I want to read investigative reports exposing corruption or scandal on a local or national level. Please provide me with links. [more inside]
posted by reenum on Oct 20, 2009 - 5 answers

In this New York Times article about E. coli in processed hamburger meats, the reporter interviewed employees and unearthed documents to get his scoop. How does an investigative journalist accomplish these feats? How does a reporter get people to divulge critical information?
posted by Jason and Laszlo on Oct 4, 2009 - 7 answers

How do I become my own private investigator [more inside]
posted by 1830 on Jul 22, 2009 - 7 answers

I'm writing a crime story and need to know the following detail about phone records: Let's say I live in Dallas, but while I'm visiting New York I call Joe using my mobile phone. Because there has been a crime committed, the police have subpoenaed Joe's phone records. MY QUESTION: When they see the record of the call, will the police know that the phone call originated from New York instead of Dallas?
posted by bagadonuts on Jul 15, 2009 - 12 answers

Where can I find out more about the investigation techniques used by private investigators? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Jan 19, 2009 - 9 answers

I believe my company, a government contractor, is using alot of grey areas in their employee time cards to get away with paying as little as possible. For example, I am listed with them as "salary", which by my understanding would mean I get x amount of payment per pay period. However, they still have everyone fill out a time card, and pay us per the hours we have worked. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 27, 2008 - 14 answers

Asked on behalf of a friend: I need to find a private investigator in the Miami, FL, area. [more inside]
posted by cowboy_sally on Sep 15, 2008 - 1 answer

Bored on a lazy Sunday afternoon? How about helping me come up with ideas/suggestions on how I should plan an urban scavenger hunt? [more inside]
posted by wile e on Jul 12, 2008 - 12 answers

I am currently working on a murder investigation ("cold case") for a journalism project that I am working on. I have access to a lot of witnesses and evidence. I am looking for the best resource (treatise, primer, etc.) to use in conducting the investigation.
posted by gm2007 on Feb 19, 2008 - 5 answers

How can I go about verifying some information on someone I've been corresponding with online for years, but recently am starting to doubt? (He's in Vancouver, BC; I'm in the U.S.) [more inside]
posted by justonegirl on May 22, 2007 - 30 answers

What can I do to learn more about crime (without becoming a criminal)? [more inside]
posted by Bookhouse on Mar 17, 2007 - 16 answers

I'm doing research (for a writing project) into Film Noirs and Mystery Pulps, and I'm looking for good selections of a certain plot type: the "missing person" scenario. [more inside]
posted by SmileyChewtrain on Mar 11, 2007 - 20 answers

Crime fighting comic books minus super heroes? I'd love recommendations for comic book equivalents of crime fighting/investigative television dramas. [more inside]
posted by aebaxter on Oct 28, 2006 - 18 answers

How can I find someone who's missing, and probably wants to stay that way? [more inside]
posted by docgonzo on Jul 11, 2006 - 26 answers

How sinister is a pre-employment "investigative consumer report" that includes interviews with acquaintances? What do those interviews involve exactly? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on May 27, 2006 - 14 answers

Say you're an investigative journalist. What web resources would regularly come in handy for looking into people's backgrounds, sniffing out political info, property information, business/corporate dealings etc.?
posted by Heminator on Sep 9, 2005 - 8 answers

A friend from junior high tracked me down by phone a few years ago (we'd been out of touch for about 15 years), which jump-started our friendship. We’ve never met up again in person (I left our home town years ago), but we stayed in touch via phone calls and email. For various reasons, however, I’ve begun to suspect that I’m being hoaxed in some way. I don't mean that I think this a stranger impersonating my friend, or that I’ve been swindled out of any money or anything. I've just started to get the funny feeling (due to inconsistencies, odd details, explanations that don’t always add up, etc.) that the story I've been given about where they're living, their career (supposedly a high-powered, adventurous one), etc. is just that -- a story that was made up, for some reason, to fool me after all these years.

My amateur detective skills pretty much begin and end with google, however, which has turned up nothing useful. I thought of checking military records (this person claims to have served after college) as a starting point, but I'm a civilian and so can’t access them. Of course I'm wary of the "find out the truth about anyone -- just $39.95!" online ads. Are there any (legitimate) resources I’m overlooking? Any other suggestions with how to deal with what has become an uncomfortable situation?
posted by anonymous on Feb 2, 2005 - 18 answers