received a call from a business owner. He said his new office manager spends an excessive amount of time on the phone. In fact, since some of her job requires her to be away from the office, her phone is company-issued. When she runs work-related errands, she is gone a lot longer than what he would deem necessary.
He had already addressed these concerns privately with his new employee. In fact, he had also reminded her that she is still on probation. A couple of weeks later, other office staff told him that the new employee has told co-workers that he made a pass at her during a meeting alone in his office. They also told him that she has plans to file a claim against him for sexual harassment.
He was very upset, since his professionalism and reputation may be at risk.
We explained that this is the very critical time for him to confiscate any technological evidence he could possibly gather. That means he should immediately request the company issued cell phone be returned (he could provide her with another mobile phone). A cell phone analysis can be completed to extract forensic cellular evidence. Likewise, her work computer should be made available to the computer forensic investigator.
Hiring a private investigator is an intelligent step. Not only will that professional conduct surveillance, if necessary, he may also return with a log of activity, concerning your office manager’s whereabouts when she is supposedly running errands for the company.
In addition, a private investigator has the technological ability to access forensic cell tower evidence to actually track the office manager’s movements using cell tower location and cell tower triangulation.
Most importantly, the cell phone forensic expert follows the necessary protocol to ensure the evidence will be admissible in any court proceedings.
Digital forensics, which includes computers, networks, databases, cell phones, cell towers, digital cameras and GPS systems, is the newest, and one of the most powerful tools for evidence gathering in the employment of private investigators.
It is for all these reasons that attorneys work closely with private investigators like . Gathering the information and evidence needed to provide the best service to their clients for effective representation.
If you find yourself facing a possible situation like our business owner, you can contact your attorney first, but he will probably suggest that a private investigator, more often than not, can help you in ways that you cannot possibly help yourself.
–Brenda McGinley, CEO, All in Investigations, All in Investigations
