the
|
||
position requires a degree, call them anyway. They may be
|
||
shorthanded - you never know.
|
||
Saudi Arabia hires a wide range of instructors. If you have
|
||
experience working in a sheet metal shop, doing auto bodywork,
|
||
have done any kind of aviation mechanical work or know how to
|
||
install phones you may be able to find a lucrative position teaching
|
||
our Saudi friends.
|
||
Saudi Arabia is a nice enough place to live and work. The pay is
|
||
great but don’t bother going there if you love booze or movies.
|
||
Both are against the law there. (That doesn't mean you can't get
|
||
them, it only means it's more difficult and more expensive) There’s
|
||
some booze around but not all that much as booze is technically
|
||
illegal in Saudi Arabia.
|
||
Don’t even think about trying to smuggle booze or drugs into
|
||
Saudi Arabia. While the Saudis tend to be a bit more liberal when
|
||
it comes to enforcing their strict laws in the areas where
|
||
Americans live, they tend to be really strict about drugs and the
|
||
penalties they hand out are really frightening (how would you like
|
||
to have your hand cut off?)
|
||
Most of these overseas job locator services will have a number of
|
||
listing for teachers to teach foreigners the English language.
|
||
Some will require a college degree in English but many won't. If
|
||
you're well spoken you should be able to find a job somewhere out
|
||
there.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 242 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The "Cult Membership" Strategy
|
||
Browse around the Internet and you’ll find many religious cults
|
||
who have web pages designed to convert people to their way of
|
||
looking at things. If you live in the east, find one out west. If you
|
||
live out west, find one back east. Get as much info as you can
|
||
about the cult. You want a real cult. One that is secretive and
|
||
strange but not actually dangerous. Send away for information.
|
||
You can tell your friends and co-workers that you’re going to join
|
||
up. Or if you can handle the experience, you might want to
|
||
actually join up, get a membership card and the whole works.
|
||
Then tell all your friends that you’ve found "the meaning of life".
|
||
They’ll think you’re nuts but who cares? Tell everyone about how
|
||
you’re going to visit your new cult friends for a brief visit. Go
|
||
ahead and tell them where the cult is located.
|
||
You go and you don’t come back. In fact, you spend a day or two
|
||
with your new fellow cult members and then split for parts
|
||
unknown under your new identity. Anyone looking for you will
|
||
easily track you to the cult but that will be the end of the line as no
|
||
further information will be available.
|
||
Cults are notorious for not revealing anything - unless ordered to
|
||
by a court and even then they will have their lawyers legally
|
||
challenge the court order. No one short of a cop with a search
|
||
warrant will be able to find out if you are actually there or not. And
|
||
even then they’ll probably have to fight the cult in court before they
|
||
get access.
|
||
Also, some cults are famous for regularly moving all over the
|
||
country in an effort to evade investigation and/or media attention.
|
||
Every cop knows that some cults will move the target member
|
||
before the cops return.
|
||
It maybe illegal but it’s a common ploy with these outfits.
|
||
I know two people who actually joined the Scientology cult in an
|
||
effort to vanish. One warning, the Scientology people can be quite
|
||
dangerous so this particular cult should not be played with. But
|
||
you can visit them, join and then split though they’ll try very hard
|
||
to get you back.
|
||
But if you travel under you new name after you leave they’ll never
|
||
find you. If you let the Scientologists know your new name, they
|
||
will pursue you forever. For that reason you should join them
|
||
under your old name and never reveal your intention to split to
|
||
anyone in the cult. You can be sure they will be watching you
|
||
carefully and monitoring your attitude so you'll have to very clever.
|
||
Just convince them that everything is fine and then pick your
|
||
moment and vanish.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 243 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Investigators and skip tracers know that there’s little use in
|
||
contacting a real cult. Their inquires will be ignored and they know
|
||
that if they become insistent or threatening, the cult’s attorney will
|
||
step in. And cults can often afford the best legal talent available so
|
||
legal threats are of little use.
|
||
Besides most genuine cults have stripped their members of any
|
||
and all wealth they may have had when they signed up. So if
|
||
you're not sure you can withstand their psychological
|
||
brainwashing - stay away.
|
||
Run Off and Join the Circus
|
||
Perhaps when you were younger you had a dream about running
|
||
off with the circus. Well now might be just the time to re-visit that
|
||
childhood dream.
|
||
An old friend recently reminded me that anyone seeking to vanish
|
||
ought to take a look at the "amusements" industry.
|
||
Every year at the same time (usually sometime in the summer)
|
||
you’ll notice various "amusement" companies that breeze into
|
||
town, set up a smallish fair which they run for a week or so and
|
||
then move onto the next town.
|
||
These outfits almost always need laborers and electricians to help
|
||
with the setup and tear-down. They usually run a small classified
|
||
ad in a local paper. The best tactic is to show up during the last
|
||
day of their operation, ask to see the boss and ask if they need
|
||
help with their "teardown".
|
||
If they hire you, work hard and don’t complain. When they pay you
|
||
off, ask if they might need another hand out on the road. You can
|
||
tell them that due to the recent death of your spouse you’re free to
|
||
travel.
|
||
The job they may offer might be that of a "ride monkey". You help
|
||
with the setup and teardown and also man one of the many rides.
|
||
A warning: this is not an easy life. Some of these companies will
|
||
pay to put you up in a local motel complete with a private bath and
|
||
air conditioning. But others will require that you sleep in an un-air-
|
||
conditioned trailer with only a shared mobile shower/restroom. It’s
|
||
kinda like camping out all summer. If you’re really attached to a
|
||
luxurious lifestyle, the "carny" life may not be for you!
|
||
But one thing I can guarantee. You will be properly and completely
|
||
lost for the summer. No one will be able to find you no matter how
|
||
hard they look.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 244 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Many of these companies don’t ask questions of their employees.
|
||
Many pay their people in cash so you can be sure you’ll be
|
||
rubbing shoulders with other freedom-loving souls.
|
||
Most will ask your name and then write it down without any
|
||
reference to identity papers. The pay may not all that great either
|
||
as they know that you need this kind of work and so are less than
|
||
generous.
|
||
Magazine Subscriptions
|
||
If you scout around any major newspaper's want ads you may find
|
||
some jobs listed under "Magazine Subscription Sales". These
|
||
companies hire supervisors who travel the country in a stretch van
|
||
with a small crew of teenagers who sell magazine subscriptions
|
||
door to door.
|
||
Be warned however that some of these outfits are out and out
|
||
scams. They use these wholesome looking kids to sell
|
||
subscriptions (or some other useless product) under the guise that
|
||
the youth is selling magazines so they can go to college, for some
|
||
innocent sounding religious organization or for a famous charity
|
||
(usually one that benefits poor or sick children).
|
||
The hours are long, there are plenty of hassles (this whole
|
||
approach is becoming less and less viable given some recent
|
||
media attention) but the income can be very good and you will be
|
||
roaming the entire country so finding you will present quite a
|
||
challenge.
|
||
Once again, these employers know that the kind of people this
|
||
industry attracts aren't the cream of the crop. Many pay their staff
|
||
people in cash and won't even bother to ask for identity
|
||
documents.
|
||
This might be just the job you need if you can find an honest
|
||
company and can put up with the inevitable problems that go
|
||
along with managing a group of teenagers.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 245 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Your Appearance
|
||
Here are some aspects of your appearance that can substantially
|
||
alter your overall appearance:
|
||
Gain or lose weight (very effective)
|
||
Changing your hair color (effective)
|
||
Changing your eye color with contact
|
||
lenses (subtle)
|
||
Changing your hair length (effective)
|
||
Covering up baldness with a "rug" (very
|
||
effective)
|
||
Adding or removing tattoos (very
|
||
effective if visible when fully clothed)
|
||
Plastic surgery (if you can afford it -
|
||
extremely effective)
|
||
Establishing Yourself in Your New Community
|
||
There are those who feel that upon arrival in a new community an
|
||
identity-changer should immediately get in contact with an
|
||
underground group of some sort. Over the last few years the
|
||
papers have carried stories of fugitives being arrested after
|
||
showing up at one of these supposedly clandestine meetings.
|
||
The sad truth is that either the local police has penetrated most of
|
||
these groups or, if the government feels they warrant the
|
||
attention, the FBI itself has moved in. You don’t know these
|
||
people. Why should you trust them with your future? There’s a
|
||
better way. One that keeps your story private.
|
||
By far the quickest way to establish yourself in a new community
|
||
is to join a church. The best bet would be to join one of those
|
||
hellfire-and-brimstone "born again" Baptist congregations.
|
||
Find a medium to small church with a lot of younger families. If
|
||
you’re like me you can’t stand these idiots, but you only need to
|
||
attend for a few Sundays, chum up to several of the parishioners
|
||
and you’ll quickly have several impressive personal "references"
|
||
for immediate use.
|
||
The game here is to pretend to believe exactly as they do. Listen
|
||
carefully during their services. Every church has it's very own
|
||
interpretation of just what "real" religion is supposed to be. What
|
||
do they concentrate on? Try to identify the unique features of their
|
||
doctrine. Pretend to swallow their "line" completely.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 246 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If they have an "alter call" - join in the procession. Get down on
|
||
your knees. After some solemn prayer they’ll ask you to stay to
|
||
receive some literature and have a chat. Tell them that your
|
||
Grandmother was a Baptist. Ask them where you can buy a bible
|
||
(they’ll probably give you one free!).
|
||
If they mention a Christian bookstore, be sure to visit it and spend
|
||
some money. Tell the clerk that you are new in town and a "new
|
||
Christian". Buy any book(s) they might recommend. Study them
|
||
and learn the lingo.
|
||
The next week return to the same church and ask to become a
|
||
member after the service. If they don’t offer a church membership
|
||
card, ask for one. No matter how ridiculous their beliefs sound to
|
||
you, agree with them and listen to their explanations with rapt
|
||
attention.
|
||
Ask the obvious questions without challenging them in any way.
|
||
Bond with them as best as you can without being too obvious.
|
||
After a few encounters they will fall in love with you and think
|
||
you’re a wonderful person.
|
||
Chances are some fellow church member will invite you over to
|
||
their house for "fellowship." When they ask about your family tell
|
||
them that your parents are "lost in the darkness".
|
||
If you have a hard luck story (maybe you were on drugs or were
|
||
forced to join a satanic gang) that ends with you being saved by
|
||
Jesus - they will eat it up! Remember, most rational people reject
|
||
this narrow-minded theology, but you’re different. You understand
|
||
them and agree completely with their beliefs.
|
||
Here’s the secret about this tactic: From then on your fellow
|
||
church members will tell others that you’re "nice" because you
|
||
believe as they do, not because they really think that you’re all
|
||
that nice. Attend church social activities.
|
||
Find someone particularly friendly and ask them to refer you to an
|
||
apartment where you plan to live until you can afford to buy a
|
||
place of your own. Tell them that you don’t want one of those
|
||
sinful apartment complexes. We all know about all the sinful
|
||
activity going on there and you, being a good Christian, want none
|
||
of that. You want a nice clean "Christian" place.
|
||
If they don’t know any "born again" apartment owners, they’ll call
|
||
around until they find something for you. With a little luck this
|
||
church gambit may just land you a nice apartment with a landlord
|
||
who will be so happy to get a clean-living religious tenant that he’ll
|
||
ask very few questions.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 247 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Be generous with the tithing and other contributions if you can
|
||
afford to. The preacher will always have something nice to say
|
||
about anyone that forks over cash for the church "building fund".
|
||
Most of these guys are as profit oriented as your average used car
|
||
dealer!
|
||
Some Final Random Thoughts
|
||
During the San Francisco earthquake a local news station was
|
||
filming a burning building. When they swung the camera around to
|
||
show the crowd, about a dozen men broke from the crowd and
|
||
ran. They were all probably wanted by the police (or their ex-
|
||
wives!) Stay away from cameras.
|
||
Don’t do any unnecessary driving as it exposes you to the
|
||
possibility of a traffic stop by the police. Be aware that for the first
|
||
six months or so your new identity will be rather fragile and might
|
||
not stand up to close scrutiny. As time passes your persona will
|
||
"firm up" as you build a real history in your new name.
|
||
After a year - you are the new you. During a recent interview the
|
||
director of the FBI revealed that most fugitives get caught during
|
||
the first 90 days but those who manage to live under a new
|
||
identity for a full year are seldom found.
|
||
This all may sound like a very demanding and difficult project. And
|
||
in some ways it is. But hidden in the midst of all this planning and
|
||
worry is a golden opportunity to start all over. There are a
|
||
thousand ways to screw up a life so I can only imagine what
|
||
happened to your original identity. But now you have what others
|
||
dream of - a real chance to live out your fantasies.
|
||
Seize the chance, as it may be the greatest turning point of your
|
||
life. It strange how some identity-changers go on to live happy and
|
||
successful lives while others never get it right and spend their
|
||
nights tossing and turning in the fear that "Big Brother" will soon
|
||
appear. The most valuable thing I can think of to say at this point
|
||
is that IT CAN BE DONE! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
|
||
If you presently have an established career, relocating under a
|
||
new name can be a daunting prospect. One identity-changer was
|
||
a Registered Nurse. To escape her abusive and unrelenting ex
|
||
she changed her identity and relocated to a distant city. Problem
|
||
was she was in a licensed profession. Her answer was to go back
|
||
to school at age 42.
|
||
She breezed through the courses and challenged many others.
|
||
Instead of taking three years, she did the whole thing in half that
|
||
time and was licensed under her new name. Now she enjoys a
|
||
good salary and a solid career, the one she loves.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 248 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
One recent identity-changer asked that we pass along this little tip.
|
||
He and his wife were planning on starting anew in the US after
|
||
leaving their east European home. They obtained US tourist visas
|
||
but were shocked to learn that they were only allowed to take
|
||
about $500 each with them in cash. That’s hardly enough to start
|
||
a new life.
|
||
To get around this little problem, they slowly liquidated their
|
||
possessions until they had a nest egg of around $80,000. Through
|
||
friends they were able to locate a diamond merchant who sold
|
||
them a nice 14-carat Russian diamond of very high quality for
|
||
cash. They then smuggled the gem into the US in the wife’s
|
||
vagina. After arrival, the bauble was sold for $60,000 in cold hard
|
||
US cash that allowed them to successfully launch their new lives.
|
||
(The diamond merchant back home wasn’t all that honest it would
|
||
appear!)
|
||
A diamond will allow you to concentrate an enormous amount of
|
||
wealth into a very small space and is also highly liquid anywhere
|
||
in the world. Others have done the same thing with small but
|
||
valuable antiques (those little wooden Russian dolls have been
|
||
used by Russians) that can be easily hidden in your underwear.
|
||
It’s often hard to keep employment as the social security
|
||
withholdings are reported on a quarterly basis. Many wanted
|
||
criminals find that they are forced to change jobs every three or
|
||
four months to stay ahead of the dreaded letter from the social
|
||
security people advising their employer that one of their
|
||
employees has two jobs, one in Oregon and the other in Florida!
|
||
One common strategy is to work for a temp service.
|
||
You use someone else’s SSN and an assumed identity. These
|
||
outfits have so many people going through their revolving door
|
||
that they seldom do much investigating. You can work for at least
|
||
several months. Move around from office to office so no one gets
|
||
too inquisitive. But I would ask you not to use this ploy because it
|
||
gets the actual holder of the social security number in trouble with
|
||
the social security people. It can take a year or more to get such a
|
||
mess straightened out!
|
||
Popeye the Sailor Man…
|
||
A freshly divorced friend wanted to get completely and utterly lost.
|
||
Let’s just say that he did not want to communicate with his ex. On
|
||
a whim he spent his last few bucks on a one-way ticket to sunny
|
||
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 249 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
There we took to wandering the many yacht marinas that dot the
|
||
coast. After a week he managed to find a position doing some
|
||
renovation work on a boat owned by a rich dentist who lived up
|
||
north.
|
||
It was an ideal job for someone in need of anonymity. In one fell
|
||
swoop it provided him with a steady source of income and a nice
|
||
comfortable (and completely untraceable) place to live.
|
||
And even better, when the dentist would come down for his thrice
|
||
yearly sailing outing, my friend would "crew" for him and spend
|
||
two weeks sailing the Caribbean. When the owner wasn't around
|
||
he would tell women that the boat was his. They were very
|
||
impressed and responded accordingly. Not a bad gig!
|
||
Also, my friend would take the boat out for daylong cruises, which
|
||
he advertised, in the local paper. He posed as the owner of the
|
||
boat and charged his day passengers hefty fees, which they were
|
||
only too happy to pay.
|
||
Then one night he hit the mother load. When my friend had a few
|
||
extra bucks in his pocket, he was known to spend a few idle hours
|
||
in a local topless dancing establishment. There he met a foxy lady
|
||
named Tiffany. He happened to be chatting to Tiffany the night
|
||
before one of his unauthorized cruises. When he revealed his little
|
||
scheme
|
||
Tiffany suddenly became quite interested. He told her that he
|
||
wasn’t much looking forward to spending the next day in the
|
||
company of several old businessmen. Tiffany said that she would
|
||
just love to take that cruise as she was sure a good looking
|
||
hooker like herself could do some serious business with his
|
||
passengers (presumably while cruising out beyond the three mile
|
||
limit where law enforcement doesn't exist).
|
||
They put together a deal. Tiffany and a dancer friend would go
|
||
along for the cruise. They agreed to kick back one third of the illicit
|
||
money they made to my friend.
|
||
The next morning six paunchy businessmen came aboard. Then
|
||
the two girls showed up clad only in lovely (though scant) bikinis.
|
||
The girls were turning tricks before they even cleared the port! In
|
||
all, the two girls earned three hundred each, which put two
|
||
hundred in my friends hot little hand.
|
||
The girls were happy, my friend was happy and the passengers
|
||
were also happy. (in fact they were extremely happy!) And to
|
||
make things even better the passengers provided my friend with a
|
||
generous tip!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 250 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Today my friend owns his own 50-foot boat. His "Erotic Night
|
||
Cruises" are a big hit - and his wife? She’s still looking for him!
|
||
This entire story is true. Just thought you might find it interesting.
|
||
How to Export Your Money Privately
|
||
There are many different ways to take your money with you when
|
||
you leave the good old USA. You could just go and get yourself a
|
||
bank draft or a cashier’s check. This approach is OK provided
|
||
each one is for less than $3,000 (bankers now report all
|
||
transactions over $3,000 to the government)
|
||
Many have used checks drawn on a money market account. This
|
||
leaves a trail behind but that trail dries up when the money market
|
||
account is closed.
|
||
Using a personal or company check would be very foolish as it
|
||
leaves behind a very traceable paper trail. Secured credit cards
|
||
are good. You can obtain one in the US, deposit a sizeable sum
|
||
into the secured account and then wander the globe spending as
|
||
you please. You can make purchases freely or get cash from ATM
|
||
machine worldwide.
|
||
It’s best if you can manage to get one in another name by using a
|
||
bogus drivers’ license. Or better yet get one from a Caribbean
|
||
bank supported by an "offshore" account that will provide you with
|
||
the ultimate in privacy/security.
|
||
Traveler’s Checks can be used for smaller sums (less than $3,000
|
||
per purchase). Purchase too many at a time and you can look
|
||
forward to increased scrutiny.
|
||
One rather resourceful fella I know discovered a very clever way
|
||
around the currency export limitation. He bought a full-fare first
|
||
class return airline ticket to his overseas destination.
|
||
He then flew there using the first half of the ticket. He then
|
||
changed his plans, cancelled the return portion of the ticket and
|
||
requested a cash refund that the airline was only too happy to
|
||
provide (they tend to take very good care of their first class
|
||
customers!). This enabled him to quietly export several thousand
|
||
dollars in cold hard cash.
|
||
Travel Warning Update:
|
||
Several weeks ago I was returning to the US after two weeks in
|
||
eastern Europe. When I cleared passport control I overheard an
|
||
ominous conversation.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 251 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
It seems that an individual who had arrived on the same flight was
|
||
being detained. His sin was a simple one. He had failed to file a
|
||
tax return for the two previous years. He had been living overseas
|
||
and didn’t feel the need to file. But today it seems that the reach of
|
||
the IRS now includes the entire planet! (We’re the only country
|
||
that still taxes it expatriate citizens)
|
||
I had been hearing rumors that the IRS was beginning to put out
|
||
lists of those who fail to file. My sources tell me that the IRS
|
||
creates a master list of names taken from school records. They
|
||
then remove those who have death certificates on file.
|
||
Next they remove those who filed returns last year. What’s left is a
|
||
list of people who are presumably still alive and for whatever
|
||
reason are not filing returns. I knew the government was doing
|
||
this but until now I wasn’t sure how the information was being
|
||
used. Be careful! Be sure you’ve filed if you expect to enter this
|
||
country through a main entry point.
|
||
Another Warning Concerning Travel:
|
||
An old high school friend of mine is well, rather a paranoid type.
|
||
He has never trusted our federal government and today is
|
||
completely convinced that Washington is bent on devouring our
|
||
personal freedoms. So when he planned to take a trip to Europe,
|
||
he decided that he would defy the US department of state by
|
||
traveling on a fake passport he purchased on the Internet.
|
||
He submitted an order with the firm that seemed to offer the best
|
||
quality product. Later that night the local cops kicked in his front
|
||
door! They even brought a dog and a DEA cop with them! Of
|
||
course they found nothing (except for a single copy of the
|
||
"Anarchists’ Handbook" which they confiscated in violation of his
|
||
constitutional rights). What ever happened to our fourth
|
||
amendment rights? It would appear that in our "New World Order"
|
||
the cops no longer need to bother with those troublesome old
|
||
search warrants.
|
||
A word to the wise: some of the online fake passport companies
|
||
are, in reality, nothing more than sting operations set up by law
|
||
enforcement. And it would be a real tragedy if an innocent person
|
||
such as yourself should fall into their trap, wouldn’t it?
|
||
Also, others are peddling stolen passports, which are even more
|
||
dangerous. If you really want to get a genuine passport that can
|
||
be used to travel the world unmolested, take a look around
|
||
Central America where several governments (including Belize,
|
||
Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda) will provide one for a
|
||
fee. But be warned, the fee can be steep (anywhere from $15,000
|
||
to $75,000 or more isn’t at all unusual).
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 252 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If you’re only concerned about handing your US passport over to a
|
||
terrorist should you be on a hijacked plane, you might want to
|
||
contact the nice folks at Scope International. They will provide you
|
||
with a very authentic looking "camouflage" passport that appears
|
||
to be issued by an ex-country like Rhodesia, Zanzibar or British
|
||
Honduras.
|
||
Since these countries no longer exist, their passports cannot be
|
||
used for general travel but are only useful in terrorist situations.
|
||
(But you should be aware that these phony passports will only be
|
||
of value with terrorists who are ignorant on the subject of
|
||
geography.) Scope International is located in England and be
|
||
contacted at:
|
||
Scope International
|
||
P.O. Box 2286, Forestide House
|
||
Rowlands Castle, Hants, England P09 6EE
|
||
Phone: (01705) 631-751
|
||
Some Oddball Travel Options:
|
||
Travel is always an interesting option (if you can afford the fare).
|
||
Here are some rather strange travel ideas. One might be just the
|
||
ticket you need:
|
||
You could do a Kayak tour of Canada
|
||
Ecosummer Expeditions
|
||
(604) 669-7741
|
||
How about dog sledding in far away Greenland?
|
||
Borton Overseas
|
||
(800) 843-0602
|
||
Some other Greenland tours
|
||
Arctic Adventure Aps
|
||
(45) (1) 37 12 33
|
||
(Denmark)
|
||
Go sailing on a real Russian icebreaker
|
||
MIR Corporation
|
||
(800) 424-7289
|
||
Visit nomadic and tribal people
|
||
Turtle Tours
|
||
(602) 488-3688
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 253 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Travel to Brazil and Venezuela
|
||
Wildlife Adventures
|
||
(800) 255-8735
|
||
Ride across Alaska on a motorcycle
|
||
Alaska Motorcycle Tours
|
||
(800) 642-6877
|
||
Drive across the Sahara Desert
|
||
Explo-Tours
|
||
(49) (89) 160-789
|
||
Germany
|
||
Do a 15 week tour of Africa?
|
||
Himalayan Travel
|
||
(800) 225-2380
|
||
Spend five months touring all of South America
|
||
Forum Travel International
|
||
(510) 671-2900
|
||
Spend 37 days exploring Australia
|
||
Trans Continental Safaris
|
||
(61) (88) 423-469
|
||
Go on a real safari in Africa?
|
||
Abercrombie & Kent
|
||
(800) 323-7308
|
||
Touring Tanzania sounds kinda nice…
|
||
Borton Overseas
|
||
(800) 843-0602
|
||
Float on down the Yangtze River in China
|
||
Steve Curry Expeditions
|
||
(801) 224-6797
|
||
And now one final tactic. Once you’re established in your new
|
||
location - burn this report! If discovered by the wrong person later
|
||
on, it could make the finder wonder just what you’ve been up to
|
||
and you don’t need to face any unnecessary questions now do
|
||
you?
|
||
I hope all this has helped you to move on to a happier new life. A
|
||
lot of time and effort has gone into getting this information into
|
||
your hands. I can only hope you will take full advantage of it. Best
|
||
of luck!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 254 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The Perfect Resume
|
||
by Jim & Susan Petersen
|
||
May you live in interesting times.…
|
||
- Ancient Chinese Proverb
|
||
© Copyright 2007 – Ariza Research – All Rights Reserved - ABP
|
||
Disclaimer:
|
||
Do not break the law. This publication is being sold for academic,
|
||
educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this publication
|
||
is intended to encourage illegal or immoral acts now or at any point in the
|
||
future. Securing employment through deceptive means may violate
|
||
various local and federal laws. Always consult with an attorney familiar
|
||
with laws in your local area before attempting to employ any of the
|
||
techniques discussed in this report.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 255 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Resume Secrets
|
||
To Lie or Not to Lie?
|
||
Let me say at the outset that I cannot, in good conscience,
|
||
advocate lying or cheating in any form including on a resume. But
|
||
in our less than perfect world it sometimes becomes necessary to
|
||
massage the truth a bit in order to smooth our path and put the
|
||
wind at our backs.
|
||
In this report I’m going to give you a variety of inventive ways to
|
||
cheat on a resume. But since everyone’s situation is unique, you
|
||
alone must be the final judge of which you’re willing to use and
|
||
which you’re not.
|
||
At this point you’ve probably seen an advertisement for an open
|
||
position you may be interested in, or perhaps have been in touch
|
||
with an employment agency or headhunter and so are now ready
|
||
to submit your resume. At this early stage you have two factors to
|
||
consider.
|
||
First there’s your innate sense of morality. Since there are no laws
|
||
that specifically prohibit employing deception on a resume, in the
|
||
final analysis the only limit on your dishonesty will spring from your
|
||
own intrinsic sense of what’s right and what’s wrong.
|
||
Secondly there’s the matter of your future plans regarding this
|
||
particular target employer. If this time around your target employer
|
||
is only one of many firms in your area and you have little if any
|
||
expectation of applying to them in the future, you’re free to get as
|
||
tricky as your personal moral code allows. In this case, if your
|
||
deception should be discovered during the application process,
|
||
little will be lost.
|
||
If, on the other hand, your target employer is a large one and a
|
||
major force in your community - one that you may very well be
|
||
applying to again at some point in the future, your use of
|
||
misinformation will have to be more conservative and calculated.
|
||
Remember, one of the first questions on most employment
|
||
applications is “have you ever applied for employment with ABC,
|
||
Inc. before?” Should you “blow it” and have your deception
|
||
discovered, you’ll most likely permanently destroy any chance of
|
||
future employment there. This may be one bridge that you can’t
|
||
afford to burn.
|
||
Since there are no specific legal penalties for cheating on a
|
||
resume, almost everyone does it. One study found that over 95%
|
||
of resumes contain some degree of exaggeration, while more than
|
||
15% contained major falsehoods such as fraudulent academic
|
||
credentials or phantom employers.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 256 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If exaggeration is so common that prospective employers
|
||
anticipate it, why should you buck the trend and limit your
|
||
prospects by being absolutely honest?
|
||
While most of us struggle to live our lives according to the golden
|
||
rule, our modern society often requires that we be less than totally
|
||
honest. Recently I got involved in a minor traffic accident. I called
|
||
a local body shop and asked if they could provide a loaner car
|
||
while my car was being repaired. They said yes.
|
||
But when I showed up the next morning I was required to sign a
|
||
rental contract that included a paragraph stating that the insurance
|
||
on the rental vehicle would be null and void if I had been involved
|
||
in an automobile accident anytime during the previous six months!
|
||
This is insane, I thought! This place is a body shop! Everyone who
|
||
rents these cars has had a recent accident! I signed the document
|
||
and drove very carefully. Such are the times in which we live.
|
||
This “mandatory dishonesty’ can be found in abundance in today’s
|
||
the job market. It’s inevitable that most Americans have
|
||
accumulated a few employment problems along the way. These
|
||
career flaws will need to be smoothed over somehow or even
|
||
completely covered up.
|
||
Another factor that should be considered is the prospective
|
||
employer’s commitment to openness and honesty. In my
|
||
experience very few employers will fully reveal any unpleasant
|
||
details affecting the positions they advertise. Perhaps your future
|
||
boss or co-workers are complete bastards. Perhaps they know
|
||
that the division you’ll be working for will soon be eliminated, or
|
||
perhaps the entire corporation is in financial trouble and will soon
|
||
be laying off large numbers of employees.
|
||
In cases like these, you can bet that the hiring corporation will
|
||
seldom let issues like fairness and morality get in their way. They
|
||
need to fill the job and get on with their business. It’s a sad fact
|
||
that corporations are seldom completely honest when it comes to
|
||
the information that an applicant needs to make an intelligent
|
||
decision about the desirability of the position. It seems very
|
||
hypocritical for a prospective employer to insist on applicants
|
||
being entirely honest while they regularly conceal relevant job
|
||
details.
|
||
Also it’s vitally important to remember that the entire application
|
||
process has to be kept entirely positive. Introduce even the
|
||
slightest bit of negative information into the process and you can
|
||
bet they’ll drop you like the proverbial hot potato. This report was
|
||
conceived and created to help job hunters thrive in this skeptical
|
||
and hypocritical employment environment.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 257 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Before We Begin
|
||
Unlike other areas of life, when it comes to resume preparation
|
||
there are few hard and fast rules. Instead you’ll find that the few
|
||
rules that do exist are cast in shades of gray. And while it’s
|
||
certainly true that you can get away with a great deal, you need to
|
||
be aware of some pitfalls before you begin.
|
||
Should you decide to employ minor deception in the seeking of a
|
||
position, it’s unlikely that you’ll experience any future problems.
|
||
And, should you employ a moderate degree of deception and
|
||
subsequently perform well on the job, once again you’ll have few
|
||
problems.
|
||
But - should you manage to cheat your way into a job that’s clearly
|
||
over your head and later have your deception exposed, you could
|
||
find yourself in considerable legal trouble.
|
||
Remember that by inserting a major falsehood into your resume,
|
||
you’ll have to learn to live with a ticking time bomb that could go
|
||
off at any moment. If you decide that your situation warrants using
|
||
deception and are convinced that you can handle the
|
||
psychological stress that goes with living a lie, whatever you do -
|
||
keep your deception to yourself! By sharing this potentially
|
||
explosive information with anyone you’ll be handing him or her a
|
||
weapon with which they can very easily destroy you.
|
||
Before you even consider cheating on your resume, it’s also
|
||
necessary that you know exactly what sort of environment you’ll
|
||
be operating in. In the old days anyone interested in hiring you
|
||
could phone up any of your former employers and openly inquire
|
||
as to your job performance, attendance, personal habits,
|
||
personality, political affiliations, race, religion or any other factor
|
||
the caller might consider relevant. In short, your personal life was
|
||
an open book.
|
||
That was then and this is now. Today lawyers rule the world. In
|
||
the current legal environment an executive that reveals even the
|
||
most seemingly innocent shred of personal information about a
|
||
former employee may expose his firm to a multi-million dollar
|
||
lawsuit. Personnel executives are aware of this and so now
|
||
behave more like scared rabbits than captains of industry.
|
||
They know that performing a reference check today is like tap
|
||
dancing through a minefield. Happily, this paranoid atmosphere
|
||
plays right into the hands of the resume cheater.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 258 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
In one extreme case a nurse was fired from a major urban hospital
|
||
under a dark cloud of suspicion. Hospital officials there suspected
|
||
that she was performing her own “mercy killings” by unauthorized
|
||
overdosing of patients with narcotic pain killers. When she applied
|
||
at a new hospital in another state they called for a job reference.
|
||
Fearing an expensive law suit the major hospital confirmed her
|
||
employment dates, job title and chose to provide no further
|
||
information concerning her termination. The sad ending of this
|
||
story is that she landed the new job and went on with her personal
|
||
euthanasia project at her new hospital and killed another dozen
|
||
patients before she was finally arrested and jailed. This shocking
|
||
tale only goes to prove my point.
|
||
Employers are scared to death of employment references and
|
||
aren’t very eager to share notes these days.
|
||
And here is some more good news. In these times of tight
|
||
budgets, most employers are cutting back on background
|
||
investigations.
|
||
Many employers have replaced systematic background checks
|
||
with spot-checks that only check a fraction of the information on
|
||
your resume/employment application. And then they act so
|
||
amazed when someone slips something past them.
|
||
Always remember how to smoothly back out should things go
|
||
awry. Chances are that if a prospective employer smells a rat, he’ll
|
||
simply stop calling. But if he should call and confront you with
|
||
questions you’d rather not discuss, immediately inform him that
|
||
you’d like to provide him with an answer but unfortunately you’ve
|
||
just accepted a position with another company. Just back out as
|
||
gracefully as possible. There are too many less careful firms out
|
||
there to have to deal with difficult questions.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 259 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
What They Know and What They Don’t…
|
||
Before we delve into a detailed discussion of cheating techniques,
|
||
you’ll need to know exactly what a hiring executive can and can’t
|
||
find out about you. Keep in mind that all information outside of the
|
||
following parameters is fair game for exaggeration. A standard
|
||
employment reference will usually provide the following
|
||
information:
|
||
1. An employment confirmation
|
||
– Yes, he did work for us
|
||
2. The dates of employment
|
||
– The first and last days worked
|
||
3. The job title of the most recent position
|
||
occupied
|
||
Due to the oppressive legal environment in which we live, this is
|
||
where most references will end. There’s one more bit of
|
||
information an astute caller may request however – your rehire
|
||
status. Did you leave the firm on good terms – positive enough
|
||
that they would consider hiring you back at some point in the
|
||
future? About half of the firms we interviewed said they would
|
||
cooperate and provide this additional piece of information.
|
||
Given the inability of the caller to get the full story if the rehire
|
||
status comes back negative, he’ll understandably assume the
|
||
worst. As a result, a negative rehire status is therefore the
|
||
proverbial “kiss of death”. Which explains why it’s so important to
|
||
confirm your rehire status before you leave an employer.
|
||
Since anyone interested in hiring you can and will be able to
|
||
obtain your dates of employment and job title, this leaves a great
|
||
deal of room for exaggeration or, if necessary, even outright
|
||
fabrication. The specific job duties or responsibilities can be rather
|
||
freely expanded as can your former salary. You might also get
|
||
away with some minor extension of the period of employment
|
||
should you wish to cover up a gap in your employment history.
|
||
If you’re not sure exactly how one of your former employers will
|
||
respond to a reference call – call them yourself! Pose as a hiring
|
||
manager and ask for a reference on yourself and see what they
|
||
say. Whatever they say, probe them and ask for more information.
|
||
If they sing your praises or at least give you the standard positive
|
||
reference, you’re all set. But should they say anything that is at all
|
||
negative, promptly write the personnel director a personal letter.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 260 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Say that you were disappointed to learn that they had given out a
|
||
slanderous reference that recently cost you a lucrative position.
|
||
State openly that you’re consulting with legal counsel and infer
|
||
that any further negative comments will result in immediate legal
|
||
action. It’s standard procedure in most personnel departments to
|
||
place a copy of such a letter right on top of your file so that
|
||
anyone pulling the file in the future will immediately be confronted
|
||
with your letter and will be forced to avoid any negative
|
||
comments.
|
||
Also, less background checking is being done. Corporations are
|
||
now required by federal law to use exactly the same background
|
||
checks on all applicants. (In the past it was common practice to
|
||
unfairly scrutinize minority applicants) Checking all applicants is
|
||
rather expensive these days hence the overall reduction in
|
||
investigations.
|
||
Every company we polled reported that, according to well-
|
||
established written rules, they are required to perform mandatory
|
||
employment reference checks on every single applicant. But when
|
||
we discussed the subject with a dozen hiring managers in a bar
|
||
after a few drinks, an entirely different story emerged. Every one
|
||
of them admitted that checks are often either skipped or only
|
||
partially completed.
|
||
Today’s managers live in a very rushed environment so many
|
||
managers simply can’t find the time to place the repeated phone
|
||
calls and mail out the reference requests. They also know that
|
||
should they make a mistake during a check it could get them into
|
||
hot water so they’re more than a little intimidated.
|
||
And then there’s that certain macho attitude that they, and they
|
||
alone, can confidently extract the best employee from a crowd by
|
||
“gut feel” because they’re a such a “good judge of character” and
|
||
so have no need for further data. Several managers with
|
||
extensive hiring experience admitted that they had yet to perform
|
||
their first reference check! Just be aware that for whatever reason
|
||
– many checks never get made.
|
||
If you chose to include career accomplishments on your resume,
|
||
they must be specific. Vague or inexact accomplishments are
|
||
worthless and will certainly lead to a detailed discussion. Be
|
||
careful with accomplishments, as you must be prepared to answer
|
||
detailed questions.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 261 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Should you indicate that your last employer is a firm right down
|
||
the road, it’s very likely that a prospective employer will go ahead
|
||
with a check. But by simply listing a firm in another state, you
|
||
somewhat reduce the odds that a prospective employer will either
|
||
actually go ahead with the check or get the reference check back
|
||
(via mail) in time to be used in making a decision regarding a job
|
||
offer.
|
||
If you provide a slightly altered address for your former employer,
|
||
the mail may go astray. If the address is a PO Box simply switch
|
||
two digits of the PO Box number. Otherwise you might try
|
||
incorrectly abbreviating the town name and also switching two
|
||
digits of the zip code. This may only serve to delay the arrival of a
|
||
reference letter, but there’s always the chance that they won’t
|
||
even bother to follow up with a second attempt.
|
||
Phantom Employer I
|
||
Say that you have a former employer on your resume that you
|
||
know for certain will not be saying nice things about you. How can
|
||
you cover up such a blemish? The most effective means is
|
||
through the use of a “phantom employer”. This is a firm that you
|
||
list as a former employer on both your resume and employment
|
||
application despite the fact that you were never actually employed
|
||
by them.
|
||
Spend an afternoon in your nearest library reading through recent
|
||
issues of the largest newspaper in town. What you’re looking for is
|
||
an article about a local firm that recently went out of business. Or
|
||
perhaps your previous employer was a company that has recently
|
||
undergone a considerable re-organization.
|
||
Or one that recently closed down a local office and pulled out of
|
||
town. This sort of company makes an ideal former employer
|
||
because they are very poor sources of information.
|
||
And at the same time you get an excellent reason for leaving the
|
||
job. What better reason could there be than having your employer
|
||
go belly up or leave town? Or if you would rather have your future
|
||
employer think that you’ve only just arrived in town, scan the
|
||
microfilms of the biggest newspaper in the town from the area of
|
||
the country you want them to think you just came from.
|
||
Or you might want to scan the obituaries in search of an executive
|
||
from a small company that recently died while still employed. This
|
||
guy will make a nifty ex-boss. He was such a nice man and would
|
||
have certainly provided you with a solid gold reference if he could.
|
||
But then dead men are extremely poor sources of information.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 262 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
When using this technique you must be sure to avoid larger firms
|
||
as they will probably have a personnel department that can and
|
||
will provide an employment reference even though your former
|
||
boss is six feet under.
|
||
And then there’s the entirely unverifiable foreign employer
|
||
approach. Every large city newspaper will contain one or more
|
||
classified ads offering jobs overseas. These firms usually sell a
|
||
compiled list of foreign positions. It may cost you a few bucks but
|
||
if you need to resort to this, it’s worth it.
|
||
Buy the list and scan the positions. You’ll probably find that the list
|
||
is quite long and usually features professional positions for
|
||
engineers, physicians or pilots. If you have the technical
|
||
qualifications you can select any job that you’re qualified for.
|
||
But if you don’t - just keep an eye out for positions for English
|
||
language teachers. These positions are usually open to anyone
|
||
with a high school diploma. Get the name of the hiring outfit
|
||
(usually the agency of a foreign government). Write down the
|
||
exact name of the agency, its director’s name and the full foreign
|
||
address.
|
||
It’s a rare employer who will even attempt to obtain a reference
|
||
from a foreign government! My favorite is the government of Saudi
|
||
Arabia. They employ thousands of Americans and I’ve never
|
||
heard of anyone securing an employment reference from them.
|
||
If you’re asked why you’re seeking a position, just tell them that
|
||
you’re eager to return to the good old USA due to an illness in the
|
||
family. It’s a common and believable story.
|
||
Covering up a Misspent Youth
|
||
If you’ve had any kind of legal problem in the courts of the county
|
||
in which you now live, do not use your current address on a
|
||
resume or employment application. Instead use an address in
|
||
another county, even an adjacent one will do.
|
||
Most companies will not take the time nor spend the money to
|
||
check your court records in the first place, but if they do they’ll be
|
||
required to pay for the search on a per county basis. For this
|
||
reason they will usually restrict their inquiry to your current county
|
||
of residence as listed on your application. By appearing to live in a
|
||
different county by either moving, using a friends mailing address,
|
||
or using the ever-handy commercial mail drop you’ll have them
|
||
looking in the wrong place.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 263 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
A quick and inexpensive way to legally establish a more
|
||
convenient new address as your official residence is to register to
|
||
vote listing a substitute address as your new address. This will get
|
||
you entered into an easily checked public-record database that
|
||
any investigator worth his salt will be checking. And being a
|
||
patriotic voting citizen will make you look like a reasonable and
|
||
responsible person. (But be aware – this may get you called up for
|
||
jury duty!)
|
||
Phantom Employer II
|
||
If you were either employed by an employer you wish you’d never
|
||
worked for or were otherwise not working for a period of less than
|
||
four months you can probably get away with simply extending the
|
||
employment periods for the previous and subsequent employers
|
||
to cover the gap.
|
||
But if you have a longer period you need to cover, more drastic
|
||
action will be required. There can be many reasons why someone
|
||
would have such a gap in their career record. Perhaps they were
|
||
ill or were in an alcohol or drug rehab program. Or perhaps they
|
||
were staying in a mental health care facility or even serving out a
|
||
sentence in a state penitentiary. Whatever the cause of the gap,
|
||
we now need to move on to one of our more advanced
|
||
techniques.
|
||
Under this approach you simply eliminate the unfortunate gap
|
||
from your resume entirely and replace it with a widely respected
|
||
international firm like IBM, AT&T, IT&T or any other international
|
||
company that has an instantly recognizable name. But how are
|
||
you going to get this new company to give you an employment
|
||
reference? This is where things get really interesting.
|
||
First find one of those commercial stores that rent post office
|
||
boxes by the month. Rent their smallest box, which should cost
|
||
you around ten to twelve bucks a month.
|
||
Ask the clerk for the street address for your new box. You won’t
|
||
be using the PO box number but will instead show the box number
|
||
as a suite number making the mailing address look just like an
|
||
everyday office street address. Your new address looks much
|
||
more legitimate and professional this way.
|
||
Be very careful when filling out the application form for your new
|
||
box. List your name and then add two additional names. First add
|
||
a common fictitious individual’s name, like “Bill Williams” and then
|
||
also add the name of the famous international firm that you will be
|
||
claiming as your ex-employer. It should be a household name that
|
||
anyone will instantly recognize as a major employer.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 264 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
If the clerk asks any questions about your “new” old employer, just
|
||
tell them that the company is your current employer. They will
|
||
readily accept this as many of their customers are traveling
|
||
executives who use their boxes for business purposes.
|
||
Then list this new former employer on your resume during the
|
||
period you wish to cover. In the future, when you fill out a job
|
||
application, list the new company as your employer for that period.
|
||
List your Manager’s name as Bill Williams (or whatever name your
|
||
came up with) and then go on to list the street address of your
|
||
new PO box as the firm’s office mailing address. If you want to go
|
||
whole hog on this deception, you could even call the nice people
|
||
at the phone company and have them set up a “stand-alone
|
||
voicemail” account.
|
||
This will give you a dedicated phone number (separate from your
|
||
home phone) where you can record a greeting which will include
|
||
the name of your new employer. You can either have a friend
|
||
record the greeting so as to avoid using your own voice, or you
|
||
may be able to choose the default computerized voice if you don’t
|
||
want to bother a friend. When they call, you can have a friend call
|
||
back and give you a positive reference or fail to respond entirely.
|
||
The really nice thing about this approach is that it accomplishes
|
||
several different goals at the same time. First you get a very
|
||
impressive former employer to list on your resume. Employers
|
||
know that large companies can afford to be very picky about who
|
||
they hire which tends to impress prospective employers. At the
|
||
same time you get to completely erase the offending firm from
|
||
your resume.
|
||
There are also some other benefits. You get to design your own
|
||
work experience which gives you a great deal of latitude in
|
||
increasing your stated job skills, job title and you’re also assured a
|
||
solid gold employment reference as the request for the reference
|
||
will be mailed directly to you!
|
||
You’ll be providing your own reference and I just know you’ll be
|
||
generous!
|
||
When the request for an employment reference arrives in your box
|
||
you’ll know that the outfit you interviewed with is seriously
|
||
checking you out. You then have two choices. You can go to a
|
||
printer, tell them that you work for this large company and ask to
|
||
have a small quantity of letterhead stationery printed up.
|
||
To avoid any delays, you should have this printing done well in
|
||
advance if you plan to return a letterhead reference. You can then
|
||
actually respond with a formal reference on yourself. This option
|
||
may cost you a few bucks for printing but is the best approach.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 265 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Or you can do nothing. The simple fact that the letter was not
|
||
returned undelivered will make it look like it was properly received.
|
||
In this case no news is not necessarily bad news.
|
||
“Clumping”
|
||
This technique can be used to “clump” together several short-term
|
||
jobs that may or may not be related to your main career skills
|
||
under an umbrella which makes it appear that you were working in
|
||
your chosen field throughout the entire period. You can also use a
|
||
phantom employer to pass off part time work as full time.
|
||
It’s a fact that today many firms simply don’t respond to
|
||
employment reference requests on a timely basis. Each letter they
|
||
send out costs them money and doesn’t in any way benefit the
|
||
firm. And because the lawyers now run the planet, phone
|
||
references are no longer a viable option.
|
||
There have been so many lawsuits over statements made during
|
||
phone references that most personnel departments have an
|
||
official policy of banning all discussion of past employees over the
|
||
phone. Instead they require that all requests for references be
|
||
submitted by mail so that the outgoing reference letters can be
|
||
cleared through their legal department.
|
||
Whatever you do don’t attempt to cover career gaps by claiming to
|
||
have been involved in “consulting”. This ploy was a good one a
|
||
few years back but today is an overused and transparent ruse
|
||
that’s guaranteed to raise an eyebrow and lead to further
|
||
questions.
|
||
Stretch, Don’t Invent
|
||
When given the choice of either inventing a new qualification or
|
||
stretching an existing one, always choose the easier route -
|
||
stretching. Let’s say that you want to claim a college degree you
|
||
didn’t earn. If you attended a school but didn’t graduate, it’s far
|
||
better to claim a degree from that institution than from one you’ve
|
||
never even visited. At least you know the school you attended and
|
||
can intelligently discuss the campus layout, social life and some of
|
||
the instructors.
|
||
If you ever bump into someone who attended the same school
|
||
you’ll be in a much better position to handle the situation. Imagine
|
||
trying to convince a Harvard grad that you too attended Harvard
|
||
when you’ve never set foot there? They would see through you
|
||
right away and report the conversation which would almost
|
||
certainly get you quickly fired.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 266 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Also, if you attempt to change fields you won’t know the jargon
|
||
and will quickly find yourself in trouble. If you expand your existing
|
||
qualifications and stay in the same field you’ll have a much easier
|
||
time of it.
|
||
The Creative Use of Spurious Documents
|
||
You might want to consider carrying a copy of your old resume
|
||
with you to the interview. It should be the resume you used to
|
||
obtain your current position. To be believable it should be a
|
||
slightly older copy of a typed resume, not a slick laser printed
|
||
document. This will help substantiate your work history as few job
|
||
seekers bother to have this document at their fingertips.
|
||
To help bolster your claim of having worked for a particular
|
||
company, you might also have one or two supporting documents
|
||
with you. You could use a personal computer to generate a
|
||
convincing employee ID card, or go to any of the larger office
|
||
supply stores where you can easily purchase fancy certificates like
|
||
employee of the month or a training completion certificate.
|
||
Perhaps you could look around the web where I’m sure you’ll find
|
||
several printers who sell very professional blank certificates. Or
|
||
you might want to try my personal favorite, a pad of pre-printed
|
||
performance evaluation forms with which you can embellish your
|
||
past job performance to your heart’s desire. And you’ll never have
|
||
to fear having your deception discovered as performance
|
||
evaluations are always confidential and completely unverifiable so
|
||
make an ideal way to document past employment.
|
||
Here’s a nice touch that’s very professional and guaranteed to
|
||
impress even the most jaded hiring manager. Carry a personal
|
||
thank you note with you pre-addressed to the interviewer. On your
|
||
way out of the building drop it in the mail so that it’s received
|
||
promptly the next day.
|
||
The More the Merrier
|
||
And it’s always a good tactic to apply to as many different
|
||
companies as possible. Some companies are less careful than
|
||
others. When a company is particularly eager to fill a particular
|
||
position, they may hire you on the spot. The entire employment
|
||
process will be accelerated and the normal checks ignored. It only
|
||
takes one careless firm.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 267 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Prospective employers are much less likely to verify past
|
||
employment that occurred more than five years back. On these
|
||
older positions you can usually get away with exaggerating your
|
||
job title or duties as they are less likely to be verified. Job
|
||
experience that is not relevant to the job you’re seeking is less
|
||
interesting to a prospective employer and is also much less likely
|
||
to be verified.
|
||
Also if you choose to utilize a phantom employer, many applicants
|
||
have found that they could get away with claiming a non-existent
|
||
firm as a former employer provided the position is more than
|
||
seven or eight years ago. Phantom employers can also be used to
|
||
help them bring outdated job skills more up to date.
|
||
Need Personal References?
|
||
Most companies will insist that you list two or three personal
|
||
references. You should be aware of several common practices.
|
||
Many companies employ the rather tricky tactic of calling only the
|
||
last reference you provide. Most of us have had a friend or co-
|
||
worker call and ask that we provide a reference for them. In return
|
||
they will usually offer to provide a reference at some point in the
|
||
future.
|
||
This practice is so widespread that many hiring executives no
|
||
longer bother to check personal references. There’s no way that
|
||
they can know for sure whether they’re talking to a genuine
|
||
reference or a friend whose just posing as one.
|
||
A Short Story
|
||
I was once employed by a small manufacturing firm. Eight of us
|
||
went into work one Friday morning expecting nothing more than a
|
||
usual workday. At around 10 am we were summoned into a
|
||
meeting and informed that we were all terminated as of noon! We
|
||
were stunned but what happened next really showed me how
|
||
meaningless references can be.
|
||
All eight of us quickly filed out into the parking lot. We stood there
|
||
chatting for ten minutes or so. Then someone pulled out a pen
|
||
and a yellow legal pad. He offered to exchange either personal or
|
||
employer references with anyone in the group.
|
||
He quickly found an accomplice. He said “I’ll be Mr. Ron Mathews
|
||
and be your sales manager if you’ll be Mr. John Burns my former
|
||
office manager.” Each pair would exchange slips of paper with a
|
||
short script as to what they should say (dates of employment, job
|
||
title/duties etc.)
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 268 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
A half-hour later each of us drove off with three glowing personal
|
||
and a employment reference in our pockets! This little story shows
|
||
just how useless both sorts of references can be.
|
||
Telephone Madness
|
||
For a small fee the phone company will assign you a phone
|
||
number that when called will ring through to any other phone
|
||
number you designate. You can have a friend, preferably a
|
||
female, answer the phone using the company name and take the
|
||
phone number so that the call can be returned.
|
||
When asked to provide personal references on an application,
|
||
always say - “References to be provided at interview”. Have your
|
||
references along with phone numbers and addresses typed up on
|
||
a single sheet in your pocket when you march in for the interview.
|
||
Employment Agency Madness
|
||
If you’ve ever had any dealings with employment agencies you’ll
|
||
know that there is very little going on there that is anywhere near
|
||
fair. The unscrupulous ones will say that they have little or nothing
|
||
for you at this time.
|
||
However - If you’d be willing to sign a contract binding you to pay
|
||
their outrageous fees (usually a percentage of your first year’s
|
||
wage), they will open their super-secret private listing of hot, high
|
||
salary jobs that you are, of course, fully qualified for. Just sign on
|
||
the dotted line. If you don’t sign, they show you the door.
|
||
If you do sign you’ll get a job with an employer of unknown
|
||
desirability and will be saddled with heavy payments for anywhere
|
||
from several months to a year or more. What a scam they have
|
||
going on here. But let’s examine a dirty little strategy for beating
|
||
them at their own game.
|
||
If you sign the contract, they give you the phone number of a hot
|
||
prospective employer. You call and set up an interview. If you’re
|
||
hired you have to start paying those enormous fees to the
|
||
employment agency. But this is where some folks are tempted to
|
||
try and cheat the agency out of their fee. If you accept the job and
|
||
then tell the agency that the interview didn’t go well and you found
|
||
a job elsewhere, you might think that you’ll get away with not
|
||
paying the fee.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 269 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
But these sharks are way ahead of you. What they do is wait a
|
||
month or so and then call the employer and simply ask for you by
|
||
name. If the call is put through - you are busted and then they
|
||
wave the contract you signed in your face and threaten you with a
|
||
nasty law suit if you don’t fork up the entire fee immediately.
|
||
But say that you and a friend approach two different employment
|
||
agencies, sign their contracts and then just switch the references
|
||
the agencies give you - you can both get nice new jobs and
|
||
neither of you will ever have to pay a dime to the agencies that
|
||
sent you. If the agencies attempt to call a month later, they’ll come
|
||
up blank. Of course this ploy is most probably illegal so be sure to
|
||
check with an attorney familiar with laws in your area before giving
|
||
it a try.
|
||
Instant References!
|
||
Here is a slick little tactic that comes from a friend who was once
|
||
on the run from a rather vicious cult. If you find yourself in a
|
||
strange town and need a full set of quick personal references this
|
||
tactic may be just the ticket. Dress up in your best clothes and go
|
||
to church next Sunday morning.
|
||
Choose the most rabid fundamentalist Baptist church you can find.
|
||
When they give the “alter call” stroll down the isle and get down on
|
||
your knees. You’ll probably be invited to a “fellowship” meeting
|
||
afterward where you can tell them about your sad and sorry life
|
||
and how you’ve been saved by their church.
|
||
If you sound the least bit genuine, they’ll eat it up. Should they
|
||
invite you to any social functions – show up. Agree with everything
|
||
they say. In a few short weeks you will be one of them and they
|
||
will adore you. Not because of your character but instead because
|
||
you believe as they do. You’ll quickly amass more references than
|
||
you can ever use and they’ll all be from good solid church people.
|
||
Why Not To Fear Background Checks or Employment
|
||
References
|
||
First of all, background checks cost money. With all the belt
|
||
tightening that’s going on, few checks are really comprehensive
|
||
while many never get off the ground in the first place. Most
|
||
background checks done today are only cursory examinations of a
|
||
few databases done by overworked, underpaid and rushed
|
||
investigators.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 270 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Due to the high cost of performing background checks, many
|
||
companies have been forced to cut back on the scope and depth
|
||
of their routine checking. They tend to hire investigative firms who
|
||
often do some really sloppy work. Each investigation is conducted
|
||
according to a checklist.
|
||
The investigator then signs off as each particular item is verified.
|
||
Because the investigators are so rushed, very few negatives are
|
||
being discovered. Many managers have clearly lost faith in these
|
||
investigations and have resigned themselves to relying instead on
|
||
the impression the individual creates during the personal
|
||
interview. This is what’s causing the increase in interviewing.
|
||
Also several states (Arizona for one) have passed state laws that
|
||
forbid employer “blacklisting” of former employees. This makes
|
||
providing employment references even more dangerous and
|
||
complicated as an ex-employee can always launch a law suit
|
||
claiming they were blacklisted.
|
||
One helpful tactic is to do some serious research on your target
|
||
employer. Spend some time reading up both on the company and
|
||
it’s industry. Be able to ask several intelligent questions
|
||
concerning the firm’s direction and any recent developments that
|
||
would affect it’s business.
|
||
Research has shown that less than one percent of applicants take
|
||
the time to learn about the firms they apply to. This can be a real
|
||
leg-up when you’re in a head-to-head competition with a worthy
|
||
adversary.
|
||
The Numbers Game
|
||
Armed with this information and a little creativity, you can easily
|
||
add thousands to your future income. By now you’ll no doubt have
|
||
gathered that your former employers will be providing no
|
||
information at all regarding your salary history.
|
||
Sometimes this fact can be very useful depending on the position
|
||
you occupy. Some positions have very well established and easily
|
||
identified salary ranges while other fields are much more open
|
||
which leaves more room for exaggeration.
|
||
For instance, the salary for a high school teacher with a bachelor’s
|
||
degree is very easy to determine while pegging the income of an
|
||
“administrative assistant” would prove much more difficult. If you
|
||
have the latitude, increase your salary around 5-10%.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 271 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
I’ve know several top headhunters who routinely require that each
|
||
applicant they handle swear an oath that they will never – under
|
||
any circumstances - discuss salary with a prospective employer.
|
||
Even if they pressure you to come up with a figure – don’t.
|
||
Instead force them to come up with an offer. Studies have shown
|
||
that salary numbers provided by the hiring firms are almost always
|
||
higher than those provided by prospects. Excited by the prospect
|
||
of getting a job offer, many applicants will cough up a number
|
||
that’s well below what the employer may be willing to spend. This
|
||
is why hiring firms push prospects so hard! Lose this game and
|
||
you may suffer for years and years to come.
|
||
This includes any initial response to an advertised position. Many
|
||
ads will ask that you submit your minimum acceptable salary
|
||
along with your resume. It’s obvious that they’re fishing for a
|
||
bargain. And if the number you provide is the least bit high –
|
||
whoosh – you’re instantly screened out!
|
||
This is by far the quickest and most reliable way to get yourself
|
||
eliminated from consideration.
|
||
When submitting your resume, don’t even think of actually giving
|
||
them a number. Instead just include a note that the salary will be
|
||
discussed during the interview. If your resume and cover letter are
|
||
strong enough this ploy should get you into the door.
|
||
I have to admit that the first time I heard of this tactic, I was
|
||
reluctant but went ahead and agreed to not surrender a number.
|
||
Each of three interviews went well and during the first two I was
|
||
pressured to come up with a figure. During the final interview they
|
||
began to push really hard. The interviewer declared that we would
|
||
just sit there glaring until I came up with a number.
|
||
With sweat rolling down my collar, I smiled and kept apologizing
|
||
and referring him to my headhunter. The next day he came up
|
||
with an offer that was $14,000 above the number I had in my
|
||
head! You can’t argue with success.
|
||
If your last salary was below the norm for the market, you can
|
||
always claim a somewhat higher number. If cornered, you can
|
||
claim that your former position included an annual bonus, trips or
|
||
scheduled overtime. These additional sources of income are
|
||
impossible to verify and will also tend to make you sound more
|
||
valuable.
|
||
One particularly effective means of documenting an inflated past
|
||
salary is to carry a copy of your current paycheck stub or W2
|
||
earnings statement with you. Any larger office supply store will be
|
||
only too happy to sell you a small package of blank forms that you
|
||
can run through any computer printer you might have.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 272 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
You then throw away the top copies and show your future
|
||
employer the bottom one that’s labeled “employee copy”.
|
||
Be sure that all your numbers are in line and this ploy will
|
||
definitely impress him. Fold and re-fold the thing until it looks as
|
||
though it’s been in your wallet for some months.
|
||
Always remember that it’s absolutely mandatory that you dress
|
||
the part you’re trying to play. If you claim a high salary, you should
|
||
dress like someone that would be pulling down those big bucks. If
|
||
you dress like a minimum wage worker and try and fool someone
|
||
into thinking you make seventy grand a year, you may not be
|
||
taken seriously. Nothing flashy or flamboyant just nice high quality
|
||
business clothing.
|
||
Unless you’re going after a very high-level position, or one that
|
||
deals with a sensitive security issue, you’ll find that most hiring
|
||
managers will automatically accept any documentation you
|
||
provide at face value.
|
||
Unfortunately none of the above applies when you go after a
|
||
permanent government job. The government has the resources
|
||
and the time to check you out from every angle. With them any
|
||
resume deception will eventually be discovered and exposed.
|
||
“Do Not Contact My Current Employer”
|
||
When filling out a job application, always check the little box that
|
||
requests that the prospective employer not request a reference
|
||
from your current employer. Even if you’re not, this will make you
|
||
appear more valuable as a currently employed prospect will
|
||
always be more desirable then one who is unemployed.
|
||
Hiring companies just love to think that they’re “stealing” you away
|
||
from another firm. Most of the hiring managers we spoke to
|
||
revealed that they seldom bother to follow up with an employment
|
||
reference with your last employer after you’re on their payroll.
|
||
(Though you have to consider this possibility if it’s stated on the
|
||
application)
|
||
If your resume is relatively sound and only includes some minor
|
||
modifications, you can probably land a position with most any firm.
|
||
But should your resume contain more fiction than fact, you may
|
||
want to restrict your job search to the smaller companies. Small
|
||
family owned outfits do the least checking of all. The pay and
|
||
benefits may not be the best, but they might be just the ticket if
|
||
you need employment fast and have a resume that may not
|
||
withstand the scrutiny a larger company with more resources
|
||
might apply.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 273 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Need More Job Experience?
|
||
If you have put in some years in your field but find that employers
|
||
want even more experience, you may want to try this little ploy.
|
||
Say you worked for your last employer for two years and the
|
||
employers are looking for three to five years here is a way to add
|
||
some years to your resume in an untraceable manner.
|
||
Leave the employment dates of your last employer unaltered.
|
||
(you’ll have to as they can be easily verified with a simple phone
|
||
call) Insert another employer before your last one and show that
|
||
you worked for them for the additional years you need.
|
||
Of course your work there was in the same field so you now have
|
||
a total between the two employers of as many years as you like in
|
||
your chosen field. If you can, try to add a reference from a firm in
|
||
another state that went out of business as this would render that
|
||
reference entirely untraceable. Chances are excellent that if your
|
||
last employer provides a positive reference, a prospective
|
||
employer will be satisfied.
|
||
Clean Up Your Credit Rating
|
||
You should also know that a prospective employer now has the
|
||
legal right to obtain your consumer credit file despite an explicit
|
||
ban on such access in the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Once again,
|
||
in the absence of a full explanation any negative information that
|
||
might surface will most probably cause you to be immediately
|
||
eliminated from consideration.
|
||
So it’s vital that you obtain and carefully study a copy of your
|
||
current credit file. Be very sure to have any erroneous information
|
||
removed or corrected well before you start your job hunt. Many job
|
||
seekers have found it nearly impossible to obtain employment just
|
||
because their credit file contained but a single blemish. Once
|
||
again, the larger companies rely on consumer credit reports more
|
||
than the smaller outfits.
|
||
This credit file thing can really hurt you if you aren’t on top of it. A
|
||
few years back I needed to change jobs. My resume was sound
|
||
so I had no problem getting promising job interviews. The first few
|
||
interviews went very well and resulted in callbacks for second and
|
||
even third interviews.
|
||
But somehow I never quite got a job offer. Finally after a great
|
||
third interview with a large financial service firm, the head of the
|
||
division asked me if I’d be home the next night around 8pm. I
|
||
knew I had this one in the bag. Finally a good job.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 274 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
After the interview he asked me to drop by the personnel office on
|
||
my way out. There they had me sign a form that authorized them
|
||
to do some background checking. I was standing by my phone
|
||
eagerly awaiting the call the next night - but it never came. I
|
||
decided to take matters into my own hands and called the division
|
||
head to find out what had happened.
|
||
He just mumbled that “if you’d been more honest with us, we
|
||
would have made you an offer!” He then added “I’m not supposed
|
||
to tell you this but you’d better check your credit report”.
|
||
I was stunned! Like most people I thought my credit was just fine. I
|
||
always made my payments on time and had never had any
|
||
problems.
|
||
When I got a copy of my TRW credit file I was shocked to discover
|
||
that some idiot in Texas who shared my name, was a real dead-
|
||
beat. Not only didn’t he pay his bills, he owed the great state of
|
||
Texas overdue tax funds which had caused them to place a lien
|
||
on some property near Austin. It was all right there in my report
|
||
under my name.
|
||
I called TRW who, after discovering that this fool had a different
|
||
social security number, cooperated by cleaning up my record right
|
||
there on the phone. I then went on to get a great job in less than
|
||
ten days. The motto is: check that file and be sure it’s clean before
|
||
you enter the job market.
|
||
And should you find that you have to correct a credit problem in
|
||
your file, be sure to check the file again two months later as
|
||
erroneous entries have a nauseating habit of re-appearing.
|
||
Remember that mail drops will rent you a box entirely through the
|
||
mail. You can, in short order; secure a usable street mailing
|
||
address anywhere in the world and for a modest cost.
|
||
Applicant Testing
|
||
Psychological testing of employment applicants is a rather up and
|
||
down kind of thing. It tends to go into and then out of fashion very
|
||
quickly. Back in the 1980s marketing types convinced employers
|
||
that multiple choice pre-employment tests could cheaply and
|
||
effectively screen out a wide variety of undesirable job applicants.
|
||
Then some studies were done that showed tests to be worthless
|
||
and they quickly went out of style. Now, due to the skyrocketing
|
||
cost of performing background checks, testing appears to be on
|
||
the rise once again. Today salesmen sell these tests on price
|
||
(they’re much cheaper than any kind of background check) and
|
||
employers find themselves forced to use them.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 275 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Before you even think about taking a test you need to know
|
||
exactly what kind of applicants the test is meant to screen out.
|
||
There are four classes of undesirables they’re looking to avoid.
|
||
The test you take will probably have some meaningless filler
|
||
questions that won’t effect your score much.
|
||
But when the question deals with the four areas below, be very
|
||
careful.
|
||
1. Alcoholics
|
||
2. Thieves
|
||
3. Druggies
|
||
4. Crazies
|
||
The good news is that after reading this report you’ll be able to
|
||
consistently beat the test and come out ahead of your
|
||
competition.
|
||
The first secret here is not to “play the saint”. Some test takers
|
||
conclude that by answering all the questions as though they were
|
||
a totally honest saintly person, they’ll waltz right through the thing
|
||
and land the job.
|
||
But I’m afraid such a simple approach won’t work. These tests
|
||
were designed by psychologists so they’re much more
|
||
sophisticated than that. They’re way ahead of you here.
|
||
If you fake your way through and attempt to give them all the
|
||
answers you think they want, you’ll come up short. If you confess
|
||
to stealing some small item but consistently deny committing any
|
||
major infractions (in any of the four areas mentioned above) you’ll
|
||
do much better.
|
||
By answering in this way you will appear to be a well-rounded
|
||
average employee (which is what employers really want).
|
||
Try to take your time in answering questions. They may force you
|
||
to complete the test quickly in an attempt to get you to provide
|
||
quick, impulsive answers rather than give you the time you need
|
||
to think things through carefully.
|
||
Take your time and don’t get flustered. If you can, go at it at your
|
||
own pace and leave the test unfinished if necessary.
|
||
Sprinkle around minor admissions of little problems and moral
|
||
failings here and there but always deny the serious things like
|
||
admitting to a criminal conviction or admission to a mental hospital
|
||
or drug treatment center.
|
||
If they ask about what you do with your spare time, always list
|
||
activities that are social in nature. Don’t list solitary pursuits like
|
||
watching TV or playing computer games.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 276 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Employers like friendly sociable people not socially challenged
|
||
loners. They may ask some rather personal questions about who
|
||
you know and their activities. Try to play it as though all your
|
||
friends think just as you do. (you don’t mix with nasty people at all)
|
||
The psychologists that created these test tell the employers that
|
||
an applicant who is consistently honest in answering questions
|
||
about little things will most likely be a completely and consistently
|
||
honest person in every area of their life.
|
||
Be careful when asked about your attitude toward employers
|
||
though. Never say anything negative about past employers as
|
||
they will interpret this as revealing a negative attitude toward all
|
||
employers, including them. Such an employee could cause
|
||
problems later on down the road and should be avoided.
|
||
Never admit to having any kind of minor or major psychological
|
||
problem. This is a real touchy area with employers. No one wants
|
||
to hire a nut who is going to show up for work some morning with
|
||
a loaded machine gun and fire in his eyes.
|
||
Always answer no to questions like:
|
||
“People are always watching me”
|
||
”Others are planning against me”
|
||
”I hear voices in my head”
|
||
”Someday I’ll get even with all my enemies, you’ll see”
|
||
”God is against me”
|
||
”I have violent dreams”
|
||
Faking an Academic Credential
|
||
Recently I was employed by one of the largest manufacturing
|
||
firms in the country. So I was delighted when the company
|
||
newsletter announced that a particularly capable and friendly co-
|
||
worker had been promoted to vice president of one of the
|
||
companies larger divisions.
|
||
He was one of six such divisional promotions. According to the
|
||
newsletter each of the newly promoted men had similar
|
||
educational credentials. An undergraduate degree in either
|
||
computer science or engineering along with an MBA from one of
|
||
those Ivy League schools. Very impressive stuff to be sure.
|
||
You can imagine my shock when I read in the Wall Street Journal
|
||
some six months later that a routine check triggered by the
|
||
promotions had discovered that two of the six did not in fact
|
||
possess the MBAs they claimed!
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 277 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
One of them had never even attended college at all! The motto of
|
||
this little story is: a clever applicant can fool even the largest and
|
||
most sophisticated firms.
|
||
This is one area where your age can be an asset. The younger
|
||
you are, the more intensely prospective employers will focus on
|
||
your academic accomplishments. But when you get into your late
|
||
thirties or older your more recent career accomplishments will
|
||
become much more important than your college days way back
|
||
then. (It’s much harder for a 25 year old to claim an unearned
|
||
degree than an experienced 44 year old.)
|
||
Once again I’m forced to say I can’t condone this particular form of
|
||
deception. While claiming an academic credential that you haven’t
|
||
properly earned may be an enticing idea, placing it in your resume
|
||
will leave you in a vulnerable position if at some point in the future
|
||
your trick should be uncovered. Personally I couldn’t take that kind
|
||
of risk but I’ve known several that have.
|
||
Handling the Job Interview
|
||
The strange truth about job interviews is that almost every
|
||
manager will say that they can pick the best employees at an
|
||
interview by “gut instinct”.
|
||
But when psychologists do studies they find that even the best
|
||
managers often choose the wrong employees. The funny thing is -
|
||
no matter how many studies the shrinks crank out - managers still
|
||
place great confidence in their ability to sniff out the undesirables
|
||
in an interview and continue to make hiring decisions based
|
||
almost entirely on the interview. Go figure.
|
||
Any particular interview may be either a highly structured event
|
||
with questions being asked from a list or much less formal. The
|
||
formal interviews are usually much easier to handle and much
|
||
less of a hassle for the applicant. The informal ones can be real
|
||
inquisitions if you fall into the hands someone who just wants to
|
||
play with your mind. And then there are those employers who like
|
||
to conduct so-called “stress interviews” where their sole goal is to
|
||
get you to sweat and squirm in your seat.
|
||
The first rule of interviewing for a job is - always keep it positive.
|
||
You may be asked questions designed to get you to say
|
||
something nasty about past employers or bosses. Don’t fall for
|
||
this obvious trap. No one wants disgruntled employees. You left
|
||
your last job because it wasn’t challenging enough or you felt you
|
||
wanted a position with more opportunity.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 278 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Your last boss may have been a drunken devil-worshipping child
|
||
molester but in the interview you’d better dwell on his better traits.
|
||
(if you can’t remember any - make some up)
|
||
Be sure to say something nice about past employers also. Never
|
||
complain about anything or anyone. Never say that anyone in your
|
||
past has ever treated you unfairly. You’ve been very lucky to work
|
||
for such fine companies and great bosses.
|
||
Be prepared for tricky questions like: “why should I hire you for
|
||
this job?” or “well John, tell me all about yourself”. Don’t let
|
||
questions like these rattle your cage. Smile and launch right into
|
||
the best answer you can come up with even if it sounds a bit
|
||
strange.
|
||
Be ready to admit that you’re not perfect. You’re a human being
|
||
after all. Keeping you composer is much more important than what
|
||
you say. Your interviewer will respect you much more if you keep
|
||
your cool despite his hammering than if you came in
|
||
psychologically and start to stammer and stutter.
|
||
If asked if you have any negatives, stop and cast your eyes up to
|
||
the ceiling as though you’re giving a lot of thought to your answer
|
||
and then say something like “I sometimes get frustrated working
|
||
with fellow employees that have a poor attitude toward the
|
||
company they work for”.
|
||
If you are asked to have lunch or a cup of coffee with a potential
|
||
employer at a local restaurant accept the invitation but be careful
|
||
here. You may be asked personal lifestyle type questions. And
|
||
you may be offered an alcoholic drink with your meal. This is an
|
||
obvious trap. Decline the drink and stick with iced tea or a soft
|
||
drink.
|
||
If it’s lunchtime inform your interviewer that you have another
|
||
interview later in the day and will need to be on the road. You’d be
|
||
surprised how often an alcoholic will let down his guard and have
|
||
a drink in the hopes he’s found a new drinking buddy and at the
|
||
same time a new job. Misery loves company.
|
||
One last note: Never allow yourself the luxury of getting into an
|
||
argument with an interviewer. You may be baited in an attempt to
|
||
draw you out. Take a deep breath and keep your cool.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 279 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Beating the Polygraph
|
||
I’ve mentioned that employers are once again embracing
|
||
psychological pre-employment testing for largely financial
|
||
reasons. The polygraph is yet another means of saving a buck.
|
||
But the polygraph is defective in many different ways (which is
|
||
why it’s never been admissible in court as evidence of guilt or
|
||
innocence).
|
||
The most basic problem with the polygraph is that though it is
|
||
effective in detecting when a subject is under stress it cannot tell if
|
||
the stress is the result of deception or just the stress caused by
|
||
the question.
|
||
A major bank in the Midwest discovers that $10,000 in cash has
|
||
vanished from their high-security vault. Detectives are sure it’s an
|
||
inside job as only five bank employees had keys and the public
|
||
had no access at all. All five emphatically denied any knowledge
|
||
of the heist. A polygraph examiner was called in to help identify
|
||
the thief.
|
||
One of the suspects was an older man who had worked for the
|
||
bank for almost twenty years. The polygraph examiner comes to
|
||
the conclusion that he is the thief and was employing deception in
|
||
answering some questions in particular the key question “Did you
|
||
steal the missing $10,000?”. He is fired and stripped of his
|
||
pension and other benefits though he continues to steadfastly
|
||
claim innocence. His apartment was searched but the money was
|
||
never recovered.
|
||
Three years later one of the other suspects, a young lady comes
|
||
forward and confesses to grabbing the cash. It seems she had a
|
||
boyfriend who was so addicted to free-basing cocaine that he
|
||
threatened to kill her and her infant daughter if she didn’t steal the
|
||
money.
|
||
Three years later when they were both arrested for possession of
|
||
cocaine, she agreed to turn on him and provide evidence in
|
||
exchange for immunity from prosecution.
|
||
By then the old man had died probably from a broken heart
|
||
brought on by the shame he had suffered. Not a pretty story but it
|
||
illustrates a point. When the old man was asked the key question
|
||
“Did you steal the missing $10,000?” he knew that his pension
|
||
and medical benefits were on the line and if he flunked this test,
|
||
his life would be destroyed. The extreme stress of the situation he
|
||
faced at that very moment was interpreted by the examiner as
|
||
evidence of deception.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 280 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
TIP: If you are ever asked if you are willing to take a polygraph
|
||
exam to clear yourself from some charge, immediately agree to a
|
||
test. But insist that the only way you’ll agree to the test is if the
|
||
entire thing is arranged by your attorney. (Polygraph examiners
|
||
are often biased in favor of those who pay their bill)
|
||
You should also remember that the polygraph is often used as a
|
||
tool of intimidation. A suspect is placed in a room, the examiner
|
||
comes in and while he sets up his machine he chats with the
|
||
subject and comments that his machine will quickly get to the truth
|
||
as it can’t be fooled and has never failed. Many subjects will
|
||
confess right there and then before they’re even hooked up to the
|
||
machine! Companies know that the polygraph is a great tool of
|
||
intimidation and use it in exactly that manner.
|
||
The examiner may show you a list of questions he will ask. He
|
||
may say “these are the only questions I will ask”. Then right in the
|
||
middle of the test he will ask several questions that were not on
|
||
the list. He’s just trying to get you upset.
|
||
You will be watched carefully before and during the test. Some
|
||
examiners believe that they can learn as much or more from your
|
||
behavior than they can from their machine.
|
||
During a typical pre-employment test you’ll first be asked a series
|
||
of simple no-stress questions. You may be asked to verify your
|
||
name, address, place of birth, age etc... At this point the examiner
|
||
is establishing a “baseline” set of readings.
|
||
If you want to confuse him, you could purposely confuse a reading
|
||
on any particular question by biting your tongue. Slightly part your
|
||
teeth just enough so that you can push a little of your tongue
|
||
between your teeth, then bite down on your tongue just a little bit.
|
||
You don’t have to draw blood or cause yourself great pain. Just a
|
||
little discomfort will send his tracings into high gear. You can get a
|
||
similar response by curling your toes in your shoes (so they hurt a
|
||
bit) or tightening the muscles in your thighs or buttocks at the right
|
||
moment. Be very careful that your tactics aren’t obvious. If the
|
||
examiner is experienced he may notice the tongue biting trick.
|
||
When you’re asked a key question, try to answer it in the way you
|
||
desire while thinking of some far off relaxing scene. Perhaps you
|
||
remember sitting on a cruise ship or a white sand beach with the
|
||
warm sun beating down on your body. Practice this before your
|
||
test. The polygraph is built on the idea that you can’t separate
|
||
your words and thoughts but the average person can with a little
|
||
practice.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 281 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Bookstores can sell you professionally produced relaxation or
|
||
meditation tapes that will allow you to develop the skill of instantly
|
||
causing your body to relax.
|
||
If you answer one of the less important questions in an untruthful
|
||
way, you will confuse his results when he compares that result
|
||
with the response you had to a major question. If he accuses you
|
||
of doing something to confuse his test act surprised. Stay cool and
|
||
don’t get emotional. Ask him to repeat any questions. Be
|
||
cooperative. Any sign of a negative attitude will be interpreted as
|
||
proof that you are employing deception.
|
||
Be polite and respectful even though this whole thing is closer to
|
||
voodoo than science. Never show any disrespect to the examiner
|
||
or his box. Don’t question the technology even though you now
|
||
know it’s far from infallible.
|
||
Here’s a tactic a reader provided that worked for him and I thought
|
||
I would pass it along. Our friend went in for his pre-employment
|
||
polygraph but was very afraid of the question concerning drug use
|
||
(our friend is a more than occasional consumer of weed). In his
|
||
wallet he carried a crumpled newspaper clipping about the death
|
||
of a young man his age who died of a drug overdose.
|
||
Sure enough the examiner went through the list of questions and
|
||
then asked the two drug questions a second time. Our friend
|
||
dropped his head down and mumbled “I was afraid of this”. He
|
||
told the examiner that a dear friend of his had died from a drug
|
||
overdose and that he got very emotional when ever anyone
|
||
discussed drugs.
|
||
He then pulled out the clipping and showed it to the examiner. It
|
||
worked - he got the job. I told you the machine can’t determine the
|
||
source of the stress, just its presence.
|
||
The Unverifiable College Degree
|
||
When a university goes under the usual practice is to locate
|
||
another nearby school that will accept and maintain the failed
|
||
school’s academic records so that proper verifications can be
|
||
provided for the alumni. Unfortunately (or fortunately for us) some
|
||
institutions fail and are never heard from again.
|
||
This leaves their former graduates in the uncomfortable position of
|
||
having worked hard to earn an academic credential that cannot be
|
||
verified by any means. Bad luck for them, but it can be an open
|
||
door for any one who wants to claim a degree without having to go
|
||
through the bother and expense of actually doing the work.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 282 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Here is an interesting little list. It contains information on some
|
||
institutions of higher learning that are no longer in business.
|
||
Warning: claiming a degree in this way could leave you with a
|
||
ticking time bomb in your resume. Also, most of these schools
|
||
were not properly accredited though some did sincerely attempt to
|
||
provide honest educational services. But if you’re leaving your old
|
||
life behind but need an established educational qualification,
|
||
claiming a unverifiable degree from one of these belly-up
|
||
universities might be just the ticket but there are risks involved.
|
||
Institution Name Location
|
||
The information listed here was derived from sources that are
|
||
believed to be accurate. The author assumes no
|
||
responsibility for it’s accuracy or validity. Always verify
|
||
information before use. The reader uses this information at
|
||
their own risk.
|
||
Daniel Payne College Birmingham, AL
|
||
Southeastern Institute of
|
||
AL
|
||
Technology
|
||
Arizona Bible College Phoenix, AZ
|
||
Del Rey College Phoenix, AZ
|
||
Ganado College Ganado, AZ
|
||
Professional Studies Institute Phoenix, AZ
|
||
Ambassador College CA
|
||
American National University LaPalma, CA
|
||
American College of Finance Sunnyvale, CA
|
||
Antioch University San Francisco, CA
|
||
Bay Area Open College San Francisco, CA
|
||
California American University Escondido, CA
|
||
California Concordia College Oakland, CA
|
||
College of Professional
|
||
San Francisco, CA
|
||
Studies
|
||
Eldorado College Oceanside, CA
|
||
Grant Technical College Sacramento, CA
|
||
Heald Business College Oakland, CA
|
||
Highland College Pasadena, CA
|
||
Holy Family Junior College Fremont, CA
|
||
International College of L.A. Los Angeles, CA
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 283 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Immaculate Heart College Los Angeles, CA
|
||
Justice University Sacramento, CA
|
||
Lone Mountain College San Francisco, CA
|
||
Northrop University Inglewood, CA
|
||
Ocean University Santa Monica, CA
|
||
Pasadena Playhouse College
|
||
Pasadena, CA
|
||
of the Theatre Arts
|
||
Russell College Burlingame, CA
|
||
Saint Joseph’s College Santa Clara, CA
|
||
San Luis Rey College San Luis Rey, CA
|
||
Tahoe College Lake Tahoe, CA
|
||
University of Applied Studies Hacienda, CA
|
||
West Coast Christian College Fresno, CA
|
||
Westland College Fair Oaks, CA
|
||
Boulder Graduate School Boulder, CO
|
||
Saint Thomas Theological
|
||
Denver, CO
|
||
Seminary
|
||
Western Colorado University Grand Junction, CO
|
||
Annhurst College South Woodstock, CT
|
||
Dicesan Sisters College Bloomfield, CT
|
||
Ct. Holy Family Seminary West Harford, CT
|
||
Longview College Enfield, CT
|
||
College of Notre Dame of
|
||
Wilton, CT
|
||
Wilton
|
||
Saint Alphonsus College Suffield, CT
|
||
Saint Basil’s College Stamford, CT
|
||
Saint Thomas Seminary Bloomfield, CT
|
||
Silvermine College of Art New Canaan, CT
|
||
Cortez Business College Washington, DC
|
||
Dunburton College of the Holy
|
||
Washington, DC
|
||
Cross
|
||
Holy Cross College Washington, DC
|
||
Immaculata Junior College Washington, DC
|
||
Marjorie Webster Junior
|
||
Washington, DC
|
||
College
|
||
Oblate College Washington, DC
|
||
Saint Joseph’s Seminary
|
||
Washington, DC
|
||
College
|
||
Saint Paul’s College Washington, DC
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 284 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Washington International
|
||
Washington, D.C.
|
||
College
|
||
Briarcliff College Miami, FL
|
||
Collier-Blocker Junior College Palatka, FL
|
||
Florida Bible College Kissimmee, FL
|
||
Florida Gibbs Junior College St. Petersburg, FL
|
||
Hampton Junior College Ocala, FL
|
||
Hollywood College Hollywood, Fl
|
||
Jackson Junior College Marianna, FL
|
||
Johnson Junior College Leesburg, FL
|
||
Liberty Christian College Pensacola, FL
|
||
Lincoln Junior College Ft. Pierce, Fl
|
||
College of Orlando Orlando, FL
|
||
Roosevelt Junior College W. Palm Beach, FL
|
||
Rosenwald Junior College Panama City, FL
|
||
Saint Joseph College of
|
||
Jensen Beach, FL
|
||
Florida
|
||
Suwannee River Junior
|
||
Madison, FL
|
||
College
|
||
Volusia County Community
|
||
Daytona Beach, FL
|
||
College
|
||
Washington Junior College Pensacola, Fl
|
||
Aquinas Institute of Theology River Forest, IL
|
||
Berean College Jacksonville, IL
|
||
Central YMCA Community
|
||
Chicago, IL
|
||
College
|
||
Chicago Technical College Chicago, IL
|
||
De Lourdes College Des Plaines, IL
|
||
Divine Word Seminary Techny, IL
|
||
Immaculate College Bartless, IL
|
||
Lincoln Open University Lombard, Il
|
||
Metropolitan Community
|
||
E. Saint Louis, IL
|
||
College
|
||
Montay College Chicago, IL
|
||
Monticello College Godfrey, IL
|
||
Pestalozzi Froebel Teachers
|
||
Chicago, IL
|
||
College
|
||
Saint Bede College La Salle, IL
|
||
Saint Dominic College St. Charles, IL
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 285 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Saint Viator College Bourbonnais, IL
|
||
Shurtleff College Alton, IL
|
||
Toletine College Olympia Field, IL
|
||
Trinity Evangelical Divinity
|
||
IL
|
||
School
|
||
Williams & Vashti Aledo, IL
|
||
Winston Churchill College Pontiac, IL
|
||
Aristotle College IN
|
||
Canterbury College Danville, IN
|
||
Graceland University New Albany, IN
|
||
Lockyear College Evansville, IN
|
||
Northwood Institute of Indiana West Baden IN
|
||
Saint Benedict College Ferdinand, IN
|
||
Saint Meinrad College Saint Meinrad, IN
|
||
Midwestern College Denison, IA
|
||
University of Mid-America
|
||
Council Bluffs, IA
|
||
(Iowa)
|
||
Westmar University LeMars, IA
|
||
Bluemont Central College Manhattan, KS
|
||
College of Emporia Emporia, KS
|
||
Garfield University Wichita, KS
|
||
Marymount College of Kansas Salina, KS
|
||
Saint John’s Lutheran College Winfield, KS
|
||
Saint Mary of the Plains
|
||
Dodge City, KS
|
||
College
|
||
Saint Mary’s College Saint Mary’s, KS
|
||
Calvary Bible College Letcher, KY
|
||
Cedar Bluff College Woodburn, KY
|
||
Glasgow Normal School Glasgow, KY
|
||
Kentucky Southern College Louisville, KY
|
||
Lees College Jackson, KY
|
||
Lexington Baptist College Lexington, KY
|
||
Ogden College KY
|
||
Pleasant J. Potter College Bowling Green, KY
|
||
Southeastern Christian College Winchester, KY
|
||
Sue Bennett College London, KY
|
||
Urania College Glasgow, KY
|
||
Warren College Bowling Green, KY
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 286 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Baton Rouge College Baton Rouge, LA
|
||
Bell City College Bell City, LA
|
||
Gulf Coast Christian College Plaquemine, LA
|
||
Leatchie Female College Keatchie, LA
|
||
Lousiana Holiness College Hudson, LA
|
||
Louisiana Central University Metairie, LA
|
||
Mount Lebanon University Mount Lebanon, LA
|
||
Saint Mary’s Dominican
|
||
New Orleans, LA
|
||
College
|
||
World Evangelism Bible
|
||
Baton Rouge, LA
|
||
College
|
||
Bliss College Lewiston, ME
|
||
Nasson College Springvale, ME
|
||
Northern Conservatory of
|
||
Bangor, ME
|
||
Music
|
||
Ricker College Houlton, ME
|
||
Baltimore College of
|
||
Baltimore, MD
|
||
Commerce
|
||
Saint Joseph College Emmitsburg, MD
|
||
Saint Peter’s College Baltimore, MD
|
||
Sojouner-Douglass College Baltimore, MD
|
||
Trinitarian College Baltimore, MD
|
||
Washington Junior Collegew Takoma Park, MD
|
||
Xaverian College Silver Springs, MD
|
||
Aquinas College at Newton Newton, MA
|
||
Berkshire Christian College Lennox, MA
|
||
Bradford College Haverhill, MA
|
||
Bryant & Stratton Business
|
||
Boston, MA
|
||
Institute
|
||
Calvin Coolidge College of
|
||
MA
|
||
Liberal Arts
|
||
Cambridge Junior College Cambridge, MA
|
||
Cardinal Cushing College Brookline, MA
|
||
Central New England College Worcester, MA
|
||
Middlesex University Waltham, MA
|
||
Mount Alvernia College Newton, MA
|
||
Newton College of the Sacred
|
||
Newton, MA
|
||
Heart
|
||
Newton Junior College Newton, MA
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 287 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Northampton Junior College Northampton, MA
|
||
Oblate College & Seminary Natwick, MA
|
||
Perry Normal School Boston, MA
|
||
Worcester Junior College Worcester, MA
|
||
De Lima Junior College Oxford, MI
|
||
Detroit Institute of Technology Detroit, MI
|
||
Duns Scotus College Southfield, MI
|
||
Highland Park Community
|
||
Highland Park, MI
|
||
College
|
||
John Wesley College Owosso, MI
|
||
Jordan College & Seminary Cedar Springs, MI
|
||
Jordan College Flint, MI
|
||
Mackinac College Mackinac Island, MI
|
||
Maryglade College Memphis, MI
|
||
Meinzinger Art School Detroit, MI
|
||
Nazareth College Kalamazoo, MI
|
||
Shaw College Detroit, MI
|
||
Crosier Seminary Onamia, MN
|
||
Duluth Junior College Duluth, MN
|
||
Golden Valley Lutheran
|
||
Minneapolis, MN
|
||
College
|
||
Lea College Alberta Lea, MN
|
||
Minnesota Central University Hastings, MN
|
||
Saint Teresa College Winona, MN
|
||
Clarke Memorial College Newton, MS
|
||
Gulf Park Junior College Gulfport, MS
|
||
Mississippi Industrial College Holly Springs, MS
|
||
Phillips Junior College Gulfport and Jackson, MS
|
||
Whitworth Bible College Brookhaven, MS
|
||
Cardinal Newman College MO
|
||
Chillicothe Business College Chillicothe, MO
|
||
Springfield, Joplin,
|
||
Draughon Business College
|
||
Independence, MO
|
||
International Graduate School St. Louis, MO
|
||
Jackson University Chillicothe, MO
|
||
Louis Touton Junior College Kansas City, MO
|
||
Marillac College Saint Louis, MO
|
||
Marion College Philadelphia, MO
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 288 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
McGhee College College Mound, MO
|
||
McGhee Holiness College College Mound, MO
|
||
Midwestern Baptist Theological
|
||
Saint Louis, KS
|
||
Seminary
|
||
Saint Notre Dame College Saint Louis, MO
|
||
Saint Mary’s College O’Fallon, MO
|
||
Saint Paul’s College Concordia, MO
|
||
Duchesne College of the
|
||
Omaha, NE
|
||
Sacred Heart
|
||
Hiram Scott College Scottsbluff, NE
|
||
John F. Kennedy College Wahoo, NE
|
||
John J. Pershing College Beatrice, NE
|
||
Saint John Vianney Seminary Elkhorn, NE
|
||
Old College Rena, NV
|
||
Belknap College NH
|
||
Canaan College NH
|
||
Concord Commercial College NH
|
||
Franconia College NH
|
||
Gunstock College NH
|
||
Mt. Saint Mary’s College NH
|
||
Nathaniel Hawthorne College NH
|
||
Pierce College for Women NH
|
||
Franconia College Franconia, NH
|
||
Alma White College Zarephath, NJ
|
||
Bayonne Junior College Bayonne, NJ
|
||
Don Bosco College Newton, NJ
|
||
Hudson College Jersey City, NJ
|
||
Northeastern Bible College Essex Falls, NJ
|
||
Shelton College Cape May, NJ
|
||
Tombrock College Paterson, NJ
|
||
Upsala College East Orange, NJ
|
||
Albany Business College Albany, NY
|
||
Bennett College Millbrook, NY
|
||
Brentwood College Brentwood, NY
|
||
Briarcliff College Briarcliff Manor, NY
|
||
Brooklyn Jusuit College Brooklyn, NY
|
||
Capuchin Theological
|
||
Garrison, NY
|
||
Seminary
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 289 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Cathedral College Flushing, NY
|
||
Elizabeth Seton College Yonkers, NY
|
||
Finch College New York City, NY
|
||
Genessee College Lima, NY
|
||
The King’s College Briarcliff, NY
|
||
Ladycliff College Highland Falls, NY
|
||
Maria Regina College Syracuse, NY
|
||
Maryknoll School of Theology Maryknoll, NY
|
||
Mater Christi Seminary Albany, NY
|
||
Mills College of Education New York, NY
|
||
New York College of Music New York, NY
|
||
Our Lady of Hope Mission
|
||
Newburgh, NY
|
||
Seminary
|
||
Packer Collegiate Institute
|
||
Brooklyn, NY
|
||
(Junior College)
|
||
Passionist Monastic Seminary Jamaica, NY
|
||
Rogers College Maryknoll, NY
|
||
Russell Sage College NY
|
||
Saint Clare College Williamsville, NY
|
||
Saint John Vianney Seminary East Aurora, NY
|
||
Saint Joseph’s Seraphic
|
||
Callicoon, NY
|
||
Seminary
|
||
Verrazzano College Saratoga Springs, NY
|
||
Woodstock College New York, NY
|
||
Blantons Junior College Asheville, NC
|
||
Phillips Junior College Fayetteville, NC
|
||
Sacred Heart College Belmont, NC
|
||
Yadkin College NC
|
||
Assumption College Richardton, ND
|
||
Ellendale State Teachers
|
||
Ellendale, ND
|
||
College
|
||
Fargo College Fargo, ND
|
||
Methodist Red River University Wahpeton, ND
|
||
Alfred Holbrook College Manchester, OH
|
||
Bliss College Columbus, OH
|
||
Columbia Business College Columbus, OH
|
||
Dayton Art Institute Dayton, OH
|
||
Mary Manse College Toledo, OH
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 290 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Marycrest College Toledo, OH
|
||
Midland College of Commerce Ashland, OH
|
||
Penn-Ohio College Youngstown, OH
|
||
American Christian College Tulsa, OK
|
||
Carey College Oklahoma City, OK
|
||
Flaming Rainbow University Stilwell, OK
|
||
Phillips University Enid, OK
|
||
Southwest Baptist College Mangum, OK
|
||
Cascade Christian College Portland, OK
|
||
Columbia Christian College Portland, OK
|
||
Mount Angel College Mount Angel, OK
|
||
Judson Baptist College Portland, OR
|
||
Philomath College Philomath, OR
|
||
Alliance College Cambridge Springs, PA
|
||
Antioch University Philadelphia, PA
|
||
Dropsie College Philadelphia, PA
|
||
Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PA
|
||
Hershey Junior College Hershey, PA
|
||
Mary Immaculate Seminary &
|
||
Northhampton, PA
|
||
College
|
||
Penn Hall Junior College Chambersburg, PA
|
||
Pinebrook Junior College Coopersburg, PA
|
||
Saint Fidelis College Herman, PA
|
||
Spring Garden College Philadelphia, PA
|
||
Mount Saint Joseph College Wakefiekd, RI
|
||
Our Lady of Providence
|
||
Warwick, RI
|
||
Seminary
|
||
Friendship College Rock Hills, SC
|
||
Palmer College Charleston, Sc
|
||
Freeman Junior College Freeman, SD
|
||
Yankton College Yankton, SD
|
||
Andrew Jackson Business
|
||
Memphis, TN
|
||
College
|
||
Boscobel College Nashville, TN
|
||
Bristol University Bristol, TN
|
||
Draughons Junior College of
|
||
Kingsport & Knoxville, TN
|
||
Business
|
||
McKenzie College Chattanooga, TN
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 291 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Roger Williams University Nashville, TN
|
||
Siena College Memphis, TN
|
||
Steed College Johnson City, TN
|
||
Tomlinson College Cleveland, TN
|
||
Abiline Christian University Abiline, TX
|
||
Ambassador University Big Sandy, TX
|
||
Christopher College Corpus Christi, TX
|
||
Dominican College Houston, TX
|
||
Eastern Texas University San Augustine, TX
|
||
Houston International
|
||
Houston, TX
|
||
University
|
||
Plano College Plano, TX
|
||
Ruterville College La Grande, TX
|
||
San Augustine University San Augustine, TX
|
||
Soule Univesity S. Chappel Hill, TX
|
||
Southern Bible College Houston, TX
|
||
Waco Female College Waco, TX
|
||
Woodcrest College Dallas, TX
|
||
Stevens Henager College Salt Lake City, UT
|
||
Windham College Putney VT
|
||
Blackstone College Blackstone, VA
|
||
Elizabeth College Salem, VA
|
||
Father Judge Mission
|
||
Monroe, VA
|
||
Seminary
|
||
Frederick College Portsmouth, VA
|
||
Hopewell University Hopewell, VA
|
||
Luther Rice College Alexandria, VA
|
||
Potomac Community College Paris, VA
|
||
Smithdeal-Massey Business
|
||
Richmond, VA
|
||
College
|
||
Stratford College Danville, VA
|
||
Sullins College Bristol, VA
|
||
Fort Wright College of the Holy
|
||
Spokane, WA
|
||
Names
|
||
Griffin College Seattle, WA
|
||
Spokane Christian College Spokane, WA
|
||
Greenbriar College Lewisburg, WV
|
||
West Liberty State Hancock & Wierton, WV
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 292 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Ashland County Teachers
|
||
Ashland WI
|
||
College
|
||
Barron County Teachers
|
||
Rick Lake, WI
|
||
College
|
||
Buffalo County Teachers
|
||
Alma, WI
|
||
College
|
||
Dodge County Teachers
|
||
Mayville, WI
|
||
College
|
||
Door-Kewaunee County
|
||
Algoma, WI
|
||
Teachers College
|
||
Dunn County Teachers
|
||
Menomonie, WI
|
||
College
|
||
Green County Teachers
|
||
Monroe, WI
|
||
College
|
||
Layton School of Art & Design Milwaukee, WI
|
||
Lincoln County Teachers
|
||
Merrill, WI
|
||
College
|
||
Madison College Madison, WI
|
||
Milton College Milton, WI
|
||
Mount Saint Paul College Waukesha, WI
|
||
College of Racine Racine, WI
|
||
Wyoming College of Advanced
|
||
WY
|
||
Studies
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 293 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
The Strange Case of Mr. Gallagher
|
||
Later one night just before midnight I awoke to someone pounding
|
||
loudly on my front door. When I opened it in rushed an old friend
|
||
that I hadn’t seen in over a year. He plopped himself down on my
|
||
sofa and with a broad grin demanded that I give him a thousand
|
||
dollars in cash. He said it was the deal of the century and that I’d
|
||
never regret it. Ken had always been a straightforward guy though
|
||
I can’t say much about his morals. I calmed him down and finally
|
||
he gave me the story.
|
||
He had met a young lady at a local singles bar who worked in the
|
||
administrative office of a large private university. For a fee of one
|
||
thousand dollars cash she would make a copy an actual
|
||
graduate’s transcript, insert our names and social security
|
||
numbers on the copies and then insert them into the official
|
||
records so that anyone calling could easily obtain a verification.
|
||
In short she would sell anyone with a grand a bachelors degree in
|
||
whatever subject they liked. I have to be honest with you, I gave it
|
||
some thought. But in the end I declined to join Ken in his
|
||
adventure.
|
||
Ken and I had lunch two years later. When we returned to his
|
||
office there it was hanging on the wall - his phony university
|
||
degree! He was running a division of a local manufacturing
|
||
company and had over a hundred employees working under him,
|
||
was pulling down a generous six-figure income and drove a new
|
||
company-owned Cadillac. Ken could get away with this sort of
|
||
ploy simply because he had nerves of steel. I wasn’t wired that
|
||
way.
|
||
You should know that from time to time you’ll read a report in the
|
||
paper about the police breaking up such a degree-for-sale
|
||
operation. If your inside accomplice is ever arrested, you might
|
||
find yourself in considerable legal trouble.
|
||
If you do go ahead and claim an unearned degree, don’t be at all
|
||
surprised if an interviewer actually hands you the degree
|
||
verification form along with a stamped envelope and asks you to
|
||
take care of submitting it. This is a surprisingly common practice,
|
||
despite the fact that this makes it childishly simple to “verify” a
|
||
forged or enhanced transcript.
|
||
A common hurdle to forging or embellishing a college transcript is
|
||
the raised seal. As is the case with so many other official
|
||
documents, a transcript will not be acceptable unless it includes a
|
||
circular raised seal created though the use of an official seal by
|
||
the proper issuing authority (in this case the university). How can
|
||
you get past this requirement?
|
||
The solution is laughably simple.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 294 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
Get a largish coin, a Kennedy half dollar will do nicely but a
|
||
common quarter will do in a pinch. Place the coin on a hard
|
||
surface with the reverse side up. Then place the document over
|
||
the coin and rub the document with your fingertip running it around
|
||
and around the rim so that a nice round impression is made on
|
||
your document. Then rub some more on the middle of the coin.
|
||
But only just enough to cause a fuzzy raised seal to appear, being
|
||
careful to avoid the wording “fifty cents”.
|
||
What you’re left with is a nice unfocused raised image with no
|
||
readable text. Nine times out of ten it’ll produce a perfectly
|
||
acceptable impression. I learned this one from one of my friends
|
||
who spent some time as a guest in one of Uncle Sam’s prisons.
|
||
He said he’d used it on various birth certificates to obtain over a
|
||
dozen different drivers licenses. He told me that many criminals
|
||
actually carry around a Kennedy half dollar in their shaving kits
|
||
just for this purpose.
|
||
When Did You Say You Went to College?
|
||
When claiming a bogus degree always remember to leave enough
|
||
off time in your resume to allow the required college attendance.
|
||
Degrees just don’t happen instantly, they require long years of
|
||
work. And if you claim that you attended college while you worked,
|
||
you’ll have to allot an even longer period. Be well prepared to
|
||
explain how and when you earned your listed degree.
|
||
Also keep in mind that your job title and listed salary must be in
|
||
line with your claimed academic qualifications. Be sure that your
|
||
salary after earning your degree reflects the expected increase. If
|
||
not, it’ll raise a red flag.
|
||
Please be very careful to avoid using these techniques to go after
|
||
a job that’s obviously over your head. Don’t get intoxicated with
|
||
the idea of earning a huge salary. Believe me, this is a formula for
|
||
disaster. Unless you’re absolutely sure that you possess the skills
|
||
and experience necessary to be successful in your new position –
|
||
stay within your capabilities.
|
||
If you can, visit the campus of your new alma mater. Stroll around,
|
||
taking particular note of the streets and bars in the immediate
|
||
vicinity. Get a copy of the school’s catalog and study it carefully.
|
||
Commit to memory two or three of the more prominent professor’s
|
||
names and faces.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 295 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
College transcripts are extremely easy to forge. Simply get a copy
|
||
of someone else’s legitimate transcript and a copy of the college
|
||
catalog for the period you’ll claim you attended (larger libraries
|
||
usually have past school catalogs). Make as good a copy of the
|
||
real transcript as you can, use cover up strips to block out your
|
||
name and other personal information.
|
||
Then use a computer or typewriter to replace the previous
|
||
personal information with your own. You can plan to spend an
|
||
entire evening working out the details of your new/old degree and
|
||
creating a believable copy of your transcripts. And be sure to
|
||
include that all-important raised seal.
|
||
You may also want to know that several of the larger Universities
|
||
are international in scope. They maintain locations both here in
|
||
the US and overseas. One of the largest of these is one that’s
|
||
located in the state of Maryland.
|
||
If you claim a degree from one of these international schools and
|
||
your future employer should experience problems when they
|
||
attempt to verify your degree, you could claim that the university
|
||
has so many different operations that the verification process is
|
||
rather unreliable. I’ve known several people who have
|
||
successfully used this approach. It’s a common and therefore
|
||
believable story.
|
||
Never forget that those friendly folks who run mail drops will gladly
|
||
open a box for you through the mail. See the list of mail drops at
|
||
the end of this report. You can then use this new box as the
|
||
college’s official mailing address. Which means that the degree
|
||
verification form will be sent directly to you so that you can then
|
||
provide the verification yourself.
|
||
How to Handle Being Fired
|
||
Most people haven’t got a clue what to do when faced with a job
|
||
termination. It’s usually very difficult to think clearly when you’re
|
||
emotionally upset. Contrary to most people’s opinion, most firings
|
||
are political in nature and seldom involve honesty or performance
|
||
issues (but you can expect these issues to be raised as
|
||
justification for your termination). Please read the following and try
|
||
and commit it to memory. It might come in very handy at some
|
||
point in the future.
|
||
When being fired the most important thing to remember is – don’t
|
||
panic! The situation is not as bad as you might think. There are a
|
||
host of forces at play which will come to your aid. No matter how
|
||
bad the situation is, always remember that you’re not in an entirely
|
||
powerless position. You have some rather powerful cards to play.
|
||
Stay calm.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 296 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
No matter how wildly your guts are grinding, don’t lose your cool.
|
||
Managers are after all, human beings. And no matter how they
|
||
personally feel about you, all managers hate to do terminations.
|
||
They fear you’ll go ballistic and cause a scene. Or even get violent
|
||
and attempt to harm them. So to smooth your exit most employers
|
||
will openly offer to provide you with a standard positive
|
||
employment reference provided you leave quickly and quietly.
|
||
They won’t offer you this fig leaf out of the kindness of their hearts.
|
||
They’ll do it because they’re scared to death that you’ll launch one
|
||
of those much-dreaded high profile, bazillion-dollar “wrongful
|
||
termination” lawsuits.
|
||
Being an executive today is a bit like tap dancing through a
|
||
minefield. Every day the courts award fired employees generous
|
||
settlements for the most groundless of claims. Also, rather than
|
||
fight it out in the courts over a matter of principle, most employers
|
||
will quickly attempt to settle out-of-court due to the fabulous cost
|
||
of court proceedings.
|
||
Several months back when a firm called a manager asking for an
|
||
employment reference on a former employee who was a good
|
||
worker, he gladly sang his praises. The entire phone call took all
|
||
of sixty seconds. He then put the call entirely out of his mind.
|
||
Two months later the legal department called. They wanted to
|
||
know exactly what he had said during the phone call as the former
|
||
employee was suing for discrimination claiming generous
|
||
damages in the mid six figures. The firm settled out of court rather
|
||
than fight the baseless charges. The manager now has all his
|
||
calls screened and steadfastly refuses to discuss former
|
||
employees over the phone.
|
||
In the unlikely event that they don’t volunteer to say nice things
|
||
about you, firmly insist that they do while you’re still on the payroll
|
||
and on company premises.
|
||
Once you go home, you lose some of your bargaining power. You
|
||
might say something like “OK, I’ll go quietly but only if in return
|
||
you’ll give me a normal positive employment reference including a
|
||
positive rehire status”.
|
||
Most employers will agree to almost anything just to get you off
|
||
their property without a scene. This is an important detail that can
|
||
hurt you later if you forget to mention it. This is your price for
|
||
leaving quietly.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 297 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
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If in the end they decline to entertain your demand, calmly say that
|
||
you’re very disappointed with their decision. It would give you
|
||
much pain to have to get your attorney involved in this matter but
|
||
– hey – you’ve got to protect your legal rights and since they’re not
|
||
being reasonable – you’ll be forced to take up the matter with your
|
||
lawyer.
|
||
If you’ve been injured at any time during your employment, this
|
||
may be an excellent time to mention it as casually as possible. Did
|
||
you slip and fall on a hard floor? Or perhaps you had a problem
|
||
with a power tool. Whatever the nature of the accident, the mere
|
||
mention of it can instantly change a firing manager’s whole
|
||
attitude.
|
||
Besides fearing expensive law suits, employers are also paralyzed
|
||
with the fear that an employee will file a “workers’ compensation
|
||
claim” which will result in the premium for the entire company
|
||
being permanently increased. Employees with potentially
|
||
expensive injuries are usually given “kid glove” treatment and this
|
||
fact may be of use to you.
|
||
If you still can’t get that all-important positive reference, it’s time
|
||
for some drastic action. In most cities you’ll find numerous legal
|
||
clinics listed in the yellow pages. Call a few and ask how much
|
||
they charge to send a simple lawyer’s letter to a former employer.
|
||
These clinics usually charge very modest fees.
|
||
The lawyer will know exactly what to say in his letter, which will
|
||
most probably contain a veiled threat of legal action if you even
|
||
suspect that a negative reference has been given.
|
||
A lawyer’s letter may do the trick even though the employer
|
||
doesn’t acknowledge changing their position. You can bet that
|
||
your letter will be placed in your personnel file where it will be
|
||
viewed by anyone who is called upon to provide a employment
|
||
reference in the future.
|
||
In the unlikely event that the firing firm still hasn’t given in, you’ll
|
||
be forced to consider using one of several forms of resume
|
||
modification. If you’ve been employed by the firing firm for less
|
||
than six months, the solution may be as simple as eliminating the
|
||
firing company from the top of the work history section of your
|
||
resume and then extending the employment dates for the previous
|
||
employer. It’ll be just as if you never even worked for the firing
|
||
company! This is an extremely common practice these days.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 298 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|
||
|
||
A Short Note About Passing a Drug Test
|
||
When confronted with a drug test, try and delay the test as much
|
||
as possible. It’s common practice to hand out Monday morning
|
||
test appointments. They’re betting that, if you’re a drug user, you
|
||
can’t get through a weekend without using your favorite drug. If
|
||
you are a drug user, it’s obvious that you’ll have to abstain from
|
||
drug use for as long as possible.
|
||
Then spend the two days before the test eating as little as
|
||
possible. At the same time consuming as much watermelon and
|
||
water as you can stand.
|
||
The goal is to spend at least one full day urinating copiously. This
|
||
will clean out your system and while it’s not fool proof it will
|
||
increase your chances of passing. Be aware however, that
|
||
marijuana remains in the system far longer than most other
|
||
common abuse drugs and will require a longer abstinence period
|
||
if you expect to pass the test.
|
||
Don’t get carried away though. Several people have died in
|
||
emergency rooms recently because they took in too much fluid!
|
||
It’s a strange fact that when applicants for well-paying ($35,000)
|
||
positions as truck drivers are given appointments for drug tests,
|
||
on average, only three out of ten applicants actually show up to be
|
||
tested. Sometimes the mere threat is more effective at screening
|
||
out drug abusers than the actual test itself.
|
||
© Copyright 2008, Ariza Research, All rights reserved - ABP - 299 -
|
||
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission.
|